The Strange Cases of Detective Warren Stevens
The Strange Cases of Detective Warren Stevens
Silus on the move!
The pace quickens as Silus is being put into service by both the Chaedric Order and the Sacred Dawn!
Can he handle both roles?
Will he be discovered?
The clock is ticking! For him, for Henry Bell and for Jonah!
The following podcast is a work of fiction. All characters are the creation of Peter Williams. Any resemblance to someone living or dead is purely coincidental. Thank you. So close and yet so far. But that's how the cookie crumbles, isn't it, silas, as your plans are ruined, but another takes shape in its place. And Alex, how many close calls are you going to have? It seems you are determined to meet your fate at the hands of darkness. Lastly, harmony Henry is in trouble. Now, what? How can you help? I guess we'll find out, but before we do, let me remind you that this podcast does contain images of graphic violence, child endangerment and naughty, salty language. Now please grab your tentacles once again for this Tuesday romp as we go from graveyard to rooms In Chapter 15, silas on the move.
Speaker 1:As angry as silas was, he was careful upon returning to his private quarters at the seminary, smiling at his students as he crossed the grounds, even stopping to pet a stray cat that hung out near the dining hall hoping for scraps. When he finally reached his room, he looked side to side and then secured his door Quickly. He undid his tie and loosened his shirt before grabbing the black robes he needed for the ceremony. Then he closed his closet, pulled the handle and stormed into the sequestered room, grabbing the vial of black blood. In haste, he poured it into the stagnant pool, chanting of black blood. And haste he poured it into the stagnant pool, chanting Once more, a purple glow began to shimmer in the liquid and a bony face stared at him from deep within the mixture. Speak, silas. I'm asked why. Why has someone defeated my plans? I was. I was what Silas About to claim the girl, to beguile the woman? Yes, she is close to falling for me and that will open up an opportunity to gain her, the girl you covet. Silas, while your intentions are in line with my own, I need you for another task with my own. I need you for another task, master. He stared unbelieving at the pool. You will be summoned to fetch Jonah soon. Malus continued how do you? Because Mark is sending a very distinct message to them right now and Jonah wants revenge from Maggie, and Jonah wants revenge from Maggie. Silas finished the sentence Correct. Be prepared, silas. Malus demanded yes, master. Oh, and Silas, I may need you for something else in the very near future. Malus added Of course, master, anything you need? Silas replied Good, remember course, master. Anything you need? Silas replied Good, remember you said that when the time comes.
Speaker 1:The pool went dark and Silas rose and closed up the compartment. When he heard a knock at his door, causing him to jump One moment, he called out and quickly eyed the room around him making sure it had no hint of duplicity. Opening the door, he was met with the dour face of Secretary Fritz. Secretary, how nice, please come in. Sorry, silas, I have no time for niceties. Fritz replied in his usual monotone manner. Oh, my apologies. Silas replied how may I serve you? Come, the bishop needs you at his office. Understood, closing his door, silas follows the secretary across the campus.
Speaker 1:Maelis knew how what had happened that had the secretary in such a fuss. Bishop Brock had an equally stern look on his face as he motioned Silas to have a seat in one of the two red leather chairs. Bishop Silas inquired Bishop Brock. Rose closed the curtains covering the French doors and turned on a projection camera. We just received these images from the Thomas residence. Silas pushed back in his seat. Through a blood-stained lens he could see the torn body of Rose, a pool of blood around her legs and torso. We lost connection.
Speaker 1:Just after this moment the bishop said we don't know the fate of Diaz or those of the brave police officers that were sent to the scene, he added. Secretary Fritz enhanced the image and Bishop Brock continued the head on that abomination was the only piece left on Henry Thomas after Ikiatsu had destroyed his faux family for heresy. That man standing next to him was also believed to be dead. Claire, the wife of Henry, had killed Mark during her autopsy. Interesting, is she a zombie or something? Silas asked, pretending not to know. The bishop paused. I would have thought you had known more about this case, silas. Aren't you counseling the Kuchmo woman? I am bishop. And she never brought up anyone except Master Jonah, chief Donaldson and that Warren Stevens fellow.
