Author Topic: The Haunting of Thane Manor  (Read 14465 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline The Cedar Witch

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1985
  • Night among strangers. Secrets in the dark.
    • View Profile
    • Modern Magix
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #15 on: January 12, 2020, 01:28:14 PM »
Really, she was trying her best to not let emotions get ahold of her; but when Siobhan's fingers threaded between hers there was no squashing the fluttering in her belly and pink creeping into her cheeks.  She glanced at the amethyst-eyed witch, gave her a reassuring smile and her hand a squeeze, and released it.  While holding hands was something Astrid very much wanted, she wanted it in a calmer moment where she didn't have to be on guard. 

Hearing that the spirit agreed to help them was encouraging, and the more they spoke the less Astrid feared that this spirit was something malevolent.  Before she could think or respond, it seemed that the spirit insinuated that something else was going on back at the city.  Astrid pursed her lips together and looked from Maria to Thestia, waiting to hear her response.
Anna/Odessa/Sonya || Astrid || Chtahzus'aak/Zeus || Extasis || Fler || Jeremiah || Laurent/Va'tamal || Malakai || Rachel || Vai
Old things have strange hungers. - Catherynne M. Valente

Offline Black Philip

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 2391
  • A Goat Looking For Love
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2020, 07:11:51 AM »
Thestia laughed kindly as Maria explained her deductions. It was delightful to hear magical theory once more, and she couldn't suppress a little joy at being the focus. She sipped her own tea, and waited until she was finished before responding.

"You got several things correct," she complimented, feeling like she should start off with the positive. "I do try to be good, and there is a great and terrible evil in this house. I'm not bound to this home though dear. I choose to be it's caretaker. So many spirits need protection in this home, and the property needs to be protected itself. I can't have the city tearing it down. It would mean terrible fates for all of us."

She looked grave, and shook her head back and forth. "You are also correct that Tess's soul is bound to this home, and the darkness that lives within in. Her pact was made under this roof. It was sealed with blood. No person who dies here can leave until Tess's soul is freed. If she dies, we are cursed here for all eternity."

She placed her teacup down, and addressed the group more generally.

"The answers you seek, lie with three of the spirits here. Thembla, Tess's mentor and aunt, and her parents. I can not summon them here for you. You must seek them out. Tess's mother is normally in her old room. Tess's father can be found in the basement. Thembla..." and here she paused, looking fearful. "She is in Tess's room. Be most careful with her. She... grieves so."

Her head clicked now to Siobhan. "Be most careful," she said sternly. "A daughter of Lucifer in this home is likely to stir the angry spirits here. You people and mine share ancestors girl. Your soul is susceptible to the same darkness as Tess."

She turned to Lacy. "You have more power than you think girl. You are no witch like them. You are a slayer of evil. Embrace your destiny."

Her head turned to now to Astrid. "Embrace the love you feel. For her, for Sabrina, for yourself. I fear you will go through life without this love. You deserve it more than you know."

Lastly she looked once more on Maria. "I see a young woman suffering. I see a mistake you made long ago endangering the ones you love. I see the young male vampire crying in grief and anguish. I see you dying. You must finish here before the house will let you leave, but make haste or face peril

Now she stood. "I give you these pearls, and the food and drink I've prepared will nourish you against the evil that lies within this home. Return to this room if you need rest, and whatever you do, do not open the door to the east sitting room. I've contained the darkness within it, but it begs for escape. Do not listen."

She began to fade from view, twinkling diamonds and intangible. "I will be watching." Then she was gone, and they were alone in the room.
Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
- Kurt Vonnegut Jr.


