Outside Abel Manor, a ship landed at the bottom of the long stairs leading to the main entrance. A 40-something year old woman stepped from inside and sighed as if just remembering the long trek up. She thought briefly about parking in the back yard but decided that would be rude.
She refused to be daunted by such a trivial thing and ran up the steps, pausing at the door before deciding, knock or let herself in.
She chose to let herself in knowing things were not good here. She went straight to the dining hall and held her hand over her mouth and nose. What she saw was utterly repulsive.
Not all the beds were occupied yet but those that were didn't look human.
Their skin had turned from a healthy color to looking like a bag of skittles had dissolved in their skin. The colors of the rainbow swirled around as if their skin couldn't decide on a color. Like it had a life of its own.
The patients were coughing and occasionally throwing up what looked like water tainted by the same swirling colors. Not all beds had buckets yet, so it was quite messy. Some patients were even doubled over in pain and had sweat on their brows.
Cere's jaw tightened at the spectacle.
"Misus Techno! When did you arrive?!?!" she heard behind her.
She spun to Tanisha wheeling another patient in.
"Just a few moments ago. Where are my children?"
"Dobin is looking for the missing servants. Lana and Kyle are in bed. She got injured but he said she looked okay, like she had simply been knocked out."
Cere nodded, "Paul told me what happened. Am I to understand you have had a very long day and have not slept yet?"
Cere didn't even need Tanisha to respond. She could see it on her face. The fatigue, the worry. She wondered wat shape Dobin was in, having the added worry of his sister on his mind.
Before Tanisha could respond, her badge went off. Her hand answered it before her mind even caught up.
"Tanisha, I… I found the last 20. Aviary. Secret room. It's terrible."
Cere watched as Tanisha's eyes welled up with the pressure and weariness of the very long and stressful day.
"I'm coming Dobin. Stay where you are," Dobin was shocked at the voice he heard.
"Mom?"
"Yes, dear. I'm here to help. Stay there. I'm coming to you. Just hang up and wait for me."
She pressed the button on Taisha's badge then looked at the other servants, "I need someone to take me to Dobin. I also need you working in shifts here. Tanisha needs rest. I'll help once I'm done with my son. Figure out a rotation before I get back."
One person stepped forward, "I'll take you to the aviary."
Cere nodded and they quickly left the area. On the way, she was briefed on the entry procedures. She simply nodded. With just the two of them, it didn't matter anyway. They walked in together
As they left the cage and walked past the crater, Cere couldn't help but smile in pride at her daughter's strength. The door in question was obvious since it was open. Cere noticed the birds were all as far from that door as they could get.
She could smell a stench that got stronger as they approached. The servant's steps faltered but she regained her nerve. She needed to escort this guest of the family, though she had no clue who it was.
Cere crossed the threshold into the room which was far bigger than she thought it would be.
The smell of blood, stale urine and feces assaulted her nose. No attempt to cover her face freed her of the onslaught.
In the room were 20 torture devices that looked ancient but well-kept. Attached to these devices were men and women in various stages of dress. Many had blood on them. All were in pain.
A woman was going from machine to machine, slowly releasing the bindings enabling circulation to return to them. She offered a small bit of healing to each to reduce the shock their bodies endured.
While Barica had never been known to kill servants before this, she did enjoy torturing people when she was in a bad mood. This was her playroom that improved her spirits. It helped remind her how powerful she was.
Cere looked at the person who brought her there, "you may leave now. I'll be able to get back. I want Tanisha in bed as soon as possible."
Cere spoke with a stern voice. She was sure after seeing what this room held, that was all that was needed.
She was right. The girl vanished from her side.
Cere watched the rotation while also looking for Dobin. She found him slumped against the wall to her right with his head between his knees.
She went to her son's side and knelt, placing a tender hand on his head.
"It's okay, son. I'm here. You need to rest."
He shook his head, "No…"
She could hear the sorrow in his voice. He had been crying. This was the family Kyle and Blaine had come from. He felt bad for everything his brother-in-law had endured even though he had never had that discussion with him.
Just seeing the fight, this room, the personality of the monster he grew up under.
"Dobin, I know this is hard. You've had a very trying day and I haven't even heard the whole story yet. You need to get some sleep," she tried to coax him.
He shook his head again. "Lana has always borne the brunt of everything. I'm stepping up. Gerald shared with me instructions on how to run the household. I'll do my part."
Cere smiled softly at her son, "I'm glad you feel that way, but you're exhausted."
He chuckled softly, "and this family has been living in hell. I can stay up a little longer to see if I can help just a bit more before sleeping."
Cere nodded, "from what I've seen, we're going to need IV drop bags and such."
Ariadne heard them speaking and chimed in as she moved around the room, "do we know for certain the healing ability doesn't work on the Prismatic Poison?"
Cere scoffed, "we do. That monster, when testing it out, used all of her MC trying to heal someone and it didn't work. The person took five years to die. She knew what she was doing when she did this."
"Why…" Dobin started crying again, "why would anyone do this?"
"Because she decided if she couldn't have the family, no one else could either."
Dobin looked up at her as she continued, "my guess is, she expected Blaine to keep the book. She thought she'd get his body. I don't know how she would have contended with the two personalities already in there. She was extremely unstable."
Ariadne processed what she was told, "so we have five years to find a cure or the whole family dies?"
Cere nodded. "The good news is the poison must be injected. As long as the doors stay locked, there is no fear of additional victims. We'll have to talk as a family once we've all slept."
Dobin nodded and stood up. He looked around and noticed the color was returning to their faces. There were no more visible wounds, and they were all detached from the devices.
"Are they all healed, Ariadne?"
She shook her head, "I'm out of MC."