Speaker 1:The bishop tossed him the file on the Thomas family. Review it and get to know them. Claire was a faux human, a husk, as they referred to it. Unfortunately for them, she maintained some of her human emotions and tried to create her own family. Oh, he said, feigning embarrassment. Mark, the man pictured here, we believe, is the one who killed Jonah's messenger Maggie. Mark, the man pictured here, we believe, is the one who killed Jonah's messenger Maggie, and you want me to fetch him and let Jonah know it was exactly as his master had expected. Actually, no, silas, we don't think that's a good idea. The bishop replied Then.
Speaker 1:Silas was now concerned and confused. What do you wish me to do? He was nervous. He began to suspect that they were sending him to the Thomas Residence. That would work against his and his master's needs. The secretary brought up a different location on the screen, a cemetery. This cemetery is just outside of Montgomery. We want you to go there and see if you can track that monster. We suspect that he it used a portal on the other side of the city. Good, he thought this would buy him some time Understood. When do you need me to go? The bishop opened his desk drawer and handed Secretary Fritz a blindfold. A blindfold. Silas inquired yes, only five people know of the gate we're sending you through and as of now we're not adding to that number. The gate at the cemetery is well known and when you're ready to return home, go to the Thomas residence and we'll bring you home from there.
Speaker 1:Silas was very unhappy about being blindfolded, but he knew he couldn't object. There was no grounds for him to do so. He'd have to use his sense of hearing and smell to try to figure out this guarded location. He was led by the secretary across campus. He could feel the cobblestone path beneath his feet. Several scents caught his attention and finally they stopped. Stand here, the secretary said Can I? He never finished asking the question, silas felt a whoosh of air and the scents and sounds changed around him. He removed the blindfold and he was in a cemetery, standing in front of a mausoleum.
Speaker 1:He scanned his surroundings. On the one side of the stone fence, a wood ran down into the hillside and eventually to the rising bluffs. In front of him was an iron gate with two stone columns. Beyond that was a sloping hillside and eventually to the rising bluffs. In front of him was an iron gate with two stone columns. Beyond that was a sloping hillside that ran along a deep ravine and a river. Finally, sitting by itself, was a small cottage. It was dark and it looked unoccupied, except a bicycle lay in the dirt just in front of the small house. He recognized it immediately it belonged to Alex Kuchma. Well, well, well, isn't that interesting?
Speaker 1:Something else caught his attention, a presence. He couldn't see it, but felt it. He was being watched. This unnerved him. Usually he was the one sneaking, spying. But I'm not welcome here, he muttered to himself. But he couldn't just leave. He approached a bicycle and looked at the sneaker prints. They went from the bike to the door and from the door to the cemetery. Did Alex go through the same gate he had? If so, when? Curse his luck. He must have just missed her.
Speaker 1:He looked back at the cemetery. If he tried to use the gate, would it take him to where Alex is? Or perhaps he could get back to the tower? After all, he did have the key. The question would be, of course, why he didn't follow his instructions. Why did he go after Alex? Or why, after being told not to, he went to get Jonah? Then he remembered Jonah's demands. I'll let him make excuses for me, he said to himself with a glee and turned and went back to the mausoleum. He approached the door and held up the key and Nothing. No glow, no entrance, no falling stars, just a mausoleum. He grumbled. Maybe I need to be closer.
Speaker 1:He climbed the steps. He could see the slot where the Eos Deletion had been used to open it previously. The slot was shimmering. Now, maybe, if he put the key near the slot and felt the shock that sent him backwards, was the gate rejecting him. Why Was it? Because it was already in use. Then why was he able to manifest here? He frowned, turned back to the cottage. That same presence that he felt before was everywhere. Now he had to leave. Before it figured him out, he had to go. He looked at Alex's bike just lying there, shrugged and said why not? He climbed on it, rang the bell Look at me, I'm Alex Kuchma. He was trying to be silly, to toss off whatever presence had enveloped the area. Then he turned towards the dirt road. He would need to head to the other gate, the one that Henry had come through, the one that Henry would probably return to after sending his message. If I can't use this gate, he thought to himself, maybe I can use that one. Otherwise, he sped down the hill and pedaled as fast as he could. Silas had been right, of course.
