Space travel was expensive, but that was not a big concern for her. When her parents had died, Susan had inherited a little fortune. Enough that she’d never had to worry about money since.

As soon as she stepped out of the spaceport, she was reminded why she hated Vuulthur.

It was not a pleasant world.

A permanent scent of sulfur hung in the air. It seeped into your clothes and into the pores of your skin. Nor did it wash off, no matter how much soap you used. Most of the people who lived here had gotten used to it... She never had.

But worse than the smell were the roaring winds. They blew everywhere across the planet, unceasingly—come rain or shine, summer or winter, day or night... It was maddening.

The winds had driven many away—including her own parents.

Susan hailed a hovercab and had it take her to the place where they had lived when she was a child. She hadn’t been there in over a decade.

The property was old and abandoned. It still technically belonged to her family, as no one had bothered to sell it.

Her fingerprints and retina were enough to get the AI running again. It welcomed her home with the same smiling voice she remembered—it was the only thing she had ever found endearing and pleasing here.

“Thank you, Clara. I’d say it’s good to be back, but I’d be lying. Have any of my relatives come visit you in the time I was away?”

“Your uncle Duncan has checked in regularly, at least once a month. Your cousin Alicia also came, once, six years ago.”

Both names surprised her.

“What did Alicia want?”

“She was looking for a dress you had borrowed from her and never gave back.”

Susan remembered nothing about that... And it sounded like she’d waited a long time before she’d bothered to come for it.

“Did she find it?”

“She must have. She spent a lot of time looking and left with a box.”

Of course she had.

Knowing her cousin, Susan suspected she had just used this as an excuse to look through her stuff. Not that there would have been much to steal. They had taken most of their belongings when they’d moved out.

“What about Duncan? Why the frequent visits?”

She was walking through the various rooms as she spoke, revisiting her past. She may not have liked the planet, but there were some good memories here.

“General maintenance, for the most part. Keeping things tidy and updating my code whenever needed.”

“Does he still live at the same address?”

“No. He has moved twice since you left. Would you like me to give you his current address?”

Susan was now standing in her old room. It was empty, safe for the base of her bed and some old furniture. There were still some items in the walk-in closet at the back.

“Yes, please. Could you upload it to my wristpad?”

As she sorted through her old things, she came across a doll that she remembered fondly, wondering why she had not taken it with her... She thought she recalled a weight limit and having to make hard choices.

It all seemed like a lifetime ago.

“Done.”

“Thank you, Clara. Can you make me a meal? I’m famished.”

“What would you like?”

“Doesn’t matter. Anything.”

“I’ll make your favorite dish.”

Her tastes had changed over the years, but she did not bother to mention it. It would be nice to taste her past again.

***

The two friends had left the scene just before the quiet procession had turned into a riot.

Authorities had quickly swarmed the streets, and all foreigners had been ordered back to their hotels—for their own safety.

They were sitting at the bar a few hours later when they saw Paul come strolling in. He hesitated when he saw them waving at him, then walked over to join them.

“What have you been up to?” asked Jack.

Paul shrugged as he sat. “Just exploring the city.”

“I thought I saw you in that crowd...”

“Could be,” he said as he ordered a cup of coffee.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“So... do you still think you couldn’t remove the mask?” probed Jack.

The memory of those ancient and powerful energies coursing through his veins was nagging at him again as he looked out the window and pondered his answer.

“The truth is,” he said slowly, “that I could do it. I just don’t know if I should.”

“Why?”

His drink arrived, and Paul remained quiet for a moment as he poured milk and sugar into it. He took a short sip, then set the cup down and looked straight into Jack’s eyes.

“What I’d like to know is why do you want it so bad?”

Will glanced at his friend, too, curious how he would respond.

“I...” Jack looked down at his own drink. Frowned. “I don’t understand why everyone is having such a hard time understanding how important this is. It seems so obvious to me. It’s a unique item. There’s never been anything like it before. The technology involved is well beyond anything else that’s been found—here or elsewhere. Why would I not want to examine it?”

“You don’t need to have it in your hands for that, though,” remarked Will.

“It’s not the same thing,” snapped Jack. “We’ve been studying it like that for centuries, and what have we got for our trouble? Nothing. We’re still as clueless about its function as on day one. Maybe removing it won’t help, but it’s the only thing that hasn’t been done yet. As scientists, I think it is our duty to at least try.”

The call of the mask was strong. Paul could still sense it, even now, as he listened to his friends arguing over what should or should not be done. It bathed him in serenity and lingered for his company. And though he had asked a question he had thought significant, he realized now that, in truth, he had already made up his mind.

“Very well,” he said. “I’ll do it.”

Jack grinned. “Great! I’ll book us a time slot.” He paused, then asked with some concern: “You sure you won’t run off again like last time?”

