The Magician's Vow: A Retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Part II - Chapter XXII: Libraries & Letters

“You didn’t see anything?” Charlie folded his hands and leaned forward across the table.

Eugene narrowed his eyes. “As I’ve already said: no, I didn’t.”

Charlie pursed his lips but straightened up. 

Eugene matched his steely gaze. “The crowds were too thick. I heard the screams, but the masses had already swooped in like vultures. There was no possibility of pushing through. Not that I even wished to.”

“What’s this? What happened?” Arthur walked through the door.

Eugene looked up at the doctor. “I don’t believe this would be something you’d be very interested in, Arthur. Not after our conversation yesterday.”

Arthur pulled up a chair and took a seat beside Charlie. “Another death? What is so interesting about this one?”

“Apparently,” Charlie started. “It was an illness that lasted for moments. Too fast for anyone to do anything to help.”

“Really? I hope it has nothing to do with the Chiltern Street sickness.”

Eugene glanced up. “Speaking of, how did the couple fare?”

“They passed during the night. Thank heavens it wasn’t the Hartman’s or Mrs. Montgomery would be in a fit. She’s been close friends with Mrs. Hartman for over a decade now. So... How do you know of this death?”

“Eugene was there. He heard the screams, apparently. But saw nothing.”

Eugene growled under his breath. “I told you, the crowds were too thick.”

“In any case,” Arthur cut in. “The newspapers will have a ball with this. Every paper will have it on the front page tomorrow morning. In fact, I’m surprised there was nothing about it in the papers this morning.”

“They must be waiting for the report for the coroner in order to have a more interesting and informed article,” Charlie said. “If Eugene’s observations are true, and I don’t doubt they are, this was a very sudden, very unexpected event. And such things, if they are not obvious injuries, are more difficult to determine.”

“Well, I hope that whoever died had no family to leave behind.”

“We’ll have to wait for the article in the morning.”

“Eugene?” Evelyn walked in. In her hands she held nothing, but her arms were clearly straining under some sort of weight. She glanced up from her package and stared at Eugene. 

Eugene gritted his teeth. This was not good. “Ut ex invisibilis perlucidum.” he quickly muttered under his breath. As soon as the words left his mouth, the invisible box quickly gained some glass like reflection. Strange still, but obviously man-made. 

“Where did you find that, Evie, dear?” Arthur asked, getting to his feet. He reached for the box. Evelyn passed it to him and opened the lid. She grabbed something gently and took it out. The flute. 

“Eugene, is this yours?” she asked. 

Eugene clenched his jaw but did not get up from his seat. “Where did you find that?”

“I was tidying up your room and making your bed and found it under the mattress. It’s a wonder I did not notice it before.” She held up the instrument. “It’s beautiful, but doesn’t look like anything one would find here in London. Did you get it abroad?”

Eugene got to his feet and slid the flute out of Evelyn’s hands. It was not good for such a powerful magic to be handled by unfit hands. Not only would it damage the flute, but the magic could become unstable and all in the room could get hurt.