Rigor Mortis
Chapter Sixteen: The Rot Sets In
When I awoke, it was still dark out and I surmised that only a few hours had passed. I could see no sign of Avelice and I wanted to get out of bed to look for her, but I ached horribly and was loathe to move. She might be with another customer but I put this thought out of my mind as quickly as I could. As I lurched out of bed, a wave of nausea hit me and I noticed that I was shaking like I had some kind of a fever. I felt numb from cold, I was dizzy and my throat was painfully dry. I wondered if this happened to everyone in my situation. Somehow, I doubted it.
I gathered up my clothes, dressed and went downstairs to see if perhaps I could say goodbye to Avelice before I went back to the guild house. As I entered the main floor hallway I knew that something was wrong. I could hear two women arguing viciously. As I continued listening, I realized that one of them was actually Avelice. Puzzled, I crept to the closed door to hear better.
"Madam," I heard her growl, "I tire of doing this! We should be free to do whatever we want, wherever we want! What do we need with money? This is ridiculous!"
"Avelice, you know that it isn't that easy. You're still young and haven't adjusted to the changes. You're still preoccupied with your own power," the older sounding woman said calmly, "You must obey me along with your new sisters. Soon, Nactholm will become a more...habitable place for us. Did you take care of the body?"
"Not yet, Madam," Avelice said softly. "I thought I'd be sad...but I'm not."
"You left that life behind. It is good that you do not mourn for him or for your useless sentiments. You're maturing quickly. That is why I chose you," the Madam said. "That is why our master chose you too. Now go. Go and sleep. It is nearly dawn. I will take care of the leftovers."
Suddenly, the door opened and Avelice ran into me. I went to help her recover her balance but the look on her face prevented me from touching her. Her pretty features were twisted up in shock and fear...and of something far more unsettling that I couldn't quite identify. Before I could figure it out, she had returned to herself and sighed happily.
"Mortanius, you shouldn't be here. We're about to close," she said pleasantly.
"I wanted to see you before I left," I said dumbly.
"What is going on here?" the Madam asked, stepping out into the corridor, "Who is this?"
"Madam, this is Mortanius," Avelice said and I could barely detect the undercurrent of alarm in her voice, "He's my best customer,"
"I see," she said. She took a step towards me and I was suddenly filled with the confusing impulse to get closer to her or to run far far away. Though she was older than me, she was undeniably alluring and her dark eyes dazzled me.
"Well, you are more than welcome to return to the Red Rose," she said, and her voice was like silk, "Be sure to tell all of your friends about us." I nodded stupidly and returned to Avelice.
"I want to see you again," I proclaimed, "Away from this place,"
"Very well," she said quickly, "Tomorrow night, then. Meet me here."
"Where will we go?" I asked.
"Does it matter?" she sighed and ever so gently pushed me towards the door. She gave me the briefest of kisses before she closed the door behind me. I stood for a moment, reeling from my strange sickness and of the wonderful, but odd events. I was concerned, however, for the talk of 'disposing the body'. Were there rude and uncooperative customers hassling some of the girls? Did they take measures into their own hands? Honestly, I could not blame them if they did. I wanted even more to help Avelice repay her debt, in order to get her out of that place. I did not, for a moment, care about what she had done during her time of employment in the Red Rose. Times were hard in Nosgoth, and for a woman, they were even more difficult. I only knew that it was my duty to help her.
As I approached the guild house, a young man in a simple tunic bearing a embroidered winged sigil approached me and asked if I could spare a few coins for the Order of the Serafan. He was so honest-faced and undemanding that I slipped a few pieces into his hand. He told me that the Order was dedicated to helping impoverished people and giving them hope and a purpose in life. They also bought slaves and gave them their freedom and with the money I gave him, they were going to be able to free one more. He thanked me again and as I walked across the street, I was glad I had helped the lad.
When I reached the guild house, I hoped that everyone was asleep by this time. I was in no mood for any of their teasing. My hopes were not to be realized, because when I opened the door I saw that everyone had gathered in the common room to stand and applaud me. I grumbled something to them all, shoved a few aside and headed for my room.
