The Book of Midnight - A Percival Blackwood Casefile

Ch. 2 - The Sanguine Veil

After a short drive downtown, I found myself standing outside The Sanguine Veil; a small, nondescript antique bookstore that the average passerby wouldn't likely give a second glance.  Truth be told though, there was much more to this place, if one only knew how to read in a dead language or two.  It was located on the backside of what was once the second tallest building in the city, forty years back.  It wasn't exactly the worst neighborhood, but I certainly wouldn't bring a date here.  I made my way inside the dark, shabby store, made all the darker by the fact it was on the far side of the building, sitting in its own shade as if sulking from the noonday sun.  

The pathetic sound of the ancient bell above my head as I walked in was the saddest jingle I'd ever heard, ringing out with a dull 'tink-a-dink'.  There were two patrons already in the grimy store, both of them giving me no mind.  What little sunlight was meekly shining through the large, filthy window, was then blocked further by a deteriorated crimson curtain. You could see small rays of light crossing this way and that into the dim room, all the minuscule dust bunnies dancing through the streams of light.  I heard the familiar hacking I'd come to know over the years echoing from the back room, hidden by a moth-eaten gray curtain that I was pretty sure had been a bright baby blue at some point in a previous lifetime.  That's when Freddie swatted the curtain to the side and came limping out in all his wrinkled glory.  

Freddie Lascomb is the proprietor of The Sanguine Veil and the type of codger who resembles the place he's running; bent, hobbled, dusty, and in desperate need of repair.  The shop, however, was not what it appeared to be at all.  I mean, yea, it's got books galore filling every available shelf in the shop, not to mention stacks of them on the floor, some even taller than me.  Any available space left in the place was crammed with more dust and spider webs.  What most people don't know and what made this place truly special, was what old Freddie kept in the back of the shop in his office, in a locked armoire.

"Morning Freddie." I said with my trademark smirk.  This sudden sound of life seemed to anger the other patrons who glared at me like angered librarians ready to shush me again should I dare attempt to make another sound above a mouse fart.

As he looked up in response, Freddie nearly dropped the ridiculous stack he was practically juggling.

"Wha...?! Oh! Salutations Blackwood, how are you?  It's been some time, haven't seen you since.....?" he trailed off in thought as he dropped the armful of books onto the counter, particles of dust shooting out in every direction.

"Since you helped me with that case involving the counterfeit Mabinogi texts." I finished for him.  "I see you still have that huge crack in the plaster on the wall over there where you managed to knock out that ruffian too!"

He chuckled as the memory came back to him before eyeing the other patrons suspiciously and pointing his finger back towards the curtain.  "I've got something that you're going to love." he said with a cackle of glee.  Being a bit of an amateur paleographer myself, I found my interest suddenly piqued and so I quickly came around the counter and followed his cue.

I hunched under the curtain as he held it open for me before hobbling in behind me.  He made his way back to his desk which I'm pretty sure hadn't seen the light of day in at least a decade or two.  It was just as messy and stacked with manuscripts and books as the rest of the store.  Honestly, I thought to myself, I don't know how he can find anything in here.  The place was easily messier than my divorce.