Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Wraithmaster's Chronicles IV : The Desolate Mansion



Chapter 4: The Desolate Mansion

Location: Udaipur , India
Time : 5:00 PM

The plane landed on a small airstrip in Udaipur. Bobby stretched his arms and yawned. It has been a long flight back to India. He realized that Esckezi’s training had not quite solved any of his problems but had instead made him more acclimatized to them. On his way to Udaipur he had sensed souls lost at the sea, people who died decades or even centuries ago and many other things. They however no longer terrorized him. He realized that they were more afraid of him than he was of them.

A small man with a shabby looking car waited for them at the airstrip. This was a stark contrast to what Esckezi had provided for him. Bobby allowed himself to smirk sarcastically at the millionaire’s meager offerings wondering if his client was a miser.

The small man joined his hands. “Namaskar Sir, Singh sahib has been waiting for you.”

Bobby noticed that the man had greeted Javier and not him. He started laughing as Javier pointed at him. “He is your Ghost hunter not me. I am just his assistant.”

The man stared at Bobby for a second and said dismissively, “What is this? Singh sahib called for a foreigner, not for a local.”

Bobby took offense. “Tell your ‘sahib’ that I have been sent by Esckezi. Either use my services or we can fly back.”

At that moment, another door in the car opened and a stout but a more respectable looking man emerged.
“Please excuse his manners. I just got a call from Mister Esckezi suggesting that you are indeed our man. Please come in.”

Bobby looked at the second man. “Who are you?”

“I am Jaidev Singh. I requested Esckezi’s services.”

“Why did you come to pick us up personally?”

“I am in a bad state of financial affairs. I wanted to offer you my best as a host. So this is all I could do.”

Bobby thought about the man’s words. Esckezi had mentioned that the man was a millionaire but he looked a far cry from being a millionaire. Javier and Esckezi dumped their bags in the car’s boot and sat in the rear seats. The car was a small one with an air conditioning system that did not work. Udaipur had hot weather on top of that too. 

As the car pulled out, Jaidev who sat in the front seat turned back. “I am sure you are wondering how a mansion owner like myself is in such sad state of affairs.”

Bobby nodded. “That would be nice, Mister Singh.”

“I am a descendant of a prestigious land owner family. However, something happened with my grandfather that changed our fortunes.”

“Your grandfather?”

“Yes, I grew up in affluence as a child however when I was twelve, my grandfather died under very mysterious circumstances. He left my father and my uncles the family estate. However one by one they all died over the years before any of them could stake claim on the property. As of now, I am the last of my line left.”

Javier was looking out of the window. “This is a beautiful city.”

The driver nodded. “Indeed, it is Sir. I could arrange a private tour for you…”

Singh shut him down. “Let us just talk business here Ranveer.”

Bobby was interested in the story. “So why can’t your people claim the family wealth?”

“You see, my grandfather didn’t believe in banks. He stored all his money as gold inside his palatial mansion. 

To get our inheritance we need to take back the mansion and find a secret safe where my grandfather hid his wealth.”

“I am wondering how you made a contract with Mister Esckezi if you don’t have anything to pay us.”

“I told him the same story as I told you. He said he will take the pay after I get back my wealth.”

The car stopped outside a hotel and Singh pointed at it. “I am sorry this is all I can afford. It’s a three star place but does fairly well.”
But neither Bobby nor Javier stepped out of the car. Bobby rubbed his hair backwards. “Why can’t we go to your mansion right now?”

“Are you sure you want to go there at this time of the day? Its almost dark.”

“Well, what good are we going to achieve if we drop in to your mansion when your ghost is not active?”

“I know that I asked for your help but Mister…” Singh looked at Bobby.

Bobby realized he had not introduced himself yet. “Bobby, Bobby Mehra.”

“But my previous attempts to cleanse the mansion haven’t ended well. People who have spent a night there have returned crazy. And those who dared to spend more than a night ended up being dead.”

“So I take it that you have not been inside your mansion?”