Jake Benny Kyle Lisa-Joe James/Jimmy Tess Tyler Apep Ari Lacy Mithras

Offline Idrial

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1258
  • Being a vampire is a privilege. Not an excuse.
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2020, 12:51:40 PM »
Maria tilted her head in kind at Thestia's compliment, listening intently to the explanation Thestia provided. A caretaker for the souls trapped by the pact Tess made in this house. This would be no easy task, destroying the house or Tess would be catastrophic for everyone. Taking note of the three spirits Thestia illustrated for the group, Thembla, her mother and father, who to approach first remained unseen. Thembla grieves and could be unpredictable. Perhaps dealing with the mother or father should be the route to take, but Maria was the only one individual in the group, and it should be a collective agreement amoung all of the witches.

Maria's train of thought ended in dismay, a young woman suffering, and a male crying in sorrow. A brief flash appeared in her mind with a picture of both Samantha, and an evil face she never wished to see again. Her face cracked, a look of deep worry appeared on her brow. Thestia spoke the truth about Sam, the teacup trembled in her hand, prompting Maria to set the teacup down on the table. A mistake? No, her own people betrayed their Saltigue and their tribe. The evil vampires' silver tongue had been their undoing, and unlike the people she called family long ago, the Anarchs would not betray Maria. Or hurt Samantha.

Maria did not see her own death. Only Sam and the olive-skinned man that annihilated her tribe. Which meant, one of the two could end up dead. Is that why Samantha's little town appeared in her vision long ago? The two were meant to cross paths? Maria's purpose in Sams life was bigger than to just comfort Sam after the tragic death of her mortal family. Prehaps it was to save Jake, his family, and the Anarchs the pain that not only scarred her for centuries. The trauma had weakened her connection with her deities, especially Roog. Until she met Sam almost fifteen years ago, regaining her power and more.

Maria accepted the gifts from Thestia before she vanished, trying hard to keep the look of worry off her face. Sam is in danger, but she would not fall for the mere parlour tricks the house would throw at them. They would escape this place, somehow.

Offline Seragil

  • Scribe
  • ****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #18 on: January 27, 2020, 12:15:54 AM »
She felt confused by her emotions and Astrid’s reaction. Did she squeeze her hand because she appreciated the comfort and contact from her or because she wanted to seem to comfort Siobhàn, then pulled away because she was embarrassed about the contact? She lifted her amethyst gaze from her rejected hand, which now sat folded in her lap, and looked up at Astrid. She didn’t know what to feel or how to act or react to the charismatic and stunning witch. She had never felt this way before, for anyone, and the uncertainty of how to respond because of her lack of experience left her doubting and unsure.

She mentally shook herself and sucked in a breath of air. This wasn’t the place or an appropriate situation to be distracted by such things. She focused on what was being said, only to expel her breath as that fucking ghost revealed who and what she was. Rage infused her as the coward quickly dissipated. How dare she! It had no right to reveal secrets that weren’t its to tell.

Her rage quickly melted under the inrush of terror of being outed. She flicked her eyes around the group in horror. The contemptuous smirk on Lacy’s face and eyes almost had her cringing, not because she cared what Lacy thought of her, but because she was terrified to look at Astrid and see the look mirrored there.

Her smile when she stood was bitter, though pride could also be seen in the straightening of her shoulders and in her angry stance.

“I may be descended from the Angel known as Lucifer, the first of his kind and First of the Heavenly Host, beget upon my ultimate mother before he Fell; but in the end, the only thing I am is a Daughter of Lilith. I am of her Blood and am her Blood, a true Child of the Blood.” She lifted her gaze, her eyes burning with purple light and power and glared Lacy down. “Your ignorant judgement means less then nothing to me, as does the darkness that corrupted Tess. Lucifer has no hold on me.”

She turned making sure to not look at Astrid and marched from the room. Pride and anger evident in every step as she exited the room and headed for Tess’ bedroom, the darkness held there whispering, calling and laughing at her with every step that brought her closer to it.

She would not be beguiled by Black Philip; she knew Lucifer’s tricks for she was of his first born. In his role as Satan he could offer her nothing that wasn’t already hers. All he could do was twist what was in her and claim it as his own, but only if she allowed it, if she gave it and herself to him. She curled her lip as she approached the closed door, anguished wailing emanating from behind it and echoed down the hallway.