Paul shook his head. “No. I... I was overwhelmed. I know now what to expect, and what I must do. It will be fine.”

***

They’d agreed to visit Moonrise the next morning.

Ward had wanted to go right away, but Brown had claimed he had a doctor’s appointment that could not be postponed. His partner had relented.

There was no appointment, of course.

Now that he knew who was behind the Rosenkrantz murder—and why—he had to take care of that other business. He would have liked to see things through here, but he dared not delay more than was absolutely necessary.

John Rosenkrantz had been a journalist. He was writing a piece about Moonrise at the time of his death. That’s what got him killed, Brown now understood. He would not have guessed it earlier, as the story had not yet been published and was a fairly inconsequential one. Likely, there was something in there that could lead to a bigger issue.

He would have to look into that at some point. But now, he had more pressing business.

As soon as he got home, he grabbed the bag he had hidden under the bed. He pulled out all the items he had taken from the house and placed them neatly in a metal box, one by one.

He included the wallet and the ring with the crescent moon, then paused to sort through the papers. He folded some and added them with the other items. The remaining sheets he destroyed with his portable incinerator.

Next, he considered the books.

One was about magic, while another recounted the history of the Weld. The third was a strange volume, written in an unknown language. The printed characters on the cover seemed to float slightly above its surface. The writing inside had a similar shifting nature.

Brown flipped through the pages thoughtfully, then set it inside the box as well. The other two shared the same fate as the incinerated documents.

Lastly, he grabbed the locket and flipped it open. He stared at the picture inside, of a beautiful brunette with deep blue eyes. Running a finger across the woman’s cheek, he sighed.

He closed the locket and gently placed it into the box.

Then, the box was put in the bag, and he carried it with him back to his glider.

He had the vehicle drop him off at the spaceport.

Once there, he headed to the consignment area and picked an empty deposit safe. He placed the metal box inside and locked it with a unique code that only he knew.

Satisfied, he went back home.

Before exiting the glider, he hacked into its AI to erase any traces of his trip to the spaceport and, earlier, to the house. Through the centuries, he’d gotten quite good at doing things like that—one day, perhaps, he’d make it his profession.

He then returned to his apartment and slid into bed.

Tomorrow, at dawn, he would leave.

***

It had been a moment of weakness. Not that it excused anything. But she knew why she had done it. She liked to pretend she did not... but, deep inside, she was fully aware of how vulnerable she had been with him.

There was nothing Thyria wouldn’t have done for him.

Never again.

He had talked her into it. Corrupted her. Tried to make her a better person.

It had worked, too...

For a little while.

She hated to admit it, but it even had made her feel good...

For a little while.

But then she had seen the looks in her kin’s eyes.

She had also felt the repulsion spread through her, like a disease. How could she have been so foolish? How could she not have foreseen the consequences?

It had damaged her relationships—with her father and with the rest of their people. It had made her a pariah.

So she had fled.

To forget, to weep, to curse.

And now she had to make amends.

She had to cleanse her sins.

That would require blood to be spilled.

A lot of blood.

She understood this now.

Standing in the ruins of the theatre had helped clear her mind. She had been right to come here. She had sensed it would give her understanding, if not purpose.

Now she had both.

With determination, she stepped back out of the burnt edifice and stalked the streets, looking for prey—anyone would do.

But there were too many people here.

Even if they all stared at her, even if they all could appease her thirst, she could not do what she must in this crowd.

Well, she could, but that would draw too much attention.

And while she would not normally balk at attention, it would not have been appropriate for this task.

As she walked, drawing everyone’s gaze—especially men’s—she pondered where she should go.

There were plenty of dark alleys, but that felt crass.

She smiled a wicked smile as she saw a sign giving directions to a nearby park.

Yes, that would do. That would do just fine.

The park was big—she knew it well. She’d been there before, a long time ago. Before he had corrupted her. She had fed well, there. She would again now. It seemed oddly appropriate.

She slowed her pace as she walked through the park, then sat on a bench, crossed her legs alluringly, and waited.

Many men walked by, but always there were others around.

The flow of the crowd thinned.

Soon, there came one who leered at her.

It was getting dark now, and they were alone.

She rose and stared back at the man, anger mounting inside her.

“I have nothing to hide,” she snapped at him. “How about you?”

The man looked startled. But only for a moment.

“I’ll show you everything, babe, if you want me to.”

She gave him an evil smile. “Oh, I think that’s a splendid idea.”

He must have taken her words for an invitation, as he came closer to her—close enough that she could smell the nauseating stink of his arousal.

He grabbed her hand and dragged her further into the bushes and out of sight. The man’s skin was sweaty and sticky and disgusting. But she endured it in anticipation of what was to come.

The human stopped once he deemed they were far enough and turned to face her with a grin.

He reached out and groped at her chest... but all she had eyes for was his jugular.