“Okay, this looks haunted.”

He didn’t argue because it did.

The address they found within her memories led to a country estate, not as far from the farmhouse as Luna would have liked it to be. It made her concerned about things like fate and destiny. She may be Life, but was she in control of anything that mattered?

“The Morai, or the Fates,” Donner told her in the night, “are real as far as I can tell. My research led me to find tales of similar beings across cultures and I now believe them true enough. Whether or not they are exactly as the myths say is open to question but we will operate under the assumption that most of the things we encounter were predestined.”

“How powerful are they?” she’d asked.

“More than any other god. In some accounts, Zeus can command them, but I do not believe those stories are credible. It doesn't stand to reason, but we can't know for sure.”

Now, they stood outside the low, stone wall that separated this property from the rest of the world.

It was what she imagined the estate of Archibald Craven to look like; an English manor of stone, big and rambling. It was neglected, with climbing greenery growing wild over windows and doors.

“No, look,” Donner said. “It is made to grow that way. Notice how it does not overtake the structure? It’s been trained away from certain places. It’s being used to cover the windows, which makes sense considering a vampire was the resident, and over the doors to keep people out.”

“Do you think anyone else is in there now?”

“I doubt it, but we can’t be too careful. Go around back. There must be another entrance.”

There was. A basement door was locked, though no problem for her. Very locked, she realized once they were on the other side of it. So locked that a normal key wouldn’t make it budge. Lots of chains and deadbolts.

“I think there must be someone else,” she told Donner. “Someone who can open this door from inside. It doesn’t look like there’s another way in.”

“You’re right, be careful. Fortunately, we’ve come during the day. If there are vampires here, they will be asleep. As long as you don’t go crashing through the house it should be fine.”

Exploring the basement led to the discovery that it was not the lowest level. A set of stone steps brought her further underground into a place that reminded her of a horror game.

“I’m pretty sure there’s going to be, like, a flesh monster down here,” she said softly. “Are those real, too?”

“There are tales of spells gone awry like there are of experiments with unintended consequences. I have never encountered such a creature, but I wouldn’t be bold enough to say they don’t exist.” Honestly, the ambiance was lending itself to nerves. “Remember, this is not a video game or a movie. This is real life.”

“Yeah, but vampires and witches are real and so are gods, apparently. I wouldn’t be surprised if monsters were real too. I thought it was weird for people to imagine things like that out of nowhere. I bet they have to exist for you to be able to think of it, on some level at least.”

“Let’s hope it’s merely an idea leaking in from some other dimension,” he said warily, “and not something we’ll have to deal with here. In fact, there are beings you would consider monsters out in the world, but nothing like what you’re thinking of now as far as I know.”

What she was thinking of was a pale, hairless, shuffling humanoid who hated to be looked at or something.

“What if the SCPs are real?”

“Whether they are or aren’t means nothing. We’re here for a purpose and this isn’t it. Go back upstairs if you’re afraid.” Which was the wrong thing to say because she was an obstinate child and he did want to leave this place.

“I’m not afraid!” She walked further into the catacombs, dragging her feet on the hard, gray floor because it was hard to see and she didn’t want to trip on the uneven ground. There were lit torches on the walls, placed every so often. “How do these stay lit? They must have artifacts, right?”

“I assume so,” he said. “If multiple vampires are here they may have brought objects from their own lives or have access to caches of such things.”

The hall branched off in many directions and she thought she would explore them someday, but soon turned back because it kept going. There were even further staircases leading down into darkness. By that time she was getting curious about it all, but Donner was right. They weren’t visiting to do this, there was a reason for being here.

Back in the basement, she made her way up and into the house. She entered first into what was once a pantry, it had empty shelves and crates that led out into a dusty kitchen. It was missing all the modern appliances and she got the feeling that something else was going on. The air was different and Donner noticed it too.

“Go look out a window,” he ordered.

Suspicions confirmed. The view was not what it should be.

“There are sheep out there!” she quietly exclaimed. “Am I dreaming and we didn’t realize it?” Tall grass and wind and rain.