Offline The Cedar Witch

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1985
  • Night among strangers. Secrets in the dark.
    • View Profile
    • Modern Magix
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #19 on: January 27, 2020, 03:48:33 AM »
Face scorching from all of their secrets laid bare, Astrid feared her pounding heart sounded as loud to them as it did to her.  She watched Siobhan with awe, unsurprised by what the spirit had revealed (since her own Sight clued her into many things when they first met) but worried by her reaction.  The accusation of Lacy's judgment made her inwardly cringe -- they were supposed to be working together harmoniously!  There was no mistaking the crackling power contained in Siobhan's body, stirred up by Thestia's words and gods only knew what else.

If there was one thing Astrid would learn from this entire ordeal, it was to never go into a magically-charged situation without spending intimate time with the group connecting and grounding.

Astrid stood quickly when Siobhan reached the door.  "Wait!--"  But it didn't matter, Siobhan did not stop and went right out the door toward unknown horrors.  Alone.  Looking quickly around at the others, Astrid put on a serious face.  "We really shouldn't split up."  Somewhere she suspected that they would be, regardless of intentions.  At least they knew where to regroup and rest.  Thestia had granted them that, at the very least, and information on how to proceed.

How was it that she always seemed to be underprepared for these sorts of things? 

"I'm going after her," she murmured, hoping that Lacy had enough sense to stick with Maria at the very least.  But judging from how quickly she indulged in the spectral cookies, Astrid had her doubts.  As quick as she could collect herself, Astrid ripped open the door and walked through, eyes searching the house for her friend.

"Siobhan?"  She called, louder than she would've liked in an unfamiliar (and haunted) house.  Not a whole lot of time passed between Siobhan's exit and Astrid's following, so she couldn't have gone too far.  "Siobhan, please," her voice was filled with worry as she went down the hallway where she thought Siobhan might've gone.  "You shouldn't be alone," she spoke a touch quieter now, patting her pockets and the knife at her leg as if to check that everything was in order.  "I don't want to be alone," she murmured.  The house seemed darker than it was when they first entered, and she went into her bag for a small flashlight. 
Anna/Odessa/Sonya || Astrid || Chtahzus'aak/Zeus || Extasis || Fler || Jeremiah || Laurent/Va'tamal || Malakai || Rachel || Vai
Old things have strange hungers. - Catherynne M. Valente

Offline Black Philip

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 2391
  • A Goat Looking For Love
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #20 on: January 27, 2020, 02:00:39 PM »
"Excuse me Miss Bitch," Lacy shot back like acid, not sure how exactly she'd been the one who got yelled at. It was the old white woman who'd accused Siobhan of being the devil's great, great, great, great, great granddaughter, although Lacy was startled by the accusation. The smirk on her face hadn't been in some kind of judgement of Siobhan, but in reflection to Thestia's words to her. She hated the pretend church mouse who'd just broken the number one rule of not splitting up the group. She was selfish, and went off half cocked like every rookie the captain made her train. They could've talked about all of it, and Lacy had been hoping the girls would help her understand what Thestia had meant.

You have more power than you think girl. You are no witch like them. You are a slayer of evil. Embrace your destiny

Lacy had just found out she was a wtich, only to be told she wasn't a witch? It made no sense. Where did her minimal power come from? How did she have more power than she knew if she wasn't the same as the rest of them? She was furious about such cryptic bullshit, and pulled out a fresh smoke.

She lit the stick, but the rosebud puffed out instantly. She lit it again. It went out once more.

"Fuck! Fucking fuck! I just want to smoke a fucking cigarette," she yelled, a combination of rage and nicotine withdraw twisting her into a tantrum. She looked up to the ceiling of the room.

"Your house is fucking haunted, and yet you care if I have a few puffs!"

