Chapter 57
[Crater Lake—That Night]
Shadow darkened the woods around the chilled waters. Wind rustled through the trees and rippled the waters. Owls' hoot pierced the night.
Saskel stood just under a foot from the water's edge. Her eyes burned lasers toward the mansion. The breeze ruffled her hair. Resentment raised an eyebrow. Her teeth ground. "Poor, poor man. Tis most confused."
Ooch! Such attitude, Mistress Grace!
She rolled her eyes. "I tire of the games, Mistress Anne." She watched Lichtenfeld and Ramensech float out of the forest. "Grandfather does not even know himself."
"And if ye tell 'im, ye may na' exist!" Lichtenfeld scowled. "Patience! Revenge is so close!"
Saskel waved her hands. Her form shimmered akin to Faerie's dust suspended in Luna's beams. "I couldna save Father from his fate. Mama is a fool." She levitated a foot from the ground. Her now spectral form wore similar robes to Lichtenfeld's. "An' we gotta live a lie." She frowned. "I'd jus' as soon tell 'im!"
The game canna be spoiled now, Dear One! The Rider cantered from the trees astride its horse. Canary burned from under the tall Puritan hat. It dismounted. "The play's jus' startin'. It flexed a gloved hand. "Ye did well. Still the boy an' the Spider suspect!"
"The three greeted me. One watched. He is na' this Spider you mention," Saskel pointed out.
"He is. Yer careless, Mistress! Ye mus' learn to look at everything." The Rider scowled. "I have cloaked myself from him. It would suit me ill for him to find me now." It brought out a vial. "Take this." It muttered a brief chant. It made the vial float through the air.
Saskel grabbed it with her spectral hand. She studied the viscous silvery fluid in the container. "Pretty but what is it for?"
The Rider sniffed. "Put that in the beasts' water. Your spell prepared them. The one-armed human is about to release his inner beast." He grinned; the fangs glistened in the moonlight. "It will na' be quick. It must be done tonight." It shook its head. "It will na take long for the boy to realize our presence."
Saskel scoffed, "He'll na' remember me. He thinks me his aunt…some ghost botherin' 'im as a babe." Crimson flashed in her eyes. "Ah'll pay 'im back fer that night!"
"As Mistress Anne advised, patience." The Rider frowned. "The boy senses us!"
"The old theater, Sire. Strengthens him it does," Ramensech realized.
"Of course it does, Fool!" Lichtenfeld snapped. "Tis where Ah cast mah spell! Tis where the Countess finished mah work!" Anticipation spread a grin across her face. "Jus' do what Father bade ye. The rest'll take care of itself. The Spider…he has a special one…Perhaps?"
"Ah know. The boy knows this too. He'll be watchin' 'er close." The Rider mounted its horse. "Attend to the errand. Take care na to alert no one." It rode the horse into the woods and out of sight.
"As Father hath said, Mistress." Lichtenfeld melted away into the darkness taking Ramensech with her.
Ah know what to do. Saskel frowned. She vanished in a lavender flash from the scene.
[Connors' Lab—Five Minutes Later]
Saskel slithered from the deeper shadows. Her eyes spied the sleeping reptiles in their cages and habitats. She smiled. "How you yearn to be free." She floated about the area. Her spell kept the alarms and sensors from picking up on her. She waved her hand.
The lid unscrewed itself atop the water tank to the cages.
"Ah! Now fer a bit of sport!" She made the vial float over to the tank. Another spell tipped said container and letting the liquid flow into the tank. "There now!" She waved her hand over the opening.
The lid screwed itself back into place.
"Jus' a few more days, Pretties. Then we shall see." She melted away into the shadows once more.
Mayhem was on the clock it seemed….
