Klein held his breath with his back against the wall as he faced the darkness of the corridor.
What's Captain doing? What's wrong with him? Was he drinking blood? Is this a sign of him losing control? Klein's mind was a mess, incapable of effective thought.
Nearly twenty seconds later, Klein clenched his teeth. With the help of the control he had over his body as a Clown, he silently made his way down the stairs.
Later, he then intentionally took heavier footsteps and made his way back to the door of Madam Sharon's bedroom.
Klein looked in to see the Captain wrapping Sealed Artifact 3-0271 with the black cloth. His expression was serious, his face clean.
It was as though what Klein had seen just now was only an illusion.
Glancing sideways, Klein saw nothing abnormal with Kenley's body. It was the same as it had been.
He inhaled and asked, "Captain, how am I going to confirm if those servants are still asleep? I can't make an accurate judgment just based on Spirit Vision alone. They'll have various emotional reactions due to their dreams which will be reflected in the color of their auras."
Dunn Smith fiddled with the Spirit Medium Mirror and was silent for a few seconds. He said with a raspy voice, "I'm sorry. I forgot about that. I've made too many mistakes tonight.
"There's no need for you to check, I'll confirm it."
He lifted his hand and pressed his glabella, then he closed his eyes, allowing formless ripples to spread towards the first floor.
It was crystal-clear to a Nightmare if anyone was asleep or not.
Klein froze when he saw this. He looked down and bit at the insides of his lips.
Captain, were you really drawing me away just now...
What are you doing? Do you know what you're doing?
He abruptly turned to look at the window, only to see the crimson moon hanging high in the sky, seemingly unchanged for thousands of years.
After collecting himself, Klein used the cover of picking up his tarot cards, revolver, half top hat, and other items to closely examine the corpses of Kenley and Madam Sharon.
They maintained the same look as when they died, but their skin was turning pale at a rapid rate. They also had tinges of blue and black marks.
It's a little weird, they seem to be missing something... Klein muttered to himself. He felt his hair stand on end due to the chilly wind blowing through the shattered window.
At that moment, Dunn opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "They're all still asleep, but some of them are close to waking up."
"That's good, that's good..." Klein looked at the Captain, not knowing what he was saying.
Dunn surveyed the surroundings and said, "Clean up the scene, then get someone from the nearest police station to come over. Oh, and make a trip back to Zouteland Street and get Frye to come help out."
Klein gave the Captain a deep look and nodded with his teeth clenched.
"Okay."
...
36 Zouteland Street.
Selina sat on the edge of the bed looking outward the window and to the Crimson Moon.
At this moment, it suddenly came to her that each time something cathartic would happen. She would instinctively gaze at the unusual moon, one that she remembered being white before.
I wonder if this had anything to do with becoming a Vampire once reaching Sequence 7... Selina mused bitterly, feeling in the irony.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As her thoughts came to a close. She heard knocks on the door. It must be Leonard...
In Leonard's assumption. Due to being tasked by the White Maiden, Selina would remain awake after some time to wait for him. If he did not receive any consent inside the room, he would have to return by tomorrow.
"Come in!" Selina's soft, familiar voice muffled on the wooden pane.
Leonard exhaled a relief and twisted the handle. Helping himself to see Selina.
She had just freshen up, she wore a white simple dress and her hair was tied to a bun. It made Leonard puzzled because sleeping with a bun hair would most certainly be a discomfort.
Or that she's waiting... He simplified with deprecation.
"How are you holding up?" Leonard smiled as he combed his hair back, then closing the door on his way. He held a brown folder in one hand.
"I'm fine." Selina mirrored his expression with gentleness. "I don't feel like mutations are growing out of me. Or perhaps that's only because I'm awake? Hehe."
Leonard felt a little taken by her last remark. He cautiously asked, "Does your hair really flares up with red whenever you sleep?"
"If Captain and Klein confirmed it. It's likely true. I've seen it myself." Selina answered. "However, see this?"
She turned her head slightly to give Leonard a look. She added, "It returns back."
That didn't helped easing Leonard. He was more inclined to inspecting Selina's state of mind.
He sighed. "Klein... he and I spoke privately."
Leonard walked and took a chair right next to the drawer. He then waited for Selina to say, "And what did you two talked about?"
Almost feeling agitated, evident in her tone.
"We discussed about Ince. How your dreams often results in something real, like what happened with Morroy. I made him do a divination but it resulted negatively.
"It didn't said anything about you losing control. Frankly, it confirmed that you're fine."
"Then... why am I here?" Selina asked. "Why didn't he believed me."
"Mr. Knows-it-all figured that if the things Captain said regarding Ince is true. Then it's likely that you'll die in a line of duty. Call this desperation." Leonard was about to raise the soles of his feet to perch them onto the edge of the bed when he suddenly paused.
"Mind if I...?"
"Sure." Selina turned away toward the window.
Then, she added without facing Leonard, "Klein is desperate?"
"Basically it. That was truly the only time I saw him overexplains himself. As if he's not there to convince me, but to justify himself. I almost pitied him." Leonard accepted the consent and lifted his feet to the wooden edge of the bed.
"What did he say?" asked Selina.
Leonard recounted momentarily before smiling, "He said since his preparations are done. He wants to find nodes in destiny that might relate to you. That way he can prevent something from happening.
"I don't totally understand what he's blathering about. But through the tone of his voice, each day that passed without any clues drives him insane."
