Orville reappeared outside the gilded gates of an old Victorian style castle, stone gargoyles stared down at him with angry expressions from their high perches as he began making his way toward the castle gate which opened automatically as he drew close.

Orville climbed the stairs to the castle and just as he arrived at the door it swung open to reveal a massive hall with gleaming golden floors and a ridiculously high ceiling.

“Master Valcroix, I presume” a smooth voice interrupted Orville’s observation as he turned to the speaker. Standing in the doorway was a brute of a man who stared down at him impassively, Orville doubted his own ability to see as he took in the sight of the man who towered over him.

He idly wondered how he had managed to miss a man with such a large stature before said man stepped aside and allowed him entry “My mistress has been awaiting your arrival”

“Thank you” Orville nodded as he stepped through the door and immediately felt the aether prickle against his skin as he stepped into his Host’ domain. His metaphorical hackles rose as well as his guard in response to the feel of the ambient aether.

His guide, likely noticing his discomfort, offered a polite smile as he began making his way deeper into the castle’s interior, leading him through a series of maze-like halls which twisted and turned in seemingly random directions.

They had been walking for what felt like several minutes before they came upon an unassuming door to which his impromptu guide opened and gestured for him to enter “You will find the Madam within” the man stated and without waiting for a response, promptly walked off.

Orville stared after his back for a moment before chuckling softly to himself and walked through the door. Orville found himself in a garden of sorts, flowers of all colours and shapes laid arranged in a wide circle going around the perimeter of the room.

A gazebo sat in the middle of the room, directly under a sun lamp. Orville felt slightly anxious as he made his way toward the gazebo where he saw the presumed lady of the castle, her form burned brightly with aether to his senses as he cautiously made his way closer.

As he drew nearer, her features became more discernible. She busied herself by pouring two cups of what appeared to be tea, her long raven hair draped over her shoulders. She wore a flowing red dress with a black sash wrapped around her waist, emerald green eyes turned to him as he approached and a smile graced her full lips while she watched him approach.

“Lady Lull, I’m assuming” Orville ventured, pausing at the entrance of the gazebo while warily eyeing his surroundings. A giggle akin to the sound of wind chimes brought his attention back to his host as she covered her mouth behind a gloved hand, eyes twinkling in amusement as she watched him.

“Would you relax” she teased “I wouldn’t invite you all the way here just to kill you. That would be far too boring. And I’m a lady after all. Sit, have some tea” she said teasingly.

Orville allowed a small smile to slip as he entered and took the seat directly opposite her “so” he began as he took the offered cup and tentatively took a sip “why am I here?” He asked.

Her smile grew in size at his question “because I asked you to come, of course” she stated with amusement dancing in her eyes. Orville suppressed the bout of annoyance he felt and sighed eliciting more laughter as the lady of the castle waved away his annoyance “come now, Orvillus. Lighten up. You and I have been around for centuries; learn to live a little, smile more” she teased with a Cheshire smirk.

Orville fixed her with a flat stare, lips twitching as he fought down a scowl “Forgive me for being crass, my lady” he glowered “But I’d assumed you had invited me to discuss a matter of some importance”

Lilith sighed and took a sip from her own cup before gently placing it back on the small table between them “Do you like the tea?” She asked, all trace of playfulness gone from her demeanour, Orville paused as he noticed the change and contemplated her question “it’s…….minty” was his honest response.

Lilith offered him an encouraging smile, akin to one you would give a particularly rowdy child who found it difficult to sit still “I find it quite refreshing. Mortals, despite their destructive nature, come up with the most wondrous things when they put their minds to it, wouldn’t you agree?”