“I don’t think so, this is a spell. Perhaps one of confusion. The less likely option is that this window does lead elsewhere, but that is complex and difficult to maintain even with the use of artifacts. Unless the window itself…” he trailed off. It was possible, but not probable. “There are still things about the world that neither side understands,” he told her. “Be cautious. There’s a possibility that something unexplainable is happening.”

“Should I open the window?”

“No. Leave it be. Head to the front of the house. That is where the delivery will take place, though we can’t be sure it will happen today. That would be an extraordinarily quick turnaround.” Then again, the whole process was moving at the speed of light compared to anything else in the bureaucracy. He’d never had anything happen so fast even when large sums of money or other bribes were involved. “It's another indication that all is not well.”

“Does it have to be complicated like that?”

“The world, it seems, does not know how to go on in peace.” It was better to accept that and work with it, rather than against it. “Considering that even those who wish for it the most fail to attain it, often dying at the hands of the violence they tried to escape, we must assume the universe is inherently chaotic.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Which makes sense, if you think about it. Since I’m Life and you say that I’m chaotic. I can’t even think of another way to be.” She paused and said, “You know, I think you’re different too. You must be. You didn’t keep walking the bridge when you first died and you don't think you went at all when you left my head. Something else is going on there.”

“Something inescapable and unexplainable no doubt. I will not concern myself with that.”

“Because it’s scary.”

“No, it is not scary. It is a waste of time. I was human when I died-”

“I don’t think so.”

“-and I will still be human when I return to my body.”

“Humans can’t do stuff like that,” she pointed out. “When they die that’s it, unless they become a vampire I guess. There’s no way you’re a normal human. It’s like you’re me, but not as good at it. When I die I come right back. You don’t know how.”

“Luna, drop it,” he growled because he was dealing with thoughts of that nature, too, and despite his denial, it was grating on him. She was right about one thing at least, humans did not attach themselves to the minds of others after death; that was proven before his very eyes as the dead crossed the bridge. Whether they went on to live again or to a permanent afterlife was immaterial. The point was they didn’t remain on the earth as he did. They did not suffer suffocation when outside their own body or that of someone else.

Possession wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t accomplished without any knowledge whatsoever on the part of the involved parties. It came upon a person with an open door. Perhaps they’d used an Ouija board, perhaps tarot cards. One way or another they were attempting a connection with a spiritual world and the accomplishment was fraught with peril. That was something he did not understand, but there were enough accounts that he could never sideline the research. Before he died, and he wished he could remember what happened to him, he’d assigned a few followers the task of collecting documentation.

Now, he was considering sending Luna in to steal it. There may be something of use, though he had doubts as this situation didn’t fit the bill. He had no control over her. She was not spitting blood or speaking archaic languages.

“Donner, what the fuck is that?”

A floating vase.

“You said ghosts weren’t real,” she whispered, accusatory. “You said they weren’t real! And it’s broad daylight! What kind of ghost is doing shit during the day?!”

“A poltergeist is not the same thing as a ghost, it was never human. It is a collection of energy, capable of minor incidents. In most cases.”

“And in other cases?” Her eyes were trained on the bobbing painted china.

“I believe you’ve watched shows about haunted houses.”

“Yeah, water in the mop bucket turning into blood doesn’t sound so minor to me!”

“And it isn’t, but it happened because the people in the house gave it power. The more afraid they are the higher their emotions and the more power they contribute to the force. I can’t say much on this matter as it’s difficult to know the full scope. As Life, I’d think you’d have some say in what’s allowed and what isn’t.”

“If it’s not alive then I don’t think I can do anything.” She’d never tried to exercise any sort of power, other than bringing back the dead. And location manipulation. And making herself food. And-

“At the least tell it to leave,” he interrupted her train of thought. “I told you I don’t think any letters will arrive today, but if you’re set on staying then don’t get distracted.”

How in the world was she supposed to tell a collection of energy to get gone?

“Scram!”

