Aubrey dreamed of fire and brimstone that night. She found herself back at the asylum again, only this time everything around her burned with unnatural blue flames. Everything she passed by within its corridors, people and objects alike, crumbled away into dust.

She continued walking along its corridors and hallways as if drawn to something within its depths. Her feet carried her onward without conscious thought.

Eventually, she came upon a familiar scene—the room where she'd discovered the tape recorder. She entered through its doors once more, except instead of finding an empty room awaiting her, she saw two figures standing in the center of it. They faced each other, both dressed in white coats with stethoscopes draped around their necks. One had short blonde hair tied up into a ponytail, while the other possessed shoulder-length black locks that fell over his forehead.

They spoke amongst themselves quietly enough that she couldn't make out their words, but something about their demeanor made her nervous. Neither acknowledged her presence as she approached them slowly until she stood directly beside the pair.

She looked down at her own hands then: pale and sickly-looking, almost skeletal even with how thin her fingers appeared. She wore the same hospital gown that the chained whisperer wore back in the basement, stained crimson by bloodstains down its front.

The two researchers remained oblivious to her presence, continuing their conversation as if she wasn't there.

"I can't believe she escaped again," the woman said, sounding exasperated. "How did she even manage that?"

The man shrugged in response. "We underestimated her tenacity. We shouldn't have tried breaking her spirit; we should've focused on forcing compliance instead. At least then she'd still be here and available for testing."

"What do we do now? The project is essentially over at this point," she replied with a sigh, running a hand through her hair in frustration.

"Not necessarily," he answered after a moment's thought. "We can continue working with what we've got. Perhaps try experimenting with other subjects—especially ones from similar backgrounds. If we can find someone else who possesses those talents... maybe we could use them to re-create the same results? After all, there are plenty of patients here to choose from."

"Maybe... but it won't be easy."

The man nodded in agreement. "No, it won't. However, there's still a chance we might succeed, and that's worth pursuing."

The woman paused briefly, chewing on her bottom lip before speaking again, "And if we can't get the results we want? What then?"

"Then we move onto the next project," he said simply. "We have plenty of funding to continue experimenting regardless. We just need to figure out how to make these subjects more cooperative."

"I hope we can figure out what went wrong."

"As do I," he replied grimly.

They continued talking for several more minutes after that, but Aubrey tuned out their conversation as she glanced around the room again. Everything around her seemed to grow dimmer, losing its color as if fading away into nothingness itself.

Everything except for herself and the two researchers, who remained in place even as the rest of their surroundings fell apart around them.

Eventually, even they started disappearing as well.

She awoke with a start, her heart racing inside her chest as she lay there gasping for breath. It took a moment for her vision to clear enough for her to recognize where she was, but once it did, she relaxed. She found herself back in her bedroom within the cathedral's attic, bathed in dim moonlight streaming through its windows.

Liza remained sleeping peacefully beside her on top of the bedcovers, completely undisturbed by her sudden movement.

Aubrey drew in several deep breaths before letting them out slowly, calming her nerves enough so that she could sit up without feeling dizzy. Her mind raced as she tried recalling everything about that dream.

That blonde woman's face stood out clearly in her memory.

Helena? Yeah, that was definitely Helena.

The rage that simmered within her core upon seeing that woman—even if it was merely in a dream—was palpable enough to feel tangible in the air around her. She longed for nothing more than to grab hold of that bitch's neck and snap it like a twig between her hands. She'd watch with satisfaction as the life left those eyes of hers.

"Goddamnit," she growled under her breath.

She didn't even realize she'd been clenching her fists tightly enough to make her nails dig into her palms until she felt blood trickling down her fingers. She flexed them open slowly, letting out another slow exhale along with them as she unclenched.

It'll happen soon enough. Once I've learned everything there is to learn from the Hunters, then... then we'll see who breaks whom.

Liza shifted in her sleep beside her, murmuring something unintelligible before rolling onto her other side. The movement drew Aubrey's attention to her once again.

Aubrey watched her for several moments before reaching over to gently stroke Liza's cheek with a thumb. The gesture seemed to comfort the woman, as she settled back into slumber with ease.

She eventually dozed off again too, falling into an uneasy sleep, though thankfully devoid of any further dreams this time around.

----------------------------------------

Levy observed Seraphine through the corners of his eyes, noticing her looking particularly contemplative as they both sat inside the back of a carriage traveling towards The Order of the Viridian Cross. She'd been acting similarly ever since they parted ways with Aubrey at the asylum. If anything, she seemed even more distracted and withdrawn since then.