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Orville opted to remain quiet, recognising the question was rhetorical and allowed her to continue “You and I share many similarities, Orvillus. We both wish to protect the mortals and their kin from our more nefariously inclined brethren. We are both outliers in that regard, unlike most of our kind we are guardians, the shield to their hammer as the mortals would say”

Despite his unease, Orville found himself nodding along as she spoke “Is that what you’ve been doing all these years, protecting the humans from our kind?” He asked to which she humoured him with a small smile “Among other things” she replied mysteriously before getting up from her seat and gesturing for him to follow “I have something to show you which you might find intriguing”

With a raised brow and interest thoroughly piqued, Orville followed her as they made their way out of the indoor garden and through the maze of a castle Lilith called her home. Several minutes of wandering later, the pair stood before a heavily warded door composed of what appeared to be steel.

Orville reached out to the aether and tried to glean what was behind the door only to receive nothing. It was like a blank spot to his senses.

“Find anything interesting?” Lilith asked with a knowing smile. Orville stroked his beard as he observed the wards, failing to make heads or tails of any of them “Is this your handiwork?”

Lilith nodded in pride before she wove a spell and directed it towards the door. Orville paid rapt attention to how the spell interacted with the wards as the two blended seamlessly and the door unlocked with a resounding click.

A frown marred his features at that as his gaze bounced between the now open door and Lilith’s amused face “You are just adorable” she chortled before walking into the room with him trailing behind, still confused at the display.

The room, which turned out to be a laboratory of sorts, was larger than his throne room he noted. With a high ceiling and mana lamps placed along the walls to provide lighting. In one corner sat a large shelf filled to the brim with magical tomes and glass jars containing amorphous blobs Orville guessed used to be some creatures of magical origin.

Snakeroots hung from the ceiling in ceramic pots with their wandering tendrils gyrating every which way. Pixies flitted to and fro, leaving behind light trails in a myriad of colours as they weaves between the grasping tendrils all while giggling playfully.

Lilith smiled as she allowed him a moment to take in the sight before clearing her throat to gain his attention.

“You have a lovely home” Orville muttered somewhat bashfully at being caught staring before making his way over to her “Thank you, dear” she acknowledged before turning to the cage she stood beside.

“Before we continue I’d like to address something. Know that while I am a lady of considerable intellect, what I am about to show you has left even me completely at a loss which is why I had you summoned here”

Orville fought down the rising feeling of trepidation in his gut as he listened with rapt attention. Lilith, seeing him so focused, flicked a switch which caused a light hanging above the cage to turn on.

What he saw in the middle of the cage caused ever hair on his body to stand on end. Seated on all fours was what clearly used to be a human being. It’s skin hung loosely over its frame, blackened and pulsing veins wormed underneath pale skin as the creature stalked forward on twisted limbs and looked at them with bulbous eyes.

It’s mouth hung open, seemingly unable to close while a sinuous tongue slithered out and danced in the air before retreating back into its cavernous mouth.

Orville turned to Lilith with wide eyes. She shook her head at his unasked question “One of my servants found it on the outskirts of a human town a few miles from here. There were rumours of a wild animal killing those who went jogging through the trails. The state the local authorities found its victims made me curious so naturally I sent Valdir to ‘put it down’ as the mortals would say”

“What condition were its victims in?” Orville queried as he stared, eyes transfixed on the creature as it paced around its prison, releasing guttural grunts at them.

Lilith seemed uncomfortable as she bit at her lower lip. The creature paused in its pacing, the edges of its chapped lips curving upwards as it hissed in what sounded like pleasure

“The local police found its victims drained of all fluids and missing their hearts, lungs and major intestines”

Orville swallowed dryly and turned to face Lilith “Do you have any idea what it is?” He asked, unnerved by the creature’s unblinking gaze.

Lilith faced him in turn, her own fear visible in her eyes “No. I was hoping you could provide some insight into what manner of creature could do this. Surely your connection with the aether must be giving you something we could use” she stated hopefully. Orville shook his head and returned his gaze to the beast before them which was now scratching at the ground further breaking its nails with the action.

“Whatever it is…….it doesn’t have any aether or mana that I can detect”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t say that” Lilith sighed in resignation before walking off, leaving Orville and the creature alone.