blemish - 2.2

Character List: The Artist | The Lady | The Commissioner | Henrietta | Louise | Firo | Gray


Gray.  Gray!  Louise focused on the tear in the wall.  Small panels of paper began leafing off the wall, a thick sound akin to books in the wind; forming a figure.  A hulking figure, not human.  Much less, and much more.  The papers formed solidly, the last sheets closing.  Black, lifeless eyes opened.  He was giant.

Firo backed slowly, his hand on the doorknob, not knowing he had no way of escape without the seals.  Louise stood still.  Louise.  Louise.  A bead of sweat rolled down Firo's forehead as he concentrated, mostly in terror.

Louise.  It's a rat.  It's bigger than me.
That is Gray, my lord.  The maid lowered her head.

"Whatsit?"  Gray's voice was metallic, mechanical.  He had a curious accent, Firo thought... An accent like what a North Londoner would have back at home.  Accent?

"You can... talk."

The rat sighed.  "Get on with it.  What happened, Louise?  Why is this human seeing me?"
"He is not your concern, Gray.  You are.  There was... one of those."
The papers rustled as Gray's mouth crooked in a rancid smile.  Louise was hiding something.  "One of what? Hmm?"
"Gray."
The smile vanished.  "Just tell me."
"There was an overlap."

Overlap?  Louise.  What's that?  Tell me.
My lord...

Louise turned to face Firo.  The metallic, grating sounds began again.  Firo looked up.  There was a seam... running across her face.  "Louise?"

Her head opened.