BLOODY LOVE'S
Episode 152

"You ... see the spirit?" Rolan looked at Jose who was currently changing into a dry suit—his previous wear was drenched in sweat. "In this house?"

"Where. I see a lot of things." Jose buttoned up his shirt quickly, put on a waistcoat and coated it in a black short coat. It's so cold outside, especially if they go into the South Bjork forest later.

Rolan himself only wore a suit to coat his shirt. He does not like to wear layers of clothing. "You fainted" he said carefully. "I've been watching you all day, recording your vital signs. You sure it wasn't a dream?"

Jose pulled the black gloves from the drawer and put them on. He turned to Rolan, looking at the face full of doubt. "I saw Higgins and Mr. Wallace before passing out."

"Well, there it is! You suddenly have a headache and ask to be knocked unconscious. Why?" Rolan rubbed his own arm, still feeling creepy imagining what he went through all day. "Renata almost killed me the second I knew I was the one who knocked you unconscious. You should have seen how George calmed the workers. Thank goodness you guys have such competent butlers."

"George is reliable. Where are Xavier and Nolan?"

"I locked Xavier in the waiter's room. Nolan's sleeping, I'm giving him some sleeping pills. He wants to kick Xavier with his own feet but to walk is still always limp. That kid's really wild."

Jose chuckles. "Wild and strong" he said. He set himself in front of the glass, combing his waves of black hair with fingers. His face was not too pale now. That nice. It cannot look weak. "I hope Gerald's done gathering people. I have to give them a briefing first."

Rolan caught Jose's arm as the man passed by. His eyes looked seriously. "If you're wrong, you'll lose the workers' trust. Your position will be difficult. Don't move if you're just guessing where Marco is."

"I didn't guess. I saw Uncle."

"In a dream."

Jose shook off Rolan's hand. He touched his chest, where his talisman hung behind his shirt. Pull the chain of the necklace until the pendulum comes out of the collar. "Uncle remember this?"

"Why that necklace?"

"Have I told you that when I went to Sir William's party yesterday, I also investigated his house?"

"Yes, what a rash decision. You also told me that you saw the owner of the necklace, Arabella."

Jose nodded. "He took me to another party. The feast of spirits. There are so many spirits, and Gladys is among them."

"And they asked you for help, I remember. What's with that?" Rolan felt he could catch where the conversation was going, but he let his nephew explain.

"Before I met Arabella, I felt this necklace turn hot. My body feels bad too. Didn't Uncle say, the sigil engraved in this necklace is the Solomon Triangle, the spirit summoner?"

Rolan was silent for a while, then nodded. "The caller of the devil and the spirit. In the carving in the talisman, the triangle is also conjunct with the Circle of Solomon, a magical circle. The circle serves as a protector while the triangle is to summon and rule demons or angels or spirits who come."

Rolan blinked once. Twice. Then he gasped and cursed. "Activated it? Is that why you're possessed?"

"I'm not possessed" said Jose sourly. He put his necklace back in his clothes. "When I heard it in the reading room, I could see many spirits in this house, in Bjork. I thought I saw them, but I was wrong. I didn't see them, but my life moved into their world, or something. And my instinct says, if I stay conscious in that state, I will definitely die. My body won't be strong to feel the pain."

Rolan understands now. "Therefore you're asking me to beat you unconscious?"

Jose nodded. He went to the desk drawer in his room, took two daggers from the drawer. The handle and sheath are made of carbon. It feels light, but also strong. He tucked one into his waist while the other behind the boot he was wearing. "At first, I saw that the spirits were shaped like humans, just so pale and cold, so transparent. Then if you look at them better, they are all like balls of light, like fireflies. Bjork is so cold and dark, so silent in their world." He was silent for a while, as if half his soul was still on the other side of Bjork, in the world of the dead. "Then I looked around Bjork. I know where Uncle Marco is. He was seated in a chair, in the middle of a magical circle. I feel uncomfortable remembering it now."

Rolan couldn't say anything. He ruffled his own hair, confused. "I'm sorry" he said slowly. "I totally forgot you still had the necklace. I should have carefully uttered that spell—I don't know. I thought it would only matter if it was said like a saint or a solomonari."

Jose shakes. "Uncle just said a few words, but I felt such a big effect, I guess it's because this necklace is real. The right media has a strong influence. If Uncle said it in front of the same sigil scribble on the paper, it might not have any effect. But this thing is a magic thing. I don't know what would happen if I heard—if this necklace heard the right spell when I put it on."

"And do you still see all that? That spirit?" Rolan grabbed Jose's long coat on the hanger, then handed it over as a form of approval, that he would not doubt or hinder Jose again.

"No. I don't see anything anymore."

"Thank God you're recovering. Really, I'm really grateful." Rolan opened the door for them.

"They saved me, got me back here" Jose said as he walked out. The tip of his coat was gently wagging behind his feet every time he stepped.

"They?" Rolan closed the door, guiding Jose down the east wing corridor.

"I don't know who they are, but their voices are many, and I feel calm every time I hear them. It was like hearing a voice I hadn't heard in a long time, like hearing a distant relative coming back." Jose turned to Rolan, seeing that his uncle was beginning to believe in his story. "The voice also asked me to bring one more person, unfortunately I don't know who they mean. I don't know where to take that person either."

"Then?"

"There was one more voice, this one was different from the voices just now. He asked me to save someone .. Again, I don't know who he meant. Why don't the spirits say names, anyway?" his gerrick. "I'm confused what they're asking for."

"You've only been there half a day has been asked for a lot of souvenirs" continued Rolan. "What happens if you stay longer in the world of the dead?"

Jose laughs. "Be careful, Uncle. If you hear it, Uncle will be drowned in Lake Brich."

Rolan laughed insipidly, knowing that it was true.

***