Isaac sat cross legged on his bed, the quill already bleeding a slow red glow as it curled tight around his finger. His pulse drummed in his ears. Tonight he wanted to test it. Sevenfold Inquest.
The book had been clear enough even in its strange archaic tongue. Give seven true descriptions of a person or thing and the book would reveal the truth.
He thought carefully then began scribbling out seven details of the woman he'd come to hate most in this house. She wore a nightdress. Had dark hair but now dyed blonde. He knew she had a faint scar on her right wrist. Detail by detail he filled the page until all seven were down.
The words bled into the page and as he watched them sink in he noticed something. The crimson text that appeared underneath, the book's response, looked almost identical to the blood his he'd been feeding through the quill. It didn't make sense at first. The book only said to write thy sin in blood. It never mentioned anything about the book itself using his blood to form its own words. But the more he thought about it the more it added up. He looked down at the tendril still wrapped around his finger, pulsing faintly with each heartbeat. No matter where the quill was it always found its way back to the book.
He'd tested that earlier. Took the book to the bathroom and left it there then walked back to his room and dropped the quill on the bed. Somehow the quill phased right through the wall and reconnected with the book on its own. The two were separate but they were linked in a way he couldn't explain. So if the quill could find the book through solid walls then it wasn't hard to imagine that the tendril feeding off his blood could channel that same blood to the book no matter what. Like a connection that never breaks. He feeds it and it feeds off him.
It didn't take long after that for the page to fill itself out.
══════
Name: Lucy Turner (alias: Victoria Wilson)
Race: Human
Age: 37
Stats:
• Strength: 12
• Agility: 11
• Stamina: 13
• Endurance: 13
• Intelligence: 16
• Charisma: 14
══════
Seeing this Isaac's eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. The first thing that struck him wasn't her stats. It was her name.
"Lucy… Turner?" he whispered aloud. He leaned closer as if the words might change if he blinked too hard. "So Victoria isn't even her real name? Then who the hell is she?"
He couldn't quite wrap his head around how the name Victoria Thompson and Lucy Turner could belong to the same person but it wasn't exactly a surprise. He knew this woman was shady from the way she got into this family in the first place. "I mean there must be a reason she married my dad right? If not for money then what else?" Still he couldn't tell if even her kids shared the same name or if they were all living under fake ones.
And he knew his father wasn't a fool. Andrew might be strict and overly cautious about money, but the fact that he didn't present her name as Lucy meant she'd also hidden it from his dad. The main question was what she was hiding with the name was it her past, perhaps?
Isaac's eyes slid back to the stats and for a moment he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Of course they all had to be above ten," he muttered bitterly. "But I suppose that was to be expected."
He'd seen her workout routines on weekends. Yoga mats rolled out in the living room or she'd head to the gym for hours. So the physical stats made sense.
But her Intelligence being above his was what caught him off guard. He took pride in his own intelligence but outsmarting her would be like trying to move an immovable rock.
And her Charisma sitting at 14 was more than understandable given how she looked. Even he would get flustered if he saw her in her gym clothes. Still he didn't understand how someone like her was able to have two kids and still look that young.
"Guess 37 doesn't make a difference when you look like that." He paused. "But I can't seem to figure out the timeline for when she had Emily."
That math didn't add up.
But still. Fourteen Charisma. If he committed enough sins he'd be able to reach that number eventually. He was more concerned about how the changes would show up on him when he got there.
"Oh well. I'll just have to wait and see."
He closed the book and sat with it in his lap for a moment. His eyes drifted to the window. The moon was already out, its light pouring into the room and mixing with the dim glow from his lamp. The house was quiet. Everyone had probably gone to sleep already. He sat there in the silence for a while, deep in thought, turning something over in his head. After a while a slow grin started forming on his lips. He turned to the back of the book.
"Things sure will get interesting with this around. I just can't wait to see how things turn out. And as for tomorrow, hopefully things go as planned."
He dropped the book beside him on the bed. He wasn't too worried about anyone coming into the room and seeing it. The book had said that only the Bearer could understand what was written inside. Meaning if anyone else were to look at it all they would see was gibberish. But the most important thing he needed to worry about was the book getting damaged. It was said that any pain inflicted on the book would be sent directly to him.
"This sure is gonna be a pain," he muttered. "But what can I do? I just have to carry it around at all times."
He looked at it one last time before drifting off to sleep.
************ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ່࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘𐡏
Victoria stirred awake. The faint hum of the house settled around her as her eyes fluttered open to soft morning light spilling across the cream colored curtains. First instinct was routine. Wash up.
She padded into the bathroom in her nightdress, a silky cream gown that clung loosely to her frame. Cool water splashed against her face as she leaned over the sink, chasing away the last bit of sleep.
Turning back toward the bed she found it empty. As expected. Andrew had already left for his business trip. She smirked faintly. Probably with that second secretary of his. Her lips curled with wry amusement. Is he sleeping with her too?
Well that was how she'd gotten Andrew in the first place. Being the woman on the side until she became the wife. She took a sip of the irony and shook her head. Not that she cared. If the girl had seduced him then good for her.
Since Victoria was Andrew's secretary she only worked when he was around. Now that he was off on a business trip she was on leave. She could stay home for as long as she wanted until he got back. No office to go to and no schedule to follow. Just her and the house.
Her gaze drifted to the wall clock hanging in the corner of the bedroom. 8:40 a.m.
"Guess I slept in," she murmured, stretching her arms. With Andrew gone for the week she had the house to herself. Well almost. Emma and Emily still needed her. And then there was Isaac.
Her jaw tightened at the thought of him. Last night he'd looked different. She couldn't put her finger on it but she was certain something had changed. More than that he'd talked back. Boldly. Too sharply for her liking.