The house gave no reply. She turned to Maria, the only witch left in the room, and pointed towards the exit. "Want to go check out the basement?"

Siobhan tracked the power from Tess's room, and went up the main staircase. The floorboards creaked with agony of age but she exited onto a second floor landing, and a fresh set of hallways. The hissing laughter came from the right, and so she went right, taking in the pictures and furniture. Runner rugs covered the hardwood floors, all of them oriental and cheap looking in design. The pictures showed a story of young women and a few men, living and training here. What a wonderful bunch of witches they'd been back in the house's early days. Eventually the group of people living here grew smaller and smaller, and the last photo showed a kindly old woman, a happy young married couple, and a beautiful little girl with golden hair.

The doors to the bedrooms were finely made woods, stained and labeled with name placards made of gold. The furniture was covered in dust, spiderwebs and trash, but underneath all of that looked nice and expensive, early American period. Victorian dolls, all dressed in their botnets and dresses laughed at the daughter of Lilith as she made her way along the halls. Their eyes moved with her, and the bracelet Astrid made vibrated softly. Once she reached Tess's door, a rush of voices filled her mind. The bracelet began to shake. The voices were filtered out, but Siobhan was sure she heard the words, Tess sweetie, Mommy might miss her train.

Astrid never made it to Siobhan. She followed up the stairs, but for her only one hallway was present, a different one than Siobhan had taken. A poltergeist waited at the other end.

Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one, the ectoplasmic blob requested. It wore a big grin, and black eyes. Astrid wouldn't know if it was a soul gone dark, or a creation of the house's chaotic energy. Her own protection rattled as it was tested. For now, her magic was holding.
Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
- Kurt Vonnegut Jr.


Jake Benny Kyle Lisa-Joe James/Jimmy Tess Tyler Apep Ari Lacy Mithras

Offline Seragil

  • Scribe
  • ****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #21 on: January 27, 2020, 03:23:49 PM »
She heard Astrid call out behind her, or thought she did. The darkness was oppressive and liked to play tricks. "Astrid?" She called out loudly into the darkness behind her, hoping to get her attention and guide her to where Siobhan was. "I'm' here." She waited for a reply but at hearing nothing she turned to the door in front of her in frustration. She shouldn't have stormed off like that, it was foolish, reckless, selfish even and it endangered everyone. She turned her head again looking down the hallway. Glad Astrid hadn't come after her, it would have split the group up even more, but feeling sad also because she hadn't.

The bracelet around her wrist trembled against her skin and drew her attention to it. Was the house messing with her already? of course it was. She placed her fingers against the black tourmaline bead and sent power into it and around it, binding it to her aura. It would now strengthen her own mental and mystical shield whilst using her to strengthen and protect itself. There was no breaking it or its power now.

She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it, the door opening almost on its own accord.

Offline The Cedar Witch

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1985
  • Night among strangers. Secrets in the dark.
    • View Profile
    • Modern Magix
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #22 on: February 02, 2020, 07:38:08 AM »
When Astrid reached the top of the stairs and turned, spying the entity, she froze.  The beam of light from her flashlight illuminated the floor between them.

Secrets?  The witch frowned, noting the gentle vibration coming from her bracelet.  Siobhan was nowhere to be seen, she had no cell service in this forsaken place.  Why hadn't they thought to take along walkie-talkies or something?  Now was not the time to devolve into a series of frustrations, and she returned her attention to the creature before her.

Astrid's hand drifted to the knife strapped to her thigh.  While she could technically fight this thing, it would render the blade less effective.  With no telling what sorts of challenges were ahead, it was a gamble to use so early on in the investigation.  With fingers stalling against her front pocket, she hooked her thumb into it to feign a more casual stance.

The poltergeist never said whose secret.

