The Preying City

Vincent got home and placed his briefcase down. Taking out the folder, he prepared to unseal the wax. He brought a short knife close to the seal but couldn't bear to complete the action. His uncle had taken him away to the empire to keep him safe. He could still remember it like yesterday when the man would console him. His tears had wet the man's shirt multiple times and he had been hugged to sleep in more than a single occasion. His uncle was also his best friend and he didn't know if he was ready to read the last words of such a precious family.

He had returned back to Kindlewich after making Vincent promise that he wouldn't try to go back until he had graduated. In return, he would tell everything he knew about the incident to Vincent. Three years went by and 17 year old Vincent lost the last family he had. He got the word that his uncle died in a sanatorium after contracting a deadly disease.

He had studied like crazy back then and graduated at an age where most people would begin getting admitted to the university. He wanted to rush back here and learn the truth about the incident. For many nights, he had dreamed of finally knowing what had transpired. Now that the truth was before him, he was scared.

As his emotions grew unstable, the images full of gore and blood came back to him once again. His breathing grew ragged and he could barely keep himself stable. Struggling to get the small bottle, he ingested a pill. His mind grew stable once again and he regained proper control of his body.

Mustering his courage, he undid the seal and took out the contents. A letter and a key with number 4621 inscribed in it. Putting the key aside for now, he picked up the letter and began reading.

"Dear Vincent,

It has been three years since I left you. I don't know when you will receive this but I pray that you are doing well until then.

I spent the first two years trying to find out more about the organization behind the incident. The only clue I had was the initial symbol your father, my dear brother had left me, a gate with seven men nailed to it. After much digging, I managed to find that it's the symbol for Seventh Gate. An organization hidden in the shadows. Their goal is to open the gate of Mesphiliene. I do not know what or where this gate is but whatever it is, it cannot be good.

I searched all over but couldn't find more clues. The longer I went without results, the more impatient and careless I got. Because of my impatience, I took a huge risk. I guess the risk paid off as I learned a lot from it. But, I also suffered from a curse because of it and I have been rotting in this place for eight months now.

I know I don't have much time and even writing is tough for me. I will get straight to the point and hope you will forgive me for such a poor excuse of a last letter.

The seventh gates' members are all 'Missionary of d.e.s.i.r.es'. A supernatural who has control over emotions and d.e.s.i.r.es. Not only can they perfectly control their emotions but also affect others' emotions and d.e.s.i.r.es. They do not excel in combat but dealing with them is very difficult. I witnessed one amplify his victim's fears to the extent of paralyzing him. But their powers won't affect a person if they don't feel strong emotions or d.e.s.i.r.es.

The members of this organization have no distinguishing feature and that is what makes this so tricky. I would have to left you with some leads but sadly, they noticed my presence and got rid of the channel I had prepared.

I hate to say this but you are on your own if you intend to search for them. Knowing you, I am sure that's what you intend to do but I will still say this just to erase my feelings of guilt towards your mother. Live a normal life if you can. I am sure your mother would have said the same to you.

Moving on to the most important thing I need to say to you. I dug your mother's grave. I know it's a vile thing I did but I couldn't not do it when I thought about her supernatural powers. She was a 'Secret keeper' after all. Few people could unravel mysteries like she did. I couldn't move my thoughts away from the fact that she could have left us a clue.

I didn't find any clues but I don't regret doing what I did either. She had left the formulas for the advancement potions for 'Predator' and an artifact for you. I don't know how you will feel about this but her body dissolved and turned into the artifact. I have already appraised and confirmed this fact. It will allow the wearer to remain a secret in this world. The traces of the wearers very existence itself will be hidden.

The downside to using its power is that the wearer will slowly forget about themselves until they finally become a selfless body. A husk of their former self so to speak. But you won't have to worry about this. The artifact was made because of her strong will to hide you from danger and it poses no detriments for you.

I have also left the rest of my money for you. It's only 3000 pounds but I am sure it will be of a great help to you. All of these things are left in the Royal bank's special safe. I have left the key for you and you will just need your identification doc.u.ment to access the safe.