"Congratulations, Morty! You are now a man!" Archimor said proudly. He laughed and then goggled at me, as though I had a scary bug on my front.
"What?" I asked angrily.
"You must've had one hell of a time!" he said. "Go look in the mirror. She must've done a number on you. I'm so jealous."
I managed to reach my room without any further ridicule. As I sat on my tiny bed, I realized how exhausted I was. My legs were weak, my throat was throbbing and my head throbbed like I drank too much. I wasn't sure if this was normal but I was certainly not going to ask them about it.
I shakily got to my feet and looked at myself in the mirror and gasped. I was pale, even more than usual, and there were dark bags under my eyes. I gulped and noticed how painful the act was. I lifted my chin and examined my neck. There was a huge red and black mark on it and I knew that this was what Loriath called a 'hickey'. Though it looked awful, it was nothing to worry about and when my head began to swim, I lay down and slept like never before.
"Mortanius! You've got a client!" a voice called out, ripping me from the peace of sleep.
"No..." I mumbled.
"You have to! She requested you specifically!" he pleaded.
"Tell her I died," I muttered.
"That excuse doesn't exactly work here in this kind of place," he said.
"I don't want to..."
"You're the best we have and she's paying a lot of money," he cried. I sighed and knew that I had no choice in the matter. When it came to matters of money, the guild would do anything. I crawled out of bed and lurched to the door to start my day.
"What's going on again?" I yawned, wincing as the light hit my eyes. Archimor shoved a hunk of dry bread into my face and put a cup of water in my hand.
"Eat up! You'll need your strength for this one," he said, "And change your clothes. The baroness of the province is here to get your services."
"What does she want?" I asked with a full mouth.
"It seems her son went missing a few days ago. He traveled all the way from their home in Ziegsturhl. His body was found halfway sunk in one of the moors here. There was no sign of the cause of death. No bruises, no cuts; he didn't even drown. What his mother the Baroness wants to know is what happened to make him dead."
"She wants me to perform a necroscopy on him..." I said, "She does realize that the body will have to be dissected?"
"Er...you're going to have to explain that one to her, Morty," he said, blanching. I decided not to investigate his reticence further. I changed my clothes, wolfed down the rest of my imposing breakfast and tried the best I could to hide my hickey. Luckily for me, the collar of my robe was very high and allowed for some concealment. I followed Archimor down the hallway to the receiving room and noticed how eager he seemed to slink away. I grew wary of what was behind the door.
"Are you Mortanius the Necromancer?" a large woman blustered at the cowering Archimor. It was all I could do to keep from staring. I had never seen someone so enormous...or covered in so much gaudy violet silk. Her violently orange hair was curled into a tight bun on her round head and her small eyes blinked deep in their sockets. She adjusted the massive fur mantle around her meaty shoulders and looked expectantly at me, along with her two unctuous, preening servants.
"Yes, I am," I finally replied and inwardly I cursed my sex-addled brain, "What do you require?"
"A day ago, my son, my dearest dearest son was found dead in one of the putrid moors around here. No one can figure out how he died. Normally, I do not traffic with people such as yourself but this is family," she said, managing to sound sorrowful and businesslike all at once.
"Then you're requesting a necroscopy," I said, ignoring her insult.
"Will that tell me what happened?" she asked.
"Rather, it will tell me," I said, "and I will tell you,"
"How do I know you're just not making up some sort of a story? I'm afraid it's difficult to trust strangers who bugger with the dead," one of her officious servants asked.
"In this business, it does not do to have too much of an imagination," I said stonily. "Clearly, you are not in need of our unique services. Good day to you, Madam."
"Wait! Wait, I say!" she cried as I turned to leave, "What does this necro...whatever entail?"
"I will have to cut him open and muck around in his organs," I said with a perfectly straight face, "and hopefully his wailing spirit will tell me what I want to know,"
"How dare you speak to our Lady in such a gruesome fashion!" one of the pompous servants wailed dramatically.
"You will keep your voice low and civil with me," I said with the same placid demeanor, "After all, you chose to come to me,"
"And is there a guarantee that the results will be entirely confidential?" she asked, ignoring her sobbing servant. This question surprised me, though I did not show it.
"Of course," I replied.