Speaker 1:Only a few hours earlier, alex Kujma, with the help of Sam, had left the cottage and entered the cemetery. Alex climbed back up and out of the hidden basement and closed the table. She laid the sword above the mantle. As she figured out a way she could carry it while riding her bicycle back to town. She wondered what types of looks that would bring. She thought, smiling to herself, sam.
Speaker 1:The sword suddenly glowed intensely, alex. She called yes, I'm here, sam, we need to go and go now. Sam sounded concerned. What's going on, alex said, as she gave up on trying to make a makeshift hilt. Something dangerous has Alex take me to the cemetery? We must go, we must go now.
Speaker 1:Alex grabbed her hilt and the sword was pulsing. What's going on, sam? I need to know. Alex pried further. I'm going to take you through the gate, the gate to the Thomas residence. Our true horror has manifested there, and Will it affect my memories like it did the last time Alex asked her? No, sam replied. The last time you went through, you didn't have me. Oh. Alex paused and then asked what will I do when I get there? I mean, I've had some training and I can use martial arts, but Do you remember how I told you that Warren's grandfather had attached part of himself to me, to the sword? Yes, he will guide you, he will put an image into your mind and his thoughts will become your own and your own actions. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that. Alex retorted it was bad enough that she was now connected spiritually to the sword and Sam, but now, now she would need to surrender her will to some strange man. Unfortunately, I am just a blade, alex. I may have a spirit and personality, but I can't teach you how to use me. Great Come, we must hurry. Rich Donaldson is in trouble.
Speaker 1:Harmony lost her connection to Henry and turned her face towards the sirens, the Thomas resonance. If something had come through that gate and Henry Leslie, harmony called out and the girl came from out of the kitchen. What's up, boss? You're in charge. I'll be back as soon as possible, are you okay? No, she replied as she grabbed her keys and ran to her car. The black Shelby Mustang with the green Hydra on the hood roared to life. Come on, medusa, she said to it affectionately as she checked her mirrors and slammed on the gas.
Speaker 1:The police will have by now quarantined the house, maybe even gone in. How will she? Someone on a bike crossed her path and her jaw nearly dropped. That's Alex's bike and that motherfucker Silas, where are you headed? If he spotted her and the Shelby, she wouldn't be able to follow, damn it. And if she followed him, she wouldn't be able to help Henry. Word helped me, she grumbled as she turned to Shelby in the direction she saw Silas go. She would have to trust the others to help Henry. She'd have to hope that Rich, alex Diaz and Rose could handle whatever had gone wrong. She would also have to do something she promised herself she'd never do again. Noting Silas' general direction, she pulled over and under an underpass Luckily it was quiet Stepping out of her car, she disrobed, bit her lip and took her succubus form.
Speaker 1:The wings tore through her back and she rose up into the sky. The sunlight hurt. In this form, sunlight was an enemy, not something to enjoy, but In this form, sunlight was an enemy, not something to enjoy, but I'll endure it. I must find out what he's up to. She angled her body and her wings and she aimed herself in the direction she had seen Silas go. She'd be able to find him easily. In this form, she knew his scent. Perhaps it was a good thing that Silas had tried to be flirtatious with her and with that she was on her way Someplace she had never been, someplace almost everyone did avoid Henry had told her about it the ruined home of Tim Rogers. Movements like music. Stories are told in movements. In this case, alex, as we know, is on her way to the Thomas residence, silas to Tim's old stomping grounds and Harmony. What are you planning to do if you catch Silas as we turn to chapter 16, and never the three shall meet.