Into The Owl's Mouth

It was time, all the planning had amounted to this moment. Outside the front doors of the Crane House, the road to redemption lay in wait.

Lucius had slept through the whole day and deep into the night. When he finally awoke, the hour of the auction was just around the corner. After reconvening with the others, they once more revisited the steps of the plan meticulously, leaving no room for error. Except, of course, for the unavoidable possibility of human error.

Everyone had their places, all that remained was to see it to its end.

In front of the arched entrance of the dilapidated building with its grisly red coat Lucius stood, moments away from diving in head first.

Ultra had fitted him with a formal tuxedo, white as snow, with a red bloomed flower clipped to his lapel. Against Lucius’s objections that the suit was too outlandish, Ultra insisted that the outfit would be exactly what Petrarch would have worn.

And Lucius certainly looked the part. His face had no remnants of his own features, instead replaced with the sunken appearance of an old man with gray wisps of hair falling down over dark eyes. He had avoided glancing at all at his reflection, certain that it would have disturbed him to no end.

Okay, testing. Can you guys hear me? Lucius messaged using the open line of the twin’s Echo Talk.

Sure can, Umbra replied.

Same here, Caesar answered.

Yes, Lucius, all clear, Ultra confirmed. You are ready for entry.

Lucius gave a deep gulp, and headed up towards the guards blocking the main entrance.

They wore black masks like skulls fitted to their faces, with long dark coats that hid their figures and weapons beneath. Their hands were covered by silk white gloves covered in jewels, an elegant contrast to the rest of their intimidating outfits.

“Welcome back, sir,” said one of the guards to Lucius.

This holo mask actually works, they recognize me. Or rather, who I’m supposed to be.

“Err, yes, lovely night, isn’t it?” Lucius wobbled. The holo mask also included a voice changer, so vocally he sounded exactly like Petrarch. He just needed to work on the steadiness of his tone.

“If you may, sir…” avowed the other guard, extending a gloved hand.

“Oh yes, of course. One moment.”

Lucius shakily reached inside his jacket pocket, and handed the off white identification card over to the guard.

“I assume it is all fine, then.”

The two guards both peered back and forth between the card and the figure standing in front of them, Lucius becoming completely drenched in sweat.

Guys, they’re taking a while to-

The guards both nodded and handed the card back to him, cutting off his message of concern.

“Yes, thank you, sir. These will be yours for the evening.”

They held out a paddle with the number 13 in large print, and a smooth, porcelain white oval mask, with narrow, unblinking eye slits, an expressionless face that erased all humanity from the wearer.

“Enjoy the show,” they said in sync, stepping aside for Lucius to pass.

Ultra, will this mask affect my holo face?

No, it will morph around it. Make sure to put it on before going inside.

Lucius held the mask in his trembling hands, and raised it to his face, affixing it in place.

Okay, I’m heading in now.

He took a deep breath in, and entered the beckoning doorway.

The first step across the threshold made the floor groan underfoot, the sound of his polished shoes on the wooden floor echoed faintly, but was swallowed quickly by the vastness of the hall.

His eyes rose first, drawn to the ceiling. The carved beams stretched overhead, fluted columns reached like frozen fingers into shadow, flecks of golden light caught from chandeliers that swayed ever so slightly.

Umbra and Caesar will be entering up there soon, he thought.

Slowly, his gaze drifted down to the main floor, stretched wide and inviting. Staff in black uniforms moved methodically in the corners, leaving the center hall for the esteemed guests to occupy.

Then, his slow pan found them, the figures in varieties of suits and formal wear, masks like carved owls catching the chandelier light in faint glimmers. They stood separated, perfectly still, their postures rigid in anticipation. One turned slightly towards Lucius, head tilted ever so subtly, and he felt like his whole being had just been evaluated.

This place is freaking me out. No, don’t think like that, just stay calm.

His eyes followed the stage, elevated and polished, gleaming under the golden glow, the podium ready for the auctioneer’s voice to cut through the room. Along the back wall, the entrance where the items would enter and exit the stage could be seen, half hidden behind dark curtains.

What are you even doing here Lucius, he thought to himself. I’m so out of place.

The hall was ready, and he knew that once the doors had shut behind him, there was no turning back.

Ultra, am I supposed to make conversation with these people?

No, remember, the masks are there for a reason. Anonymity is required, and held to the highest standard. Wait in the back for now, the auction will begin any moment, Ultra answered.