"Then we will deliver the body in an hour and I expect prompt results," she said, "Good day to you," With that, she waltzed out of the receiving room, followed by her scowling servants. After she had gotten a safe distance outside, Archimor began to laugh.
"That's what I like about you, Morty! You don't let anyone talk down to you, no matter who they are," he gleamed.
"Call for me in an hour. I'm going to sleep," I said.
"Are you feeling alright? You look like hell." he stated. I ignored him and stumbled to my room, where I slept fitfully for a brief period...
...And an hour later, I found myself once again rummaging through the parts of a person that should never see daylight. Before I made the initial incision, I examined the body and found what I had been told was true. There was no apparent sign of the cause of death. No bruises to tell of a struggle, no incisions or lacerations...the body wasn't even bloated so I knew he had not drowned in the moor. Someone must have placed him there.
Using a very cruel-looking device, I snapped the sternum and proceeded to spread apart the ribs. I ignored the crackling and popping noises and decided that perhaps I should become a vegetarian. With the body laid open before me, I could see what had killed the baroness' son. The heart hung like an empty bag between the withered lungs. I tried to follow the path of some of the major arteries and vessels but found that it was difficult, due to the fact that they were so damaged and collapsed that I could barely see them. Not wanting to jump to conclusions, I removed my gloves and felt around in the sickeningly cool intestines. It only took a moment of concentration and soon I began to feel sensations that had no place in this time or situation. I closed my eyes to better focus...
...a fight with the old bat...storming out of the house...a signpost saying 'Nactholm'...
the familiar sound of hoofbeats and the heavy breath of a tired horse...eagerness...anticipation...the Red Rose...the heady scent of incense and women...
I needed clarity, so leaving one hand on the gall bladder, I moved the other to the left eye. I opened the lids and began to gently prod at the slimy orb. Yes...now I could see it...
...everyone was so glad to see me. I was a regular so everyone knew my face and name. Nevermind that Mother didn't want me here. I was a grown man and I could make my own decisions. I spied a pretty girl that I had not seen before and knew she would be the one for tonight...she said her name was Clara...
(But that's Avelice!)
I saw some poor beggar enter the place...some nerve he had...he saw my clothes so he knew I was a noble...the hell if I was giving him any money...Look, boy, I don't care if you're part of an organization that's trying to help the poor...Serafan? What a stupid name...I kicked him and he scampered away...and Clara laughed with me as I downed the last of my ale. I didn't care that I felt groggy. I had come here for a reason. I took the girl and we went upstairs...
(the same room we were in...no, I mustn't be angry)
...right before we got down to it, there was a knock at the door. Before I could answer it, the door swung open and in strode three of the most gorgeous women I had ever seen. One of them was older, I could tell, but the way she moved...they were all on me at once and Clara left the room with a pout. Isn't there enough for her too?
...a sudden pain in my calf...what are you doing, you crazy bitch? I'm not into that! Didn't you hear me? Ow! Get the hell off of me!
...too strong to be a woman...
...like daggers in my throat...
Help! Help me!
I can't breathe!
Getting dizzy...
...help...
...mother...
With an effort, I managed to tear myself away from the dead man's perspective. I reeled from the vision and had to sit down to keep from falling. It couldn't be! It was impossible...idiotic! There were vampires working in the brothel! It was the job of the human girls like Avelice to lure in unsuspecting males. When they were alone in a secluded room, the vampires would come in and feast on the helpless man. That painful scream last night...that had been no 'discriminating customer'! That had been the cry of a dying man! I realized that was why she looked so surprised at me when I ran into her afterwards. She had thought that I was dead! When I fell asleep, she sent in her vampiric sisters to drink my blood. Now I understood why I had felt so horrible afterwards. I knew how I had survived. My near-dead body must have performed fleshcrafting of its own volition. I knew that tonight she would try to finish the job. She would appear to be alone, but the vampires would be lurking nearby.
I knew that I would go and meet her tonight. It was my duty to try and stop the vampires from killing anyone else. It was my duty to try and convince Avelice to come with me, to stop this evil line of work. Desperation was making her do this but I had to show her that it was not the only way!
I thought I was ready.
I was a fool.