I am ending my letter here. I hope that you will live a long happy life. Both for your parent's sake as well as mine.

Your loving uncle,

Austin Burns"

Vincent closed his eyes and folded the letter. A plethora of emotions were running wild inside him. Taking his time to process the contents of the letter he slowly picked up the key. He put the letter into a folder carefully and placed it in his drawer. It was the last memento from his precious family and he intended to keep it.

Making up his mind, he headed straight for the bank. After showing the bank employees his identification doc.u.ment and the key, he was led to a room full of safes. The bank employee bought an identical key and inserted it into the safe with the corresponding number. He looked at the young customer and spoke, "Please insert your key on the other keyhole."

Vincent did as instructed and the safe was unlocked. Retrieving a smaller safe from inside, he handed it over to Vincent and gave him some time alone in the room. Making sure that the employee was out, he opened the safe and checked the contents.

A white piece of wood that looked like it had been cut out of a sphere and hollowed of its inner part lay there with other stuff. Picking it up, he stroked it lovingly and whispered. "It's been six years, mother."

He felt a warm and gentle energy from the mask. He could feel the artifact's 'happiness'. Wiping away the tears that had welled in his eyes without him noticing, he placed the mask in his inner pocket. He looked at the rest of the contents. Two framed photos lay stacked against each other next to a thick stack of bank notes and a lonely sheet of paper.

A younger Vincent was wearing a happy smile as he stepped on a dead wild boar with a hunting rifle in his hand. Two men who resembled each other stood behind him and a beautiful lady in white dress and a summer hat knelt beside him. Looking at the photograph took him many years back when he had gone hunting for the first time. This was taken to commemorate his first hunt.

The other photo portrayed him and his mother together. He couldn't recall when exactly this was taken but looking at his mother's kind expression brought a smile to his face. He had wanted to be a supernatural like his mother, a 'Secret keeper' and unravel the mysteries of the world. Sadly, life had different plans for him.

The sheet of paper contained the recipe for making advancement potions for 'Predator'. Vincent was a grade two predator and advancing to a higher grade required the consumption of corresponding advancement potion.

Moving both the photo frames and sheet of paper to his briefcase, he grabbed the thick stack of bank notes inside the safe. 20 pound was the highest denomination of notes issued by the kingdom. His uncle had mentioned that he had left 3000 pounds for Vincent and it looked like the stack contained 150 of 20 pound notes. He deposited the money in his bank account and returned home.

He took a long bath to clear his head and took a short nap. When he woke up it was almost noon. He felt rejuvenated after the nap and took out the mask. Putting it on, he was surprised to be able to see and breathe as if he wasn't wearing a mask at all. He had thought that the wearer would be blind and the mask was only good when hiding so it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

He stood in front of a mirror to see what he looked like to other people. He saw a man wearing a bath robe with a round white mask for a face. A bright moon was shining where the man's glabellas was supposed to be and clouds made up of black ink floated all over the mask. It was fascinating to look at the drifting blots of ink which always covered part of the moon but never hid it completely.

This reminded Vincent of the stories his mother used to tell him about mysteries and secrets as they looked at the night sky. His favorite had been the story of moon palace, a mythical palace filled with endless treasures. The only way to enter the palace was to figure out the secret behind the moon's waxing. The reason had been established as the revolution of the satellite but the little kid used to believe that the moon palace really existed and wanted to learn of the secret.

Suppressing his outburst of nostalgia, he decided to check the effects of the mask. He walked downstairs and into the parlor where Mrs. Lee was reading a book. Vincent walked to her and sat across her only to be treated like air. He started singing a nursery rhyme but received the same treatment. He got up and went to the kitchen where both the maids failed to notice him as well. He began pondering when the timid maid headed for Vincent's room to deliver his lunch.

Following right behind her, he waited for the girl to knock. He put a hand on the mask ready to take it off anytime and tapped her on the shoulder. The girl turned back and Vincent hurriedly hid the mask behind him.

"Thank you for delivering the lunch. I can take it from here." He took the food from the girl and went into his room."

'Looks like normal people won't notice me until I touch them. Now, I just need to prepare for the gathering.'