9.2 : Boy in the attic

Optimism is an inclination to anticipate the best possible outcome in a given situation.

Over optimism is holding such an inclination when most sensible people would simply run.

Destiny is feeling rather pleased with herself (along with Serenity and Hoskgak of course). In less than an hour since being told by Father Lucian of the missing bones, they have manage to track down a solid lead.

Millivoj is the name.

The 17 year old altar boy who is conveniently missing and is the only other person Father Lucian disclosed the location of the bones to.

As it turns out, he was in his room at the orphanage and in possession of a rather large bag of gold. Gold which he couldn’t have earned sweeping the church. Very suspicious.

The only real snag is that the boy is currently under some kind of magical sickness and is basically too out of it to talk.

But, thanks to some seriously efficient investigation work - even if Destiny says so herself - they quickly deduce that Millivoj’s condition is linked to a young boy called Cedrik and this boy Cedrik is currently upstairs, in the attic of the orphanage. Armed with a knife, yes, but alone and… eight years old.

The plan is simple, get the boy to undo whatever magic he dabbled with, smack him on the bottom for good measure, and then go talk to Millivoj.

This will be easy, thought Destiny. One might say she feels optimistic.

***

“Talk boy”, Hoskgak demands, holding Cedrik up one handed. Hoskgak’s arm was shaking a bit, probably from the pie withdrawal, but he’s making a good show at scaring the boy.

Cedrik didn’t talk. He didn't even look scared. Actually, he had almost no expression at all.

Instead he plunges the knife into Hoskgak. The half-orc roars and throws the boy to the ground. As Cedrik’s body hits the ground his head jerks back and a black fog streams out of his mouth forming into a ghostly figure.

Ok, change of plan.

Ignore the boy, kill the ghost and hopefully this will undo whatever controlled Millivoj.

“One ghost, and we five legendary heroes. How hard could this be?” thought Destiny.

Hoskgak swings at the ghostly figure… and misses.

Serenity swings at the ghostly figure… and misses.

Ireena swings at the ghostly figure… and misses.

The ghostly figure swings at Ireena… and smashes her to the floor killing her. Or at least she would be dead if Destiny hadn’t cast her healing spell in time. As Ireena comes back to her senses, she finds herself slumped on the ground next to Cedrik.

“There’s a locket on the boy’s chest, it’s open, maybe it’s linked to the ghost!”, cried Ireena.

A furious Hoskgak fends off the ghost to allow Ireena to crawl to safety, Serenity reaches over the unconscious boy and touches the locket. Suddenly her eyes turn white, she looks towards the ghostly figure and says “What would you have me do, Master?”

“Kill these weaklings, I will feast on their souls and yours.”, the spectre commands.

“Yes master.” And with that Serenity moves towards Hoskgak with remarkable speed and slams her staff into the Half-Orc's face.

“Serenity, don’t listen to him!” Shouts Destiny.

“She won’t hear you, she’s possessed by that demon.” Watch shouts back. “Close the locket, it should help disrupt the demon’s power. If we can close it for long enough, it should trap the demon back inside.”

Ireena, heavily injured, leaps towards the boy and grabs the locket. Serenity's eyes return to normal just in time for her to see Ireena possessed by the ghost.

The demon swipes its clawed hands at Hoskgak and, of course, hits. Hoskgak staggers back, looking as if he would fall, but then reaches for his last healing potion and drinks it in one gulp, he looks round at Ireena and then turns back to glare at the demon.

“Run mistress!” Shouted watch.

Destiny runs, but towards the demon. Just before reaching it, she takes a turn towards Ireena and grabs the locket. And she got it!

“Watch, I got the locket! Look, it’s got some writing inside it, may be if I…” 

***

“Awww… Watch, you saved me!”

Destiny is hugging Watch like a child would a teddy.

“Let me go, Mistress! I don’t do hugs!” Watch managed to wiggle free.

“Seriously Mistress, next time in a situation like that you should run. None of you are in any fit state to fight a pack of wolves let alone a demon!”

“Yeah, I can’t believe that thing could possess people. How evil! Thankfully Serenity came back to her senses and helped Hoskgak defeat that horrible thing. Anyway, I did learn something today.”

“That you’ll run next time?”

“No, that I love my Imp because he saved me! Come here, I’m not done hugging you yet.”