Contents
Chapter 14
Overview
Awakened by desperate cries, Maevyth secretly investigates and discovers Uncle Felix sexually violating the corpse of the Lyverian girl from Moros’s manor. Agatha deflects and threatens her sanity when confronted on the stairs. Shattered and terrified, Maevyth flees to her room, realizing the girl is dead and that the house is perilous.
Summary
In the dead of night, Maevyth wakes to frantic pleas for help echoing through the vent. Confirming that Aleysia still sleeps, Maevyth tries to dismiss the cries as a dream, yet the voice persists. Troubled by recent visions and fear of the Banished Man, she decides to investigate.
Maevyth slips downstairs, searches the rooms, and hears the voice again near the cellar door leading to the embalming rooms. Agatha intercepts her, warning her back to bed and insinuating she is hearing voices—hinting at surgical remedies through Moros’s contacts. After Agatha retreats to her room, Maevyth, compelled by the cries, returns to the cellar.
Hiding in the shadows, Maevyth reaches Uncle Felix’s examination room and witnesses him caressing and nursing at the breast of a pale, motionless girl. When the body lolls toward her, Maevyth recognizes the Lyverian girl from Moros’s manor, marked by bruises and a cut, her eyes milk-white, and her mouth gaping as if her tongue were cut. A whispered “Maevyth!” startles her into knocking a bucket, drawing Uncle Felix’s attention. Maevyth flees up the stairs.
Back near the vent, the screams intensify. Maevyth barricades herself under her blankets, trembling, while Aleysia sleeps on. Haunted by the voice declaring, “The dead don’t pray,” Maevyth recites a prayer anyway, apologizing in fear and guilt as the cries finally fall silent.
Who Appears
- MaevythWakes to cries, investigates the cellar, discovers Uncle Felix abusing the Lyverian girl’s corpse, and flees in terror.
- Uncle FelixEmbalmer found sexually violating the corpse of the Lyverian girl in his examination room.
- Lyverian girlAbused victim from Moros’s manor; found dead with injuries, seemingly calling to Maevyth through the vent.
- AgathaIntercepts Maevyth at the cellar door, dismisses the cries, and threatens a surgeon for ‘brain’ troubles.
- AleysiaSleeps through the night, unaware of Maevyth’s discovery and panic.