The Unseen (ONC 2023)

Ten (Desmond)

It took me a few days to adjust to my life outside of Limbo. With my rediscovered immortality there were certain things I needed to get used to again. Elijah, thankfully stocked the fridge with enough blood bags and food to sustain me for the week. With Elijah's suspicions on my mind, I visited the hospital taking what the humans called an elevator down to the sublevels where the morgue was located. It made me miss the simpler times when the undertaker's residence resided on the edge of town, where the only form of security was a lone guard. I could not get very far in my quest, a double set of doors that required a keycard barred me from entry.

I took a seat in the darkest corner of the cafeteria. It was taking my body some getting used to being awake during the day again. It made me long for the days when my body didn't need sleep. My thoughts took me in the direction of Nina. Elijah had failed to tell me his house was located right across the street from the Winters family home. I had been given the pleasure of seeing her these past few days, the curse clung to her like a cloak. She began taking caution again, I hated seeing the fear in her eyes wishing there was something I could do.

I would willingly admit to my cowardice, as much as I wanted to approach her, I was afraid she would push me further away. The Roman numeral on my wrist steadily counted down, the number four stared up at me like a bad omen. I could feel my home's steady decline in my blood. The town of Hell was beginning to change, slowly at first. The locals were getting their first taste of the deadly sins that ruled the nine circles of Hell. I needed to save my home and for that I needed Nina. During my moment of anger, I cursed my former lover's name. If only I had known Philomena carried magic within her veins. I had had my suspicions, my mind carried me back into the past, back to the moment I felt my heart beat again.

~***~

Elijah's scythe appeared in his pale hand. His instructions to me were crystal clear, remain in his office until he returned. He exited the room leaving a trail of icicles in his wake. I counted down from three hundred, to ensure my guardian's assignment was not too quick as they sometimes were. A grin appeared on my face when I hit zero and he was nowhere to be found. I approached the door with caution, picturing my destination clearly in my mind. During my adventures, I stumbled across a pond hidden within a forest just outside of a small settlement called Hell. I always found myself chuckling at the name.

I opened the door, taking a step into the mortal world. The temperature change is what hit me first. As a hybrid temperature changes did not carry as much of an impact on me as the mortals. The moon was full bathing the world around me in a silvery ethereal glow. I walked the worn path, my ears perked at the sound of a voice, it was feminine, and the sound of it brought me back to the nights my mother would sing me to sleep. I followed the melody, taking cover behind a tree, a young woman knelt at the edge of the pond an altar set up before her.

I recognized her, on my first visit to the village I had met her outside of a shop, an apothecary if I recall correctly. She introduced herself as Philomena, I had yet to introduce myself quite liking it when she called me "mysterious stranger". She waved her hands in the air leaving the air shimmering like the northern lights. I gasped out loud. She stopped, looking over her shoulder.

"Who is there? I warn you, I am armed."

"As you should be," I revealed myself. "You never know what you may encounter in the woods at night."

"Why, if it isn't my mysterious stranger." Philomena smiles, the mere sight of it causes my heart to beat. "What brings you out here so late?"

"Of that, I am not sure," I admit, approaching her slowly. "At the risk of prying, what are you doing?"

"I am offering my thanks to my ancestors." She answers. "I was able to offer peace of mind to a young mother today, I was able to save her baby today."

"Is a song truly necessary? I can certainly assure you the dead do not need it." I roll my eyes. She giggles, standing up slowly, and wiping the dirt from her dress. She steals my breath, approaching me and slowly tucking my hair behind my ear.

"My mysterious stranger, while my ancestors may no longer be of this world, their spirits, their memories, are always with me. I take comfort in knowing they are here in my heart. Whether it be a song or something as simple as the spoken word, your loved ones will always hear you."

"Desmond."

"I'm sorry?" She raises an eyebrow.

"My name is Desmond." I place my hand on her cheek.

"It is a pleasure to know your name, stranger." She kisses the palm of my hand. I rest my forehead against hers, the shadows brushing against me warning me of Elijah's return.

"I hope to see you again, my Mena." I leave a kiss on her forehead, my heart skipping a beat in my chest. I did not know what this feeling was, but I would hold onto it with every fiber of my being.

~***~

"Hello, mysterious stranger."

I jump slightly, my eyes taking in the owner of the voice. It's a young woman with dyed green hair and jet-black eyes that remind me instantly of Elijah's. She takes a seat across from me setting a red plastic tray loaded with food down in front of her. My defenses instantly go up, there is something about her that does not sit well with the demonic part of me. She raises her hand, a gesture that conveys she means no harm.

"Uncle Elijah told me you would be coming around, I always just miss you." She continues.

"Your Uncle?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yup, the name's Rydia Springs." She introduces herself. "You're living in my family home."

"Elijah did not mention he had family." I rub the back of my neck.

"My uncle isn't exactly proud of his family legacy. We did some pretty shitty things." She sighs heavily. "I hear you're looking into Kenneth Winters death."

"I am." I find myself still keeping my defenses up. I would ask Elijah about his legacy the next time we spoke.

"Well, you're going to need a way into the morgue, right? Lucky for you I just so happen to have a keycard." She reaches into the pocket of her jacket.

"May I ask why you are so willing to help your enemy?" I ask.

"The way I see it, you're not my enemy. You've got no beef with me and I've got no beef with you." She finishes her food quickly. "I made a call to one of Kenneth Winters living relatives, gotta start the funeral arrangements and the authorities are done with their investigation."

"Who did you make the call to?" Curiosity is getting the best of me. I can see a grin slowly begging to form on Rydia's face.

"Nina Winters."

*Word Count 12,257*