Nightmare

It took me a while to gather myself together; it was really what I needed, although the thing about manes was a bit funny. It was certainly helpful; I do not need to be the biggest, strongest, or fastest. I just need to be the one who can endure situations with my own capabilities.

"He mentioned a gift, but where is it though?" I asked myself and began to open the letter again. I found a key with a little note attached to the end of the handle.

I was confused about its use, so I read the note: "Basement Key. We have a basement? I never knew that." It was the first time I ever heard about a basement inside the mansion. I had only read about them in books where things like dead bodies or kidnapped children were hidden.

I silently prayed that neither bodies nor children would be present in the basement under the mansion. It was not the most pleasant idea about a basement. Though, knowing this, something equally ominous would likely be present there.

It was a silent night once again, the wind blew cold as always, speaking about the wonders it had encountered. In my vision was the shining glow of the moon casting on the ground, reflecting the shadows of the environment around me.

And possibly reflecting the shadows of doubt that were with me. Nevertheless, I needed everyone who could help me, even if I had to talk to someone who was a demonic-monster-like person.

"Y, come out," I commanded him in a strong voice. If he wouldn't come out, I would continue to pester him until he did. Fortunately, he did.

Black smoke began to emerge from the shadows all around; it covered the room with swirling shadows. There were faint screams and agony coming from inside the shadows, but I didn't care about what they were, as it would be like asking for death.

The smoke began to gather in one place beside me. It was eerie and displeasing. The smoke swirled around the room, shocking the objects, curtains, bedsheets, and every possible item in the room. The smoke dissipated, revealing a face with sharply cut cheekbones and a fragile bony nose. The dark, hollowed eyes had a faint glow inside. I quickly shifted my gaze from him to the key that I was holding.

"Enzo, do you have something you want to ask?" He appeared beside me with the same sitting stance on the bed. "Is it about the manes? They are strong creatures, but not the strongest. But they have the mentality fit to be a king." He continued to speak in a proud voice.

"Stop with the jokes. I'm here to ask you about the basement key." I continued to gaze at the letter, not minding his presence.

Although it was only for one meeting, I didn't feel fear at this moment. His presence was weirdly comforting. Scary as he looked right now, he was the only one who was with me. I somehow had grown accustomed to his presence, even with just one meeting in an uncanny place.

"As much as I know a lot about you and other subjects, this is also the first time I've heard of that basement." He replied to me seriously this time.

"Then do you think you can find any connections about it around the house? Use your creepy, magic-type thing to possibly locate where it could fit?" I sarcastically asked him, ostensibly hoping there would be something.

"You think magic is gonna be that easy? And, in fact, I do not have some kind of weird, creepy, and disturbing magic that could possibly track this key." At the edge of my eye, I saw him make funny gestures with his long, bony hands, which were practically frightening.

"Oh, very funny, magic man...monster." I did not know how to classify him, so I just said it that way. "So it's technically useless then if we can't find the basement's location."

"I think sleeping would be the right choice when you are stressed. It helps with thinking, and you can postpone problems for another day." Y responded with a carefree attitude and laid down on the bed, crossing his legs.

I looked at my side and saw him closing his eyes, which were practically hollow, and his face was truly unsettling to watch. It was quite a revolting structure for a humanoid monster.

"You are one fugly monster, Y," I spoke my thoughts aloud, though I didn't really care if he heard me or whatever.

He showed no response to my unnecessary comment about him. He seemed quite despondent about everything.

Y gave out a deep sigh. "I, Enzo, would like to identify myself as a unique, outstanding, and low-key individual who would rule the world."

"Nice dream. Just keep sleeping; you'll get there eventually." I gave a quick retort to his reply.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You just have a gaudy imagination about my dream, Enzo. It is a wonderful world, for me at least." I looked at him with a don't-care attitude while he was lying down on the bed.

"Wait, wait, wait. Ugly... Gaudy... Hmmm." I caught something in mind. Those words sound familiar to me.

"Real funny, you know you are kinda oppressing me right now with my appearance, don't you..." He quickly rose up from his position and stared at me with his hollow eyes. "You have something in mind about what it could be, am I right?"

I remembered when I was a kid, an object out of place was in the hallway, and I was first caught by my uncle. I remembered the altar, a gaudy, conspicuous altar. It seemed so out of sync with the aesthetic of the room.

I couldn't remember the exact shape and size of the thing, but I remembered thinking that it was really out of place in the house. Everything looked so uniform and united that the altar was the outcast among the furniture placed around the house.

"I might be wrong, but..." I slowly looked at him with anticipation.

"It's worth a shot." He finished my sentence and transformed into a jet-black smoke that went in front of me, then quickly transformed back into Y, standing ready to go. "Let's go."

Both of us swiftly went up and vigorously opened the door, then immediately shut it with a resounding thud that echoed through the hallway and room.

We walked with determination and hunger for answers. It was really refreshing to finally have a clue that could lead to an answer. I went down the usual corridor where red carpets and intricately made designs showered the atmosphere with their grace. The dimly lit pathway by torches seemingly guarded the night.

Y followed behind me, veiled in dark smoke, leaving behind a dark trail that could even be distinguished in the night. The moon's light was anticipating our every move, shining through the pristine window pane.

I passed through the very window where Styx and I first met in a horrifying way that still lingers in my memory. We walked through each and every corridor, hall, and tiny space, desperately trying to find where the gaudy altar could be. It felt like it had disappeared from sight. However, I clearly remembered that it was here somewhere, but not the exact location.

"Where did it go? I remember it was here somewhere; it was even near the location of my room." I was frustrated by the sudden disappearance of the altar.

"The night doesn't want us to find it, or rather 'him', tsk." He was annoyed when I looked at him. "Show me the key again, Enzo." He demanded, and I complied.

My hand reached out towards him, and I waited for him to take the key. But for some reason, he didn't.

"Why won't you take it?" I lifted my hand higher, implying for him to take it.

"You think a ghost can hold things? You are very evocative with your imagination." He replied while doing a shooing hand motion, telling me to go away. "Just hold up your hand and let me view it properly."

Curious as well, I meticulously inspected the key that was lying on my palm. The key was the size of my palm, had an elaborate design, and its color had a rustic golden hue and amethyst mixed together in an odd but satisfying way. In the middle of the bow of the key was a purple crystal that radiated a low light, surrounded by vines that outlined the circle in a particular pattern that screamed mystery.

The vines reached the large shaft of the key. The key wards and bits alluded to enigmatic secrets that this key protected. The key overall had a massive presence compared to its sheer size. It was intriguing; it was the first time that I had ever seen this key.

"Do you know anything about this?" I asked Y in case he had something to do with it or had knowledge about it.

"I do. That guy was really annoying. I didn't want to meet him anytime in this century. The fates work wondrously at making me irritated with unconventional encounters." He intensely sneered at the key, leaking bits of his killing intent.

"..." I stayed silent.

"We meet again, Primordial Nightmare. I didn't expect to meet you that quickly. Nocturne." He continued in a mellowed tone of voice.