He was getting bolder. She'd been too soft on him. Maybe it was time to double his chores. And if he stepped out of line again she'd have Andrew send him away. He was old enough to live on his own anyway.
But her irritation softened when her thoughts drifted to her daughters. Emma and Emily were her world. The only thing she truly sacrificed for. She would burn the world down for them if she had to.
Still, unease lingered. Isaac seeing her with Jeremy bothered her more than anything. Her stomach twisted at the memory. She'd told that idiot they couldn't do it in the house but he never listened.
Their arrangement had always been transactional. Jeremy had something she wanted and she had something he couldn't resist. Nothing more than business.
But now with Andrew away and Jeremy likely to show up tomorrow under the guise of the gardener she needed to tread carefully. No more slip ups. Andrew could not grow suspicious.
She made her way to the corner coffee station to fix herself a cup. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee soon filled the room and grounded her thoughts. She carried the steaming cup with her as she made her way downstairs, still in her nightdress.
The sight that greeted her made her pause.
The living room was spotless. The floor gleamed as if it had been freshly scrubbed. The furniture was dusted. Not a single cushion out of place. She walked into the kitchen. Counters wiped. Dishes washed. The trash bin empty. This was probably isaac work
Her brow furrowed. But where was he?
Just then the thump of footsteps on the stairs pulled her attention.
"Good morning Mom!" Emma chirped, coming down in her neat school uniform with her backpack slung across her shoulder. Her energy was as bright as always.
Behind her trailed Emily, yawning with her messy hair tied back, wearing yesterday's top and a pair of shorts. She clearly had no morning lecture and wasn't in any rush.
"Good morning girls," Victoria replied, forcing a smile. "How was your night?"
"It was good," Emily said through another yawn, stretching her arms. "But I've gotta head out soon. Got some after class stuff then shopping. There are things I need to pick up."
Emma came down with her bag slung over her shoulder. "Mom can you call the driver? I've got a test this morning and I kind of overslept. I don't have time for breakfast. Maybe you can wrap it for me? I'll eat at school."
Victoria's smile warmed. At least with her daughters she didn't have to fake her affection. They were her anchor. The reason she kept up the facade of the perfect wife. "Alright I'll handle it. And don't worry about being late. I'll call your teacher and explain things okay?" she said softly.
"Alright Mom."
Victoria glanced toward the stairs then looked back at the girls. "Where's Isaac?"
The girls exchanged glances then their eyes darted around the unnaturally clean house.
"That's new," Emily muttered, suspicion dripping from her tone. "Don't tell me that bastard left the house. If he took off with the money I swear—"
Victoria's gaze flicked to Emily sharply. She knew Emily was talking about the allowance Andrew had given Isaac last night. Not that she cared. Emily had her own way of handling things and Victoria rarely bothered to interfere.
"Emma go check if he's upstairs," Victoria said firmly.
Emma nodded and dashed up the stairs. She came back two minutes later shaking her head. "Nope. He's not there. Probably left for school already."
Emily scoffed and folded her arms. "How dare he? Mom you've been going way too easy on him lately."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Don't worry. When he gets back he'll explain to me why he left without my permission."
Emma stayed quiet through all of it. She was used to her mother and sister going off about Isaac by now. This was routine for her. The tension, the threats, the promises of punishment. It was nothing new.
Victoria finished preparing a quick breakfast and wrapped some food for Emma to take to school. She called the driver and sent Emma on her way. Emily was still lounging around and would eat whenever she felt like it.
With the girls taken care of Victoria's mind started drifting elsewhere. A spa day sounded perfect. But first she wanted to take a nice warm bath. Not too hot and not too cold. Just something in between to help her relax.
She headed back to the bedroom with her empty coffee cup balanced loosely in her hand. She set it down on the dresser and began to undress for her shower.
The silk of her nightdress slid from her shoulders and pooled around her feet as she moved toward the bathtub. The air smelled faintly of lavender soap and the quiet of the house pressed in on her ears.
Just as she stepped into the tub the sudden buzz of her phone cut through the silence. It was lying on the counter beneath the wall mirror and in the reflection she could see the caller ID clearly.
Andrew.
Her brows drew together. Andrew never called this early unless it was important.
Sighing she stepped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around herself, and snatched the phone from the counter. With a steadying breath she sank back into the warm water before answering.
"Hello?" Her voice was casual. Practiced.
"Hello Victoria. How was your night?" Andrew's tone was warm but something else was laced beneath it.
"It was great. Just waking up. How was yours?" she replied lightly, swirling the bathwater with her fingertips.
"Didn't get much sleep," he admitted. "Had to leave early. Didn't want to wake you."
Victoria leaned her head back against the rim of the tub and let out a soft sigh. "It's fine. Don't worry about it. So why'd you call?"
Silence. The kind of pause that went on a little too long.
Then he spoke.
"Victoria, who's Lucy?"
The name hit her like a thunderclap. Her heart slammed against her ribs and she sat up so fast that the bathwater sloshed violently over the sides of the tub. Lucy? Her mind was spinning. Panic clamped down on her chest like a vice. How does he know that name?
Her throat tightened but she forced a laugh, trying to sound playful. "Andrew what do you mean Lucy? Are you seeing another woman out there?" Her words were a bluff. A mask meant to deflect and drag out the conversation until she could find her footing.
But Andrew didn't take the bait. His voice came again, this time firmer and heavier than before.
"Victoria. Who's Lucy?"
Her pulse hammered in her ears. He was serious. Dead serious.
She swallowed hard and tried to steady her tone. "Andrew I don't know what you're talking about. Lucy's a common name. Can you be more specific?"
There was another pause. Then Andrew's voice dropped, almost measured, as though he was weighing every word.
"To be more specific. Do you know who Lucy Turner is?"