Chapter 133 – Miss Justice and the Madhouse
Backlund, Empress Borough, the study of Viscount Glaint's residence.
"Xio, Fors, this is the payment you've earned."
Across the table, Audrey Hall—graceful in a long dress—slid two envelopes toward the two female Beyondonder.
Xio Derecha, short and tousle-haired, instinctively stared at the envelopes; they were so stuffed they invited delightful imaginings.
Though it was rude, she tore the envelope open on the spot and saw a thick wad of notes.
"Ten-pound…"
Beside her, her partner Fors Wall leaned in, languor replaced by a gleam.
"Eight hundred pounds in total—divide it as you please."
Audrey smiled. "Consideration for the danger you faced."
Eight hundred pounds!
The two exchanged wide-eyed glances.
The commission had nearly got them killed by a pirate admiral… but with a reward like this, it suddenly felt like a bargain.
"If anything similar comes up, I hope you'll help me again."
Audrey said brightly.
"Gladly!"
Xio answered without hesitation.
With business settled, the talk drifted to occult lore and a recent vicious murder.
"So you believe the killer targeting women is a Beyonder?"
Viscount Glaint asked.
"Exactly. The Silas Yard police are hopeless, but after so many cases even Fools would have found something—yet they've nothing. That screams abnormal factors,"
Xio said. "Only a Beyonder could manage it. The official Beyonder outfits must be on it; the murderer will be caught soon."
They were discussing Backlund's latest serial killings: young women gutted, certain organs taken.
What Sequence could produce such cruelty…
Audrey pondered, then noticed Fors frowning at the others.
Already a Sequence 8 Telepathist, she read the meaning at once: Fors wanted to speak but doubted herself.
"Miss Fors, do you have a guess?"
Audrey prompted, feigning curiosity.
"Mm."
Fors ruffled her brown curls. "Actually, I think there are two murderers."
"Fors, not that again."
Xio protested, evidently hearing it before.
"Why do you say that?"
Audrey was intrigued.
"From the papers, the victims split into two groups: active street-girls and former street-girls.
The active ones died far more horribly—bellies ripped as if something tore out from inside,"
Fors said slowly. "Same style, yes, but I think two separate killers hunt: one after ex-street-girls, one after current."
"But two different killers at once—such coincidence?"
Xio shook her head. "Is Backlund really that dangerous?"
"Just a guess!"
Fors snapped, irked by the rebuttal.
After bickering they dropped the topic. Audrey led them to the viscount's library; as expected, Xio borrowed the tampered copy of Noble Heraldry
—inside which lay a slip bearing Mr. Fool's honorific, fated to draw them Above the Gray Fog.
Pleased, Audrey noted Fors's theory to raise at the Tarot Club: perhaps Hanged Man, Sun—even Mr. Fool—would find it of interest.
The next day, Backlund, Cherwood Borough, St. Elizabeth Hospital.
"Miss, I'm sorry—your brother shows no improvement."
The attending physician closed the chart with a sigh.
Across from him sat a blue-eyed girl; beside her, an equally handsome brother. Their beauty made the Doctor—jaded by routine—feel fresh pity.
Lu Ze, vacant-eyed, wore a straitjacket; a muzzle and strap gagged him. The mask kept his blasphemous words from driving listeners mad.
"My advice is full-time inpatient care…"
"We won't take that route,"
the girl replied. "I won't leave his side."
"Very well. I'll prescribe medication and instructions. Let the patient wait outside; a nurse will watch him."
"Brother, wait just a moment."
Chaos filled Lu Ze's world; he dimly heard his sister, nodded, and was led to a corridor bench.
Morning in Backlund, yet no Sun pierced the gloom; the corridor swarmed with patients like cavorting demons. The young nurse pitied the handsome youth, but his downcast eyes rebuffed her every word.
So focused was she that she never noticed two intruders slip in.
"Miss, this is madness—an earl's daughter barging into such a place! If your father finds out, what shall I do…"
"Relax, Anne. I told them I was calling on Professor Anthony—he's here for research today; no one will suspect."
The two young women threaded the corridor whispering.
Mistress and maid: Audrey and her attendant Anne.
While calming Anne, Audrey's green eyes studied the patients. A Spectator-path Beyonder, she usually analyzed sane minds; now she adventured among the insane, under cover of visiting a psychologist.
Her jade gaze swept the raving inmates—and alighted on a quietly seated black-haired youth.