Right on cue, the Curator entered the stage.

“My prestigious guests, welcome to the Crane House! Thank you all for being here tonight, we have quite a show planned,” the Curator boomed, his voice echoing throughout the chamber.

The masked crowd cheered like wild animals, filling Lucius with a deep, unsettling feeling.

Above it all, Caesar and Umbra stood perched on the Crane House roof.

“Caesar, keep an eye out. I’m creating an opening,” Umbra ordered, focusing her resonance into an orange square placed directly on the shingled roof tiles.

“You got it boss,” Caesar replied, scanning the back of the building where they had climbed up. Guards had been taking shifts patrolling the grounds, but with their combined abilities, it was simple to scale up the textured walls.

Out of the corner of Caesar’s eye, he saw a guard making his way to a position where they would immediately be spotted.

“Any second now Umbra, would be great,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Hold on, hold on…Now!”

At her call out, Caesar spun back and jumped into the apricot waves, vanishing into the other side.

Umbra followed suit, closing the rippling entrance behind her.

The two of them crouched down on carved beams, high above the grand hall and the masked individuals below.

“That ugly bastard over there must be Lucius,” Caesar amusingly said, pointing down to a bald headed figure standing in the back row, strands of gray hair falling in front of a porcelain face.

“No joking around, let’s go,” Umbra responded, leading him across the beams to the area above the back of the auction stage.

Narrow hallways stretched into shadow, walls stood scuffed and dimly lit by flickering sconces. At the end of the hall, heavy doors led to the locked storage room, where the items for sale were kept until their turn on stage. Guards were placed just outside the doors, allowing only the uniformed staff to enter and leave.

“The items will be coming in and out from that room over there. This short hallway out of the guard’s view will be our only attempt to make the switch. Stay ready for Lucius’s call.”

Caesar nodded from across the beam, biding his time until the opening. He glanced back down to the auction hall floor, scanning the area, and sending a message to his accomplice.

Lucius, Umbra and I are in position. Waiting on your mark.

Got it, Lucius replied.

The first item had just been brought out onto the stage by a staff member, a pair of pale armoured gauntlets that looked entirely crafted out of human bones unveiled for all to see.

“Our first item of the night, the Choir of Bones! These gauntlets not only look magnificent, but were hand forged in the mountaintops of Mandukath from the scavenged remains of those who attempted the arduous climb. Legend has it that anyone who wears these is granted the enriching enlightenment that is only bestowed to those who have succeeded in the ascent. This is too valuable of an item to pass up! Do I have a bid for 10,000 blackstars?!” the Curator announced to the crowd.

Bid on some items once in a while, Lucius, you need to act natural until the Gnomon shows up. Even if you purchase something, don’t worry, they won’t be receiving any payment from us, Ultra messaged.

One masked figure raised up his paddle, followed by a second and Lucius’s own raise, as the bidding wars began.

“10,000, do I have 15,000? 15,000, I see 20,000, now 25,000. 25,000 going once, going twice, and sold to number 27 for 25,000 blackstars!”

The crowd erupted in applause, bloodthirsty for more.

The gauntlets were escorted off the stage, and the auction continued on as items were brought out, sold, and returned to the back for collection at the end.

The crowd were getting more aggressive as the night went on, like demons being granted only the smallest tastes of flesh. They wanted more blood, and each despicable item brought out on stage drew them closer to feeling fulfilled.

Minute after minute, item after item, Lucius and the others stood still in wait for the one piece that mattered most.

“Ladies and gentleman, I have some bittersweet news. It appears we are on to our last item of the night. But oh! This only shows the vigor and loyalty you all have to our sacred Crane House, and we will be back before you know it with an even grander spread!”

At the Curator’s word, a staff member brought out an item placed on a silver tray, hidden under a dark green veil.

In a swift movement, the Curator lifted off the veil and revealed the article to the crowd, the hanging chandeliers reflected off its lustre.

“We have certainly left the best for last. Feast your eyes, everyone, on the Gnomon, the Dial of the First Sun!”

The crowd’s screeches no longer resembled anything remotely human, sounding as though hell had split open and the cries of tortured souls were bellowing in the air. But these were not cries of pain, no, these were much worse. They were the cries of the highest level of pleasure.

The Gnomon is on stage, Lucius messaged to the others, his paddle quivering at the very sight of it, and deep within his soul he felt his essence beginning to tighten.