"Edgar Figueroa beats his wife." Astrid's gaze was sharp and attentive, body taught and ready for the creature's response.
Anna/Odessa/Sonya || Astrid || Chtahzus'aak/Zeus || Extasis || Fler || Jeremiah || Laurent/Va'tamal || Malakai || Rachel || Vai
Old things have strange hungers. - Catherynne M. Valente

Offline Black Philip

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 2391
  • A Goat Looking For Love
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #23 on: February 05, 2020, 05:09:26 AM »
"NOT GOOD ENOUGH YOU USELESS BITCH!!!"

The poltergeist was not pleased with Astrid's answer, growing in size, and threatening to push Astrid back down the stairs. It went from a puffy white to dingy looking gray, and it's eyes held portals to other worlds. Astrid's magic began to be tested even more. The house seemed to rise to the challenge of having witches once more in it's domain, letting out it's most pesky members.

"Tell me a secret about you dearie," the menace called out. "Give me something goooooooooooooood."

As if on cue, the song of the same name began to fill Astrid's mind! The specter transformed into a more corporeal form, a slick black man in a pinstripe suit.

"TELL YOU WHAT I WANT!
I WANT EXACTLY WHAT YOU GOT!
COME ON NOW. GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD."

Astrid would feel the poltergeist pulling at her mind, trying to break her bracelet and tear into her very psyche.

Meanwhile, Siobhan would vaguely hear the song being played, but as if it was far away. The door opened and revealed a child's bedroom. The walls were pink, and a stack of stuffed toys were placed with care on a large brown toy chest. Posters of the Pink Ranger, Barnie, and Blue's Clues covered the walls. This didn't look like the room of a full grown woman. Sitting on a puffy pink bedspread was a woman. She looked almost exactly like Tess, beautiful blonde hair, the same piercing eyes, and slender frame. She sat holding a stuffed goat.

"I would like to be alone," she told Siobhan, not showing any malice or aggression. She sounded more annoyed and slightly inconvenienced than upset. She looked at Siobhan for a long time.

"You feel like my Tess," she observed, before returning to petting the stuffed goat.

Lacy rose and began heading towards the basement, cursing out Thestia, Siobhan, and everyone else she could think of in Spanish. Maria seemed to follow, although Lacy wasn't waiting. The door Thestia said not to open did indeed call out to her as she passed.

Let me out, it hummed, rattling against the magical bonds that held it in place. Lacy ignored it, but did jump when her protection bracelet rattled. She found the door to the basement, and watched it fling open as she approached. She expected someone to come up from the basement, and drew her firearm in anticipation. However, there was nothing. She headed down the stairs into the blackness of the cellar. The walls were made of brick, and the ceilings were low. She saw a washing machine, several brick shelves filled with cleaning products, and a few rats that scurried at her approach. The room looked unremarkable, until she saw a man hanging by his neck from a rope. His feet almost touched the ground, but it was clear that he'd known what he was doing when he killed himself. A chair was kicked to the side, and the rope was tied onto a nearby set of pipes.

The man's eyes were open and he blinked at the pair. He couldn't speak it seemed. Lacy pulled out a knife, and went to cut the rope.
Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
- Kurt Vonnegut Jr.


Jake Benny Kyle Lisa-Joe James/Jimmy Tess Tyler Apep Ari Lacy Mithras

Offline The Cedar Witch

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1985
  • Night among strangers. Secrets in the dark.
    • View Profile
    • Modern Magix
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #24 on: February 05, 2020, 05:46:04 AM »
Flinching from the sudden outburst, Astrid's heart rate picked up.  She should have expected that, but a smarter spirit would have anticipated such a glaring loophole. 

"Be more specific next time," she challenged, rooting her mind as she grounded back into the Earth's gentle vibration.  With a steadying breath she noted the growing size, but kept her feet firmly planted.  The song bursting into her mind, heralding the spirit's transformation threatened to break her concentration, but she was steadfast and looked into the reforming specter.  Her mind responded to the prying by hastily reinforcing walls to shut it out, working in harmony with the bracelet vibrating against her wrist. 

