126

Esme

The feel of Bellamy's curiosity reaches me through the circle link. For a moment, I consider checking on him, but ultimately decide against it, not wanting to interrupt a vision if that's what's causing the feeling. Instead, I go for a walk around the estate.

Novak being gone is a strange thing, since he's been by my side near constantly since Alistair rescued me from the enlightenment center all those weeks ago. I wander through the gardens, lost in thought.

Alistair said that Novak had an important mission, but won't tell me what that mission is. Then there's the whole thing with Ariel. Has she betrayed us? Surely not. Surely, if she had, the mark would have appeared on her as well. Maybe she didn't know what she was doing. Or perhaps she's being coerced somehow?

I shake the thoughts from my head, trying to relax, when the sound of a snapping twig draws my attention.

Of course, there aren't usually twigs on the ground of the pristine garden, so I must be hearing things.

A rustling bush from the opposite direction of where I thought I heard the twig has me spinning. *What's going on?* I frown and shift my gait to something a little stealthier, moving my weight to the tips of my toes rather than my heels.

I stalk closer to the source of the sound, gently rolling my weight from the sole to toes, never placing my full weight on the ground as I move low and quick.

When I reach the bush, the rustling has shifted to further down. I hesitate a moment before following the sound, unease skittering up my spine.

I move silently behind my prey for close to ten minutes before the sound stops moving. We're near the edge of the gardens that border on Alistair's private land, a forest which extends beyond the walls of the estate. I'm uncertain if the wards extend beyond the garden gate or not, but the source of my prey seems to be just beyond the gate itself.

After a moment's hesitation, I decide to perch just inside the gate and wait, observing until I can determine what caused the disturbance.

I don't have to wait long until a shadow darts from the hedges surrounding the gate. The figure turns toward the gate before slinking off into the trees, revealing the shape of a deformed humanoid... thing. *What the hell was that? How did it get past the wards?*

I briefly consider pursuing it, but sense prevails, and I return to the heart of the garden where I first noticed it, intent on investigating the place my pursuit started.

I remain low to the ground, moving silently, just in case. By the time I make it back to where we started our little chase, there's nothing to be seen. No evidence of a disturbed bush. No snapped twigs anywhere. The scent of something rotten, however, catches my attention.

I sniff the air, trying to determine the source of the stench, which is becoming more overwhelming the longer I stand here.

A fresh breeze blows, allowing me a moment of repreive during which I am able to pinpoint the direction of the smell. It's coming from the back of the estate, past the specialized training grounds, near to the guard barracks and the main well.

My stomach turns the closer I get, the stench growing more putrid. *How the hell has nobody noticed this?*

*Esme?*

*Alistair.*

*What's wrong? You feel... distressed.*

*Disgusted is more like.*

*Why?*

*Something stinks near the rear barracks and well...*

*The garbage?*

*Maybe if the garbage is dead bodies or something... whatever this is, it's ripe.*

*Don't do anything, I'll be right there.*

*Your nose's funeral.*

He chuckles and cuts the connection just as I reach the well, where the worst of the stench seems to be coming from. I lean over the side to peer inside and nearly hurl, cursing my now heightened senses.

I don't see anything right off, but the scent and fumes have my nose and eyes watering, forcing me to lean back and retreat a couple dozen paces. When another breeze blows through, I notice that the scent isn't coming just from the well, but from behind the barracks too.

Just as I'm deciding to ignore Alistair's instructions to stay put, he appears beside me, Mercy at his elbow. They both wrinkle their noses and look around.

I wave towards the well.

"Worst of it seems to be there, but something is coming from behind the barracks, too. How could nobody have noticed this?"

"Perhaps it's a new developement. I don't beleive anyone is scheduled to be in the barracks for another half hour or so, and this training area was last used around noon." Alistair murmurs.

Mercy frowns and glances into the well, turning a little green before pulling back.

"That's rancid. I can't see anything though, we'll need light."

"Not fire," Alistair says. "We don't want to risk the fumes being flammable."

Mercy and I nod our agreement before leading the way towards the back of the guard barracks. The sight that greets us has me losing the battle against my stomach, and Mercy clamping her own lips shut.

"This isn't good, Brother. I've seen this before."

"What is it?"

"An attack. And perhaps a warning."

"By what?"

"Ghouls at best."

"And at worst?"

She pinches her lips into a hard line and shakes her head, eyes watering.

Alistair sighs and runs a hain over his head, shaking his head sadly. He taps his cufflink, looking around.

Moments later, Maryanne and Noel appear from the direction of the estate, wrinkling their noses the closer they get.

"By the gods," Maryanne whispers when she sees the scene before us. "So it begins."

"What is it?" Noel asks, a frown pulling on his face.

"A sacrifice."

"For what? By whom? What's the purpose and what should we expect?" Alistair asks, rapidfire.

"Where else did you say the stench was coming from?"

"The well," I say, shuddering.

Maryanne frowns and grabs Noel's hands, beginning a chant without answering any of our questions.