"How so?" Selina pressed.
"Notice how Klein is always busy? Or that he makes sure you get home with someone escorting you?" Leonard listed. "Yes, each time anyone of us accompanies you in his stead, he would probed us if we notice something strange, like someone tailing you."
Selina fell silent.
"I thought that's because Captain was monitoring me."
Leonard chuckled, "We're way past that. Now Klein is collaborating with him in making sure none of the other organizations would lay their hands on you."
Selina's voice went soft and hoarse. "Why...? Isn't this too much of a treatment?"
"No. It's the appropriate. After you sworn your duty, Captain became responsible of you and everyone's safety. That's why we admire him." Leonard explained, his voice turning affectionate.
"We are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wrenches who are constantly fighting against threats and madness.
"That excerpt from Saint Chanis also states camaraderie. The 'we are' is what unites us."
Like what I reminded to Klein when he was becoming mulish... Selina mused without saying anything.
Only after she let out a soft breath did she said, "Even if Captain has implications with his memory. He can be very cool at times.
"I'm glad I met everyone." she finally turned to Leonard and flashed a gentle smile.
Leonard's parted lips curled up. "Right. We're getting off-track... Here."
He handed Selina the folder before adding, "In that are the results of the investigation with Megose. Her address, her acquaintances and relatives. If you could, if you discovered anything, feel free to tell me.
"I'll relay it to everyone else. That way you won't feel burdened."
Why does it feel like you just want the credits? Selina narrowed her eyes first before loosening her expression.
"Thank you very much. Mr. Poet."
Leonard scoffed playfully as he replied, "Goodnight."
He stood up, and while his back faces Selina and as he walks toward the door, he waved a hand as a momentary farewell.
Still acting like we're some sort of a trio protagonists... Selina can't help but chuckle.
Alright. Time to borrow the seed I gave you... She didn't mentioned about controlling the seed since it would only invite Leonard into another task.
What if he assumed this is of the Goddess's will? Then she would have to reward him two times!
I can already picture him thinking of what to request. Sigh... please don't make that request too heavy... Selina muttered wistfully before getting back to bed.
...
In the entertainment room, where most of the Sleepless Nighthawks are in before midnight thickens.
Leonard, who had yet to continue investigating Lanevus, joined Royale and Seeka with a game of poker just to ease his mind of the day. He was grinning after seeing multiple aces in his hands.
Unbeknownst to him, the seed in the vial inside of his pocket grew a thread of root. It extended out and sneakily exited both the vial and his pocket.
It rolled and got outside the company through the ajar oriel window of the room. Intending to head to the next street.
Behind the seed's control. Selina in the dreamworld held a dirt tablet in her hands. The contents were rather blurry but the key details are highlighted.
"Megose lives in 23 Consail Street. Districts near the harbor. This likely means that the Mandated Punishers handled the case, which is requisite to the Lanevus case..." Selina laid out her thoughts first.
"Luckily, this information is distributed to the churches. To aid against Lanevus. Otherwise, it will be harder to catch him.
"Megose was introduced to Lanevus by her aunt, Christina." At that moment, she pressed a finger to her chin. Selina recalled,
"Klein once mentioned that Megose visited him. In the case of the steelworks swindling, Christina brought her to him to divine the whereabouts of Lanevus. Though the result wasn't too affectionate with their circumstances.
"Lanevus courted and got Megose pregnant before he disappeared. This swindler who's in contact with Hood Eugen and had done a sinister ritual."
Selina allowed the soil tablet melt in her hands as she said gravely, "I've heard before, using pregnancy as a way to achieve rituals...
"From Isabelle. Who had yet to report anything to me..."
Then, he heart sank.
"I have to visit Megose and confirm!"
...
Consail Street.
Crimson moon peaks from the steeples of high buildings. The seed rolled onto a unit and found a peculiar three-story house.
It had gray painted walls and juniper dormer roof with erected chimney. Some windows are doubled paned, the door was wide and it had intricate patterns associated with flowers and vines.
This is 23 Consail Street... Selina made the seed jump with its thread-like vines and hop continuously until it reached a window.
The latches are turned, it is locked.
The seed turned and hopped about, taking in the house that had its own land brimming with grass and flowers.
Finally, it saw the chimney. The reflexes of the seed does not have the limits of a human, merely by utilizing its lightweight body and long root can it deftly arrive at the top.
Hence, it did, it used the momentum of its hopping to take hold of the multiple joints of the house until it succeeded in seeing the chimney.
Due to the time. The chimney was empty. Everyone should be asleep.
It leaped into hole and used its vines again to safely travel down.
It saw the ashes from when fire was alit. a charcoaled wood inside and iron fence outside to prevent any mishaps while also having an iron poker.
Now, it only needed to find Megose's bedroom and sneak in.
First, it strode down the hall connecting to the fireplace in the living room. It climbed up the stairs, finally seeing rows of doors.
There were signages there, written with names. Thanks to this, it quickly found Megose's bedroom at the farthest of the hall.
Through the cracks of the door, it pried itself in. Finding the nestled Megose laid in her bed with disheveled hair.
Selina, inside the dreamworld, froze.
What she was seeing, and because of the properties of the dreamworld, including the seed's built-in Spirit Vision, was a glowing shadow of a fetus inside Megose.
There's a dark curtain, a heinous dim red halo-like glow around the fetus and it bore just one slit eye.
Then, it opened its eyes.