The Masked Butler: The Pit and the Pendulum

End of a Castle

For the next few days, Nico and Erik had to manage everything. The whole truth about their relationship to the Barnards, or complete lack thereof, was revealed when the whole story came out. After hearing about Elizabeth's and Dr. Leon's plot, Catherine fell into a state of depression. Nico tasked Maximilian with tending to her. Francis, on the other hand, was dealing with a fever while also healing from the cuts from the pendulum. Nico tasked Maria with his care. That allowed Nico to turn his attention to Dr. Leon's office, and to find someone to fill his position. He and Erik took a day and went into town to look into it.

The townsfolk were aghast about the diabolical plots of this trusted individual, but weren't exactly pleased about Nico's presence either. Interestingly enough, they believed Nico and though they were squeamish around him, they at least got over their uneasiness to work with him and they found an adequate replacement for Dr. Leon until a more permanent replacement could be found. Once that was done, Nico and Erik went through Dr. Leon's papers.

Nico was sitting in the big chair when he found one of great interest. He leaned forward as his eyes widened. "Erik," he whispered. Erik stepped towards him. "'I have finally found a body that is similar in size and color to Elizabeth. Just a few changes will have to be made, but she's perfect for what we need her for.'"

Erik, his mask off, raised his eyebrow. "Though, I do wonder why he wrote this all down . . ."

Nico scanned the rest of the paper. "He has Elizabeth's measurements along with the girl's, comparing them. That was a note at the end. I guess he was so excited to finally have what they were looking for to go through with this." There was a slight pause. "They had been planning this for months."

Erik squatted next to the chair. "And Don Medina and Miss Elizabeth had been married for only four years."

Nico gritted his teeth. "Monsters."

"She is still alive, isn't she?" Nico clenched his teeth, but kept quiet. "You intend to let her face her fate?"

Nico glanced down at the paper. "I could give her a choice."

"What do you mean?"

Nico glanced at Erik. "I want to contact Don Medina."

Both of Erik's eyebrows went up. "Why?"

"What better jailor than the ghost of a man you betrayed?"

Erik smirked. "What indeed?"

Nico stood up. "We'll pose the question to her tonight."

That night, as soon as the last light went out in the castle, two figures stepped out of the shadows in the pendulum room. Nico stepped to the edge and looked at the body of Nicholas Medina. He closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them and stepping to the wall. He pressed his hands on them. The cold stone whispered to him the best place to crack so the pendulum would fall in a week's time due to gravity. Nico closed his eyes, concentrated on the spot, and a part of the stone above the pendulum cracked. Nico opened his eyes and stepped away from the stone. Taking Erik's hand, he stepped through another shadow and exited in the torture chamber. Nico took a soft breath before stepping towards the iron maiden and unlocking it. This time the tables were turned. He had backup this time, and Elizabeth was by herself.

Elizabeth fell to the floor, weak from hunger. Nico realized that her wrists were tied. He didn't remember seeing Nicholas tie them, but it did explain why she hadn't taken the gag off to scream for help. Nico freed her.

"Why, why are you doing this?"

"I cannot in good conscience leave you here to die, so I'm offering you a choice."

Elizabeth scoffed as she propped herself up on her arms. "And what is that choice?"

Nico tilted his head. "Either you stay here and die a slow death, or I take you somewhere where no one knows you. You may begin again, but you are not allowed to contact your family, being told you were alive when you were supposed to be dead once is enough for them. And, if I find out you're plotting again, I will bring you back here immediately and leave you here to rot. Am I clear?"

Elizabeth laughed. "And how do you expect to make sure I keep my end of the bargain?"

"Oh now she's being honest," muttered Erik.

Nico smirked. "I'm afraid your brother forgot to reveal that your cousin has the ability to speak to spirits." He leaned closer. "But what he doesn't know is that's because I'm the son of Hades. The dead listen to me." Nico stood. "Don Medina, if you please."

Elizabeth let out a sound that was a mix of a gasp and a shriek as the spirit of Nicholas Medina materialized next to Nico. "Don't you find it ironic, oh my wife, that you who were haunting me is now being haunted by me? And I'm dead for sure. No miraculous rising from the dead." He turned to Nico. "And you will give my message to Catherine if I do this for you?"

"I will give it to her regardless of Elizabeth's decision," said Nico.

Nicholas dipped his head. "Thank you."

Elizabeth had backed up against the door of the iron maiden. "You'll, you'll have him . . . haunt me?"

"It's only fair considering what you put him through," retorted Nico. He stepped towards her. "Now make your decision please, we don't have all night, and neither do you." She glared at him before looking at Nicholas, and made her decision.

. . .

Nico gave Catherine Nicholas's message, as promised, and that helped her to overcome her depression, though she still missed her brother. Francis was also on the mend at the same time. When both were well enough for a trip, they locked up the castle and, with the servants in tow, left for Barcelona. Francis, Nico, and Erik stayed a couple of nights there before making their way towards England.

"I can't express how grateful I am for what you're doing," said Francis one day as they traveled through France.

Nico shrugged. "It's the least I can do. I didn't exactly communicate with your sister's spirit, as I was hired to do."

Francis shot him a rueful smile. "Please, don't joke about it. I know what I hired you for, it's just none of us expected things to go this way."

Nico scoffed. "You're telling me."

"Come now," said Erik, "it just wouldn't have been right to let you travel to England all by yourself as it was. You are doing quite well for such a close encounter, but it's best not to take any chances. You should probably find a quiet place to finish resting up so you can heal fully and properly."

Francis sat back in his seat. "Yes, you're right, and I might know just the place too. I think you'll like it. All spooky, dark, and quiet, locals are full of ghost stories."

Nico smirked. "Sounds like my kind of place for sure. Where is it?"

"On the moors. It's my friend's manor, Baskerville Hall. It's not as big as the Medina castle, it's surrounded by a lovely landscape, definitely no torture rooms, and I'm pretty sure there are no secret passages. At least none that I've heard Henry mention." Francis shrugged. "But knowing our luck, you'll find one."

"I'll find one? You were the one who found the first one."

"True, but you found the one in the sitting room."

"But if you are certain there are no secret passages," cut in Erik, "then it sounds like it will be the ideal place. I think we could all use an extended vacation after the Medina affair."

Francis smiled softly. "Quite true. Then that settles it. Baskerville Hall, here we come!"