He coughed once into a closed fist before addressing her again for at least the tenth time since this afternoon, "Um, Sera? Hello? Anyone home?"

His words seemed lost upon her for several beats until she finally roused from whatever musings preoccupied her mind and fixed him a quizzical stare, "Hmm?"

"Is everything alright? I mean, after all that transpired so recently," he ventured carefully.

The bags beneath her eyes only highlighted how tired she appeared overall, accentuated by the way the corners of her mouth downturned ever so slightly at his question. "I'm Fine. Just... thinking."

"About what happened at the asylum?"

Seraphine let out a sigh as she leaned back against her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, giving him another sideways glance. "Yes, among other things."

Levy shifted uncomfortably under her gaze before pressing on despite feeling like he shouldn't, "Is this about the aristocrats involved in all this or... perhaps something else entirely different?"

"Both," she admitted finally, looking away once more to stare out through the window as their carriage rumbled down the street. "Morgan Greaves and Augustus Schröder both belong to the upper echelons of society. Their power and influence make them untouchable to most—even to someone like myself. And if these recordings are true, then that means they've done far more than just cover up the existence of these experiments, but actually aided in funding it too..."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Levy remained silent while letting her voice trail off into silence.

He had his own suspicions about how far this conspiracy might have stretched among certain groups within Mordenstradt's nobility and political elite, though hearing them spoken out loud from her made them feel all the more real now. Those names were prominent ones, each wielding considerable clout even among their peers.

But why dabble in such dark arts? There was a reason why forbidden magic and sciences had been banned long ago, after all. Unhallowed beings preyed upon mortal souls as much as physical bodies, corrupting and tainting everything they touched. If that tape was correct, then these experiments could easily create far more than just mere ghouls.

The very notion of an army of these creatures let loose upon the land filled him with dread. And it seemed that Seraphine shared those fears too judging by how solemn she appeared now.

Eventually, the carriage stopped outside the main gates of the Order's compound, allowing Levy and Seraphine to disembark onto the cobblestone path leading towards its main entrance. A handful of guards stood stationed at their posts along either side, each bearing the emblem of the Viridian Cross upon their breastplates.

They saluted as the two passed through into the courtyard beyond where several more groups milled about in small clusters talking among themselves or practicing combat drills under the supervision of their officers.

Levy followed closely behind Seraphine towards where he knew they would find her superiors, nodding politely to those who greeted them on the way over. Most gave friendly waves back but otherwise kept their distance after seeing his robes and hooded attire—his status as a mage of The Arcane Collegium.

Although both organizations served the same higher cause, mages were still viewed with some suspicion due to their specialization in the mystic arts, which could easily border upon the line between 'normal' and 'unholy.'

Once they arrived at the main keep, Seraphine took the lead again through its winding corridors until finally reaching an ornately carved door inscribed with runes along its frame. Two guards flanked either side who stepped aside immediately upon recognizing her, allowing them access inside.

Seraphine entered first while motioning for Levy to follow suit behind her, then stopped halfway across the room and knelt down on one knee before a trio of individuals seated at a large table ahead.

A woman clad entirely in green-colored robes stood up first, greeting them warmly, "Welcome back, Emerald Huntress. Rise and make your report."

Seraphine rose up from her kneeling position as commanded and bowed her head respectfully before beginning. She recounted their discovery at the asylum along with everything else they learned afterward during their investigation together.

However, he noticed how she purposefully omitted a few details concerning Aubrey Sinclair—most notably, about the latter's affiliation with other Unhallowed beings. Perhaps mentioning that he and Seraphine had been defeated once by them wouldn't have boded well in front of these leaders either... but still, it was curious.

Once finished, Seraphine gave another formal salute, fist placed over the heart. "That concludes my report, Lady Gwendolyn."

The older woman nodded in acknowledgment, clasping her hands behind her back as she paced around the room while considering all she just heard. The other two figures—both men—remained seated, one dressed similarly to Seraphine in combat gear and mail armor while the other wore finer clothing underneath a heavy fur cloak.

Levy couldn't help but notice how their gazes fell upon him periodically during Seraphine's report, narrowing slightly each time before returning their attention elsewhere again. Perhaps he should have worn something less conspicuous today after all.

After a few minutes of silence save for Gwendolyn's footsteps echoing off against stone tiles, she finally spoke up once more, "Thank you for your thorough report, Huntress. Your efforts will not go unrewarded."

Seraphine bowed low at that praise before straightening herself again. "Thank you, my Lady."

"If I may," Levy interjected as politely as possible before continuing once the woman nodded for him to continue, "Do we have any plans in pursuing these leads further? The fact that we have evidence of aristocrats involvement here cannot simply go unpunished."

