A Mystery Deep Below Part 8
Once Lar’s last concoction was done and in containers, we headed out. Yet again, it was difficult to keep up with my mother. She made a bee line to where I lived and entered without knocking. Once inside, we went straight back to where the undisturbed body lay covered.
Standing there and seeing that small mound under the cover took my breath away again. A quick slap to the back of my head by Lar brought me out of my stall. “Time is wasting, child.”
Lar stood over the youngling and held out her hand. I knew which item she needed. I set down the bag and rummaged through it until I found the first potion and a spray type device. All through this preparation, Torchal whined in the back of my mind. I could only imagine what Lar was feeling and hearing.
She took the container and device and somehow connected them together. She held it over the body but didn’t use it yet, Instead, she looked at me with piercing eyes. I instantly jumped back but then realized what she was trying to convey. I rummaged again and brought out my notes. When I was ready, she started chanting and spraying. I wrote everything she said.
Mist flowed through the room. I could see silhouettes of Madame and us when we had come in here, but we were moving in reverse. There was a brief moment of nothing happening, but Lar continued to chant and spray. I saw Madame again but this time she carried the youngling. It was just undefined images, but it was clear who we were seeing.
We followed the backward movements of Madame to where she found her. Watching Madame broke my heart. She was a kind woman and truly loved us all. I made a mental note to help her more with everyone and everything.
Now was the time that we needed. I took notes of all we saw, and now we waited for the killer’s image. It had the audacity to appear from the front doorway as it was leaving. When it got to the youngling and crouched over her, Lar-Naneth stopped her chant but didn’t stop the mist. The figure held in place, unmoving. We both walked around and around as Lar told me what to write.
It wasn’t one of us. That was for sure. A hunched back full of some kind of bumps leaned downwards. An oval face, malformed, looked at its victim with its elongated mouth held open and dripping something. Long taloned hands gripped some kind of small stick. It wasn’t the same shape as a spine.
What was this creature, and why was it here doing this? I looked over at Lar, and she could read the questions on my face. A small shake of her head was her only answer.
She began to chant again, causing the still image to move. I had to look away during the time it took her soul. It was too much to bear. When Lar cleared her throat, the creature was on the move again, walking backward. It had taken the little one by surprise and overpowered her with its strength. She hadn’t stood a chance.
