The Haunted Manor of the Zharqasti Family

Ru was preparing to meet with Lord Dekaris Zharqasti. There was a contract to sign. That's why he was excited. Maybe he could become a rock star if he became the star of the Phantasmagoria Show. A rock star who saves the world.

"Yippee!"

He took a quick shower. He brushed his teeth. He opened the wardrobe. It was full of stylish clothes and accessories in vintage style. He also found a jewelry box. Of course, he forgot many things in a short time. While lining his pockets, he heard Amunet's voice say, "I'm still waiting for you. If you don't get ready and come, I'll let my little friends into the room."

"I have made a decision. I want to live as a pharaoh in the interdimensional house life," he said.

Amunet modified her threat slightly, "If you keep me waiting any longer, you will become a mummy in your new life that attacks other players."

"If you wish, I can cover myself with toilet paper and appear before your lord," Ru said mockingly.

"What can I say? You know how to disqualify yourself," Amunet said, grumbling.

Thereupon, Ru stopped fiddling with the jewels. He took out the flashiest suits and threw them on the bed. All the while, he heard Anaxarete's voice.

"Hi, honey. What are you up to?" Anaxarete asked.

"You see, I'm waiting," Amunet replied.

"What are you waiting for?" Anaxarete asked.

"Lord Zharqasti told me to bring Ru for the contract," Amunet replied firmly.

"Really? Then you wait longer," Anaxarete said with a low laugh.

Meanwhile, Ru was trying on some hats, listening to the conversations in front of the door. He saw a tall brown top hat with a watch buckle decorated with dry leaves. He thought he'd seen it before.

"Nice design. Should I wear this or that?" He was indecisive as always. On the one hand, he was listening to women whispering, and on the other hand, he was trying to create his style. Frankly, he was enjoying it. "La la la!"

"People say women are getting ready slowly, but they're wrong," Anaxarete said confidently.

"I think so," Amunet said.

"I like the way you look," Anaxarete said in a playful tone.

"Thanks," Amunet said. Her voice was not flat or emotionless.

"Do you always speak so briefly, dear? Or is this just for me?" Anaxarete asked, sounding a little doubtful.

Amunet coughed slightly and said, "If you weren't a woman, I would've asked you to leave by now."

"So you liked me. Is this how I should understand it?" Anaxarete asked, her voice excited.

Amunet took a deep breath and said, "I have to say, you're beautiful."

"You're going to drink with me, and then I'll believe you," Anaxarete said cheerfully.

Ru was sure that the witch was winking while saying this sentence. He tied the silk neckerchief and wore a brooch pin.

"Maybe, but not right now," Amunet said, a slight excitement in her voice.

"When then?" Anaxarete asked quickly.

And the door opened. Ru left the room with his hat, cane, and suit, looking like a young lord.

When Anaxarete saw him, she said, "Honey, you're dressed like you're going to a funeral. Why did you choose black?"

"I wanted to bring my rocker style into line with a vintage look," Ru said in a lighthearted tone.

"This style does not suit you, dear. You should wear clothes that reflect your youth," Anaxarete said in a friendly manner.

"Who gives you the right to decide how I dress?" Ru said, adjusting his hat snobbishly.

"Honey, have you forgotten? I'm your aunt," Anaxarete said sincerely.

"If you're done talking about fashion, can we go?" Amunet asked.

"Whatever you want, honey. I'll be around. Come by when you're done," Anaxarete said with a wink and a smile.

"Let's go," Amunet said to Ru, and started walking.

As Ru walked through the manor's narrow, winding corridors, he couldn't shake a feeling of unease. Every step he took was met with the groan of ancient floorboards. The wind outside clawed at the windows, its mournful howl twisting into a wail that seemed to whisper his name. Shadows, shifting and writhing as if alive, stopped the moment he dared to look directly at them. He spun around, heart pounding, but all he found were the flickering flames of the candles.

"I'm unhappy," he murmured.

"The moment we pass that door, your unhappiness will deepen," Amunet said with a satisfied smile.

"You're really sweet," Ru grumbled.

Soon, the door appeared in front of them—an ancient monolith of blackened oak, its surface carved with intricate, twisting patterns. The wood was gnarled and aged, like it had absorbed years of pain and secrets. Its edges were sharp like broken teeth. Age-worn iron reinforcements crisscrossed its surface, their bolts shaped like hellish faces frozen in silent screams. A large, tarnished serpent handle shimmered dully at the door's center, its eyes two blood-red jewels that appeared to track Ru's every motion. Above the entryway, a stone arch held a fading inscription in a forgotten language with jagged, frightening lettering.