It did, leaving the shattered remains of the ornate container behind.

Which woke up the vampires.

“Oh shit.”

She didn’t want any of this, but as she’d learned many times over, what she wanted was not always what she got.

As the undead slowly entered the foyer, Luna wondered what exactly she didn't want to remember. What did it mean to be Life? What was Life responsible for? Was she in charge of these guys or was Death and who was Death? Where was he or she? Surely letting things like this roam was against the rules.

"They die eventually," Donner said, "and realistically, they aren't a threat to you. It's uncomfortable, but we need the letter."

"I could get rid of them."

"You could. I don't see why you shouldn't, to be honest."

That would leave her with all the stuff they used as artifacts; no need for another midnight adventure in that case. Not that she didn't want to go out and see the world, but dealing with curses and ghosts wasn't what she wanted to do when it came to building up her bank account.

"Alright, alright!" she called. "Everybody gather 'round. I'm the kid Cædmon was helping. I don't know what all he told you about me, but-" They fell to their knees, faces to the floor. She blinked and asked Donner, "What are they doing?"

"Paying alms or something. Whatever Cædmon thought about you, it seems they believe the same."

"Well, that's unfortunate." Aloud she spoke, "Is everyone here? No one missing?"

"Yes, our lady," said some doomed soul. "We are all here. We await your orders."

She had no orders because telling them to die sounded mean; instead, she closed her eyes, imagined them dust, and saw her imagination reality when she looked again mere moments later.

"Sorry about that. But, you know, death comes for all and it was your time." She looked around the hall. Silent as the dead. "I guess I'll never know what they were doing."

"Look for clues. Books, papers. With everyone gone, there's no need to be concerned about not getting your letter. If it's delivered today, we'll see it on the way out."

Exploration commenced and it wasn't going to be finished in a single day because it was as big and rambling as it looked from the outside. Maybe even more so.

"I don't think this place should be here," Luna told Donner. "There's nothing like it anywhere around. If it was some special historical sight Ant would have told us about it and brought us to see it, even if she had to park and we had to look at it from the road. I bet she would have gotten a book out about it from the library or printed some information off the internet."

She'd gone through so many rooms and they were full of things, but it was hard to tell if they were worth her time or not. They were somehow clouded. She couldn't feel the power they possessed clearly. Were they of artifact quality? She wasn't sure and neither was Donner.

"I'm not sure what's wrong here," he admitted, frustrated. "This house isn't normal. It's not regulated to the objects, it's the whole place." Nothing was adding up. A window to another world, poltergeist activity, and a strange location. "No," he breathed. "It couldn't be…"

"Couldn't be what?" Luna asked.

"Something rare, but the various issues make one wonder."

"Wonder what?"

"The depths to which the basement seemed to go were unnecessary, unnatural. There's no cause for it, unless there was some magical reasoning behind it. The window isn't an accident, but why would it be there? The floating and shattering vase. This seemingly random build site. Each piece may fit a puzzle."

"And?" she urged. "What's the final product?"

"This may be a portal."

"A portal to what? Hell? The Nether?"

"I can't say. Regardless, we can't leave until you find it and close it."

"What? Why? How even?"

"Now that you've been here you're in contact with whatever is on the other side. You need to cut it off. That poltergeist may have been Its manifestation. In any case, if you leave without closing it, something is liable to follow you out and back to the farm." He paused for a moment before continuing, "As for closing it, that will depend on the portal itself. We'll have to see it first."

She moaned. "So I have to go back down to the basement and keep walking? We don't even know how far down it goes!"

"Unfortunately that is what I'm saying. It will be at the lowest level and-" a slight hesitation as he considered it, "I doubt it will be easily accessed."

"What does that mean?"

"There may be traps along the way to keep us back. Those monsters you're concerned about, rarely seen, may well be down there to block the way."

She scratched her head and put a hand on her hip. "So I have to defeat monsters to get to the portal that I need to destroy?"

"Maybe."

"I don't think this is what Life thought she'd be getting when she forgot everything."