"Let me think," she murmured, tracing her finger against the sharpened tip of her thumb ring.  There was no telling what this specter would do with a secret.  Lying would only anger it.  Would giving an honest effort calm it down?  She could try to turn back and make a run for the safety of the room they met with Thestia in, see what she had on her person for banishing besides the couple of sage bundles in her bag. 

Quietly she wished Sabrina had gone with them, but there was nothing to be done about that now.

After a few dozen seconds, she fixed her steady gaze ahead and spoke.  "I wish my half-sister was never born."  And it was true -- deep down past the part of her that knew it wasn't her sister's fault for her mother staying away from the family and away from her.  It was the true secret of her inner-child, the one that craved for her mother's affection to be like it was when everything was simpler.  Before her father disappeared. 
Anna/Odessa/Sonya || Astrid || Chtahzus'aak/Zeus || Extasis || Fler || Jeremiah || Laurent/Va'tamal || Malakai || Rachel || Vai
Old things have strange hungers. - Catherynne M. Valente

Offline Idrial

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1258
  • Being a vampire is a privilege. Not an excuse.
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #25 on: February 05, 2020, 01:37:06 PM »
Maria jumped in her seat, alarmed, ready to go after the foolish young witches, yet she was instructed to stay in her place, and she listened. Maria was an old crone, constantly listening to the energies in this realm, and others. Maria picked up her tea cup and sipped, sadly cold, gulping it down, giving her the extra nourishment Thesdia graciously provided. The house had succeeded, for now, setting down her cup, resting her hands flat on the table, trying to read the house once more, who would it hurt the most? The poltergeist upstairs played tricks on the two youthful witches, they could hold there own. An enchantment? A conjuration? A warp in reality? Both appeared to have a separate presence in there mind, yet they were upstairs in the same room. This house was full of danger and gimmicks, then a voice roared in her mind.

Basement now!

Maria grabbed her bag with haste, throwing it over her shoulder. An old Duskborn still had the speed that would rival any mortal, flying down the hallway, paying no mind to the room that pleaded to be let out, not today Satan. The bracelet fluttered against her wrist, the door was open, did Lacy go down alone?! Jogging down the stairs to see a ghastly sight. A man hanging, and worse, Lacy was about to cut the man down.

"LACY STOP!"

Maria grabbed Lacy and pulled her backwards, just in time, the spirit sprung to life, screaming and clawing to grab the detective. Maria held Lacy tight to her body out of protection, one strong arm wrapped around Lacy's midsection, the other around her shoulders, her head resting on Lacy's shoulder, whatever the spirit intended to do was foiled by Maria's strange magic.

Maria stared straight ahead at Thomas and whispered in Lacy's ear, "he was not kind to Tess." That was all her the information Maria could receive right now.

"Speak Thomas. That rope does not hold your tongue. Just your soul," letting go of Lacy and stepping backwards. Giving her space to move, crossing her arms, her bag visible, and one hand inside her satchel, staring at Thomas, or at least who should have been Thomas, waiting for whoever to speak.

Offline Seragil

  • Scribe
  • ****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: The Haunting of Thane Manor
« Reply #26 on: February 12, 2020, 03:36:46 PM »
Siobhan looked around the room with some curiosity before settling on the specter sitting on the very cute and girly bed playing with the adorable fluffy stuffed toy goat.

"My name is Siobhan and I am sorry to disturb you" Shiobhan said as she entered the room further, the words Give me Something Good still playing faintly in her head, annoyingly so. She squated on the floor so as to look up at the spirit on the bed and smiled sadly at her.

"Tess is the reason I, we, are here. We want to try and help her, to find a way to free her and to find out how this all came to be."

She watched the spirit warily as she pressed Astrid's vibrating bracelet against her wrist with her other hand to stop it rattling. Sad this ghost might be but it, the room nor the house could be trusted and so she mentally hardened her aura around her and turned it into a psychic shield.

"Can you help us? Would you like to?"