“Absolutely stunning. If Lord Dekaris grows weary of this door, kindly notify me. I'll take it," Ru joked. Then he pointed to the lettering. "This should be a welcome sign."

Amunet stepped closer, her dark blue eyes glinting with malice. Her voice dropped to a low, haunting whisper as she translated, "Walk through me so that darkness can wash away your soul."

Ru blinked, his smirk faltering for a moment. "Well," he said, forcing a laugh, "that’s... inviting."

As Ru entered the gate on Amunet's footsteps, the temperature fell and his breath became foggy. A surge of cold air carried the faint smell of iron and rot past him. He crossed the boundary, and the world warped around him. A faint, resonant murmur filled the air, like a lost tongue. He could see souls. They appeared and disappeared with faint lights. And he heard their whispers—voices that weren't voices, mumbling words he couldn't comprehend but that unnerved him.

He looked back, but the door closed with a menacing bang. Finally, the hallway's dancing lights were gone, replaced by an oppressive darkness that appeared to surround him.

“Derdertere,” Amunet murmured. At that moment, a pale blue light appeared from nowhere, took the form of a snake, and glided through the air, partially illuminating the surroundings.

The ground beneath their feet has changed. It was a mosaic of black and white marble, worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. The navy blue velvet drapes framed narrow stained glass windows that let in just a little moonlight. The stained glass windows depicted sacrificial rituals with nudity. The depictions focused on young female victims.

"Please don't tell me your lord is a pervert who enjoys tearing women apart," Ru said, his voice trembling.

"It's a shame you'd think a woman like me would work for someone like that," Amunet said firmly.

However, her voice was drowned out by the screams of the girls in Ru's mind. He was being pulled out of time and space when Amunet grabbed his arm.

"Get a hold of yourself," Amunet said, shaking him.

Ru swallowed hard. While he was loosening his neck scarf, he realized that he had dropped the cane. He bent down to pick it up, but Amunet pulled him and ordered, "Come on."

"Oh, okay."

Ru quickened his pace. He briefly glanced ahead and attempted to relax, but his curiosity overcame him. Like an art critic, he observed his surroundings meticulously.

Soon candelabras lit by blue flame appeared. Amunet led the way through narrow corridors lined with oil paintings of stern-looking figures. It was as if the figures' eyes were following Ru's every move. The gilded mirrors reflected their images, distorting their faces in the low light.

Finally, they arrived at the vampire lord's study, a spacious room with towering bookshelves that reached the ceiling. The shelves were filled with old books and relics from long ago. A big fireplace was on one wall, and the flames made the room feel warm but a little spooky. The gothic furniture was in deep plum velvet and had silver trim. It was arranged around a big oak desk. The desk was dusty, and on it were quills, ink pots, and parchment that looked like they hadn't been touched in years.

There was a portrait on the wall behind the desk. It was in a heavy, gilded frame and showed a young woman who looked gorgeous. Her piercing eyes, much like those in the corridors, seemed to watch over the room.

Long, wavy hair in shades of white or pale pink, wine-colored eyes, flawless skin, and an exceptionally innocent face that Ru had ever encountered.

"The vampire lord's sister?" Ru asked, unable to stop looking at the painting.

"Yes," Amunet said in her usual voice and added, "Don't look at her."

For some reason, Ru got it and looked away, quickly scanning the room.

A pair of ornate chairs faced the desk, their velvet cushions worn and slightly faded with time, as though countless visitors had sat there over the centuries, waiting for their fates to be decided. Moreover, there was a sofa and a coffee table right across from the fireplace. There were fruits and wine on the tray on the coffee table.

"I guess it is prepared for me," he thought.

Upon entering the room, Ru experienced a sense of timelessness. It was as if every object and every corner held secrets from the past. He was confused about how he should stand.

The answer to his struggle came from Amunet. "Sit down, wait," she said, pointing to one of the seats in front of the table.

Ru gave it a go, trying to sit on the chair like a nobleman, but it didn't quite work out. A moment later, he heard the door slam, and he shuddered. The flames of the fireplace and candles rose and went out, and it suddenly became as cold as winter inside. When he looked up, he found a man sitting at the table. The man's high-top hat covered his face. Yet his red eyes rose like twin suns in the shadows.