Gwendolyn pursed her lips slightly but didn't seem upset by his question so much as it appeared like she was pondering how best to respond.

Finally, she turned away from them both to gaze out through one window overlooking their compound below. "Both our organizations have no authority to do so—not without sufficient cause or evidence," she replied solemnly before facing them again, adding with a sigh, "But yes, this situation cannot be allowed to continue unchecked."

Levy narrowed his eyes at her words. "But we should have sufficient evidence. The recordings, documents, and other materials—"

"Are not enough," Gwendolyn cut him off sharply with an upraised hand, silencing any further arguments he might've voiced.

She shook her head, sounding apologetic when she spoke again, "We lack the political capital necessary to proceed against those involved. The most we could do is to present these findings before the Royal Court itself—though that would require some convincing as well."

The man in the fur cloak cleared his throat loudly before speaking up for the first time since they entered, "I'm afraid the Lady speaks truthfully here, good mage. Despite what some may think, Mordenstradt remains beholden to those in power: both the Crown and nobility. We cannot move against such figures without just cause or reasonable suspicion of their guilt. While these recordings are damning, they only hint at the possibility of their involvement, nothing more."

Seraphine clenched her jaw but didn't dare challenge him directly even if her expression clearly conveyed that she disagreed with his statement.

The other man spoke up next while giving Levy a hard stare. "No doubt The Arcane Collegium holds similar constraints on its ability to act as well."

Levy met his gaze without flinching, even though he knew the man's words rang true. He had already submitted his report to his superiors prior to this meeting. Their response—a lack thereof, rather—was already clear enough of what the stance would be for them.

"Regardless," Gwendolyn continued after allowing another moment of silence pass between everyone present, "this matter will not go unaddressed. They pose a clear and present threat to all Mordenstradt. I'll see what strings I can pull behind the scenes, discreetly of course. Perhaps the threat of exposure alone will be enough to deter future actions on their part. If nothing else, it should at least buy us some time to prepare ourselves better for when things escalate further."

Seraphine seemed satisfied with that answer judging by how her posture relaxed somewhat, though she remained otherwise silent throughout this exchange. Levy, however, felt less than pleased by this development. Still, there wasn't much else he could do about it either other than accept their decision.

"For now, I ask that you continue your work together and see if anything else turns up in the meantime," Gwendolyn added after allowing several beats to pass between them.

The armored man stood up from his seat and turned towards Seraphine, addressing her directly. "About that Unhallowed who calls herself Aubrey Sinclair. How sure are you that she and the late diva are one in the same? Could this not simply be some doppelganger masquerading as her?"

Seraphine shook her head firmly, glancing briefly at Levy who nodded back in agreement. "No. I'm certain of it. Her story adds up too well with what we found at the asylum. Doppelgangers aren't known for being capable of sustained impersonations over long periods either."

The man furrowed his brows slightly before letting out a sigh, "Very well then. But know that her involvement in this has made things more complicated than they already were. If she is truly who she claims to be, then we cannot allow word to spread about her status as an Unhallowed being. The implications alone could do irreparable harm to the city's stability—to say nothing of the effect it would have on morale. Both our organizations will remain in denial if questioned about her nature."

"I understand," Seraphine replied with a nod, though Levy didn't miss how her shoulders stiffened at that declaration.

"Good. We'll leave it up to you to ensure that this... girl... remains discreet as well," the man said after glancing briefly towards Gwendolyn who nodded in agreement before motioning for them both to depart.

"Keep up the good fight, both of you."

Seraphine offered another salute in response before turning around on her heels to leave without saying anything else, which Levy followed suit behind her after a brief pause of his own. He tried not to show any visible signs of frustration as they walked side-by-side back through the keep's halls again, but judging from how Seraphine glanced over at him periodically, he knew he must've failed miserably at that.

They exited the building without speaking until they reached their carriage outside again before boarding inside. Levy let out a long sigh as he slumped down into one seat while Seraphine sat across from him, looking similarly displeased as well.

"So, what now?" Levy broke the silence between them with an exasperated tone, staring out through the window at nothing in particular while trying not to think too much about everything else right now. "What good is evidence if it cannot be used to bring those responsible to justice?"

Seraphine made no comment, remaining quiet for a time as the carriage lurched forward onto its wheels once more before answering in turn, "I don't know. But I suppose we just have to keep digging."

"Yes... I suppose so," Levy replied after a moment of reflection. "But where do we go from here? What more can we even uncover at this point?"

Seraphine bit her lip, frowning deeply as she looked away from him towards the window. "That remains to be seen. Perhaps Aubrey might have some ideas."