“No. I am not risking my life to go in there unless it is cleansed.”

“Mr. Singh, people often believe in ghosts when they go to places of tale. It is very possible there is nothing there.”

“I assure you that it is no tale. The people that went in there, they were all experienced priests, exorcists and tantriks.  Their crazed screams are something I can’t forget.”

“And what makes you think we are the right people for your job?”

“I don’t know if you are. I got Esckezi’s name from a big man I know.”

 “Very well then, lets head to your mansion right now. Let us do our job.”

Singh’s driver Ranveer laughed. “Are you out of your mind? No one goes there after dark. That is when the spirits are strongest in there.”

Singh added, “Besides, the city’s administration bars people from even going close to that place past six.”

Bobby wondered if the duo were serious with their need to exorcise the ghost. “If you want our services, we need to be there when it happens.”

Singh reluctantly gestured and Ranveer started driving. The car moved past the hotel. Soon the car was at the outskirts of the town. There were no houses around and just short trees and barren land. A small hill appeared and Ranveer made a turn towards it. Bobby noticed a large mansion on top of the hill. It reminded him of the haunted Scottish castle.

The car stopped by a board on the road. The board was barely visible being illuminated by the feeble evening light. It read, “Do not wander in this area after 6PM. For your own safety. – Archaeological society of Rajasthan.”

Singh rubbed his hands. “All right, this is where I will leave you. The mansion is located about a mile ahead on top of the hill.”
Javier laughed. “You are making us walk now?”

“I am not going beyond this point. I will be here at eleven in the morning to pick you up. May God be with you.”

Bobby and Javier got off with their bags and started ascending the slopes of the hill in front of them. Singh’s car quickly backed and sped away.
Javier looked at the car disappearing from the sight. “He seems to be in a hurry.”
Bobby took out his camera and clicked the nearby surroundings. “I feel our host did not tell us the whole story. Something feels off.”

Bobby and Javier traveled light. Other than a back pack each, they had nothing else on them. Bobby wondered if this was simply a case of ‘power of suggestion’ where people imagine the unnatural. As they walked up the mountain Bobby didn’t sense any spirits.In fact, this was one of the best places for Bobby. He wasn't being stalked by needy ghosts for a change.

 There were a lot of wild animals on the hill. A monkey, rabbit or a fox would occasionally run across the broken road. The sun set as the two neared the mansion. Bobby took out a bunch of keys that Singh had given him and approached the mansion’s huge door.

Bobby smirked. “You could turn back if you want Javier.”

“I am to assist you at all times. Besides, anyone who has been living with Esckezi has little fear of ghosts.”

Despite living with friendly ghosts for the past eight months, Bobby still feared the unknown. As he turned the key, a chill ran across his hand. The fear in the air was real. He closed his eyes and turned his right hand into a fist focusing his energies around him.

This was a basic dark energy technique taught to him by Esckezi. It was called a “Dark Wave”. It allowed him to emit waves of dark energy around him which could intimidate most spirits around him.The strength of the waves depended on the strength of the user. Bobby could only use the waves over a small area, a few paces around him. He was still a newcomer. Esckezi could use the waves over his entire island.

They entered the mansion, it was dark inside. The glass windows were so dirty that they barely let any light inside.

Javier took out a huge torch and switched it on. There were cobwebs all around the place. The stair case leading to the upper area appeared as if it could fall anytime. There were a lot of things covered with a white cloth. 

Javier turned the torch on and inspected the foyer. Bobby however did not require any torch or light. He could see in the dark with his new found abilities. "Night Vision" was an ability he acquired when he was cursed. It was more of an annoyance than a boon. He had difficulty sleeping because he could see things in the dark. He studied the foyer carefully.
“This atmosphere somehow scares me.”

Javier was still looking around the place. “Indeed Sir. This place feels very tense.”

“I cannot sense any spirits yet. But my normal instincts suggest that something is terribly wrong with this place.”

With their minds lost in thoughts, a sudden sound caught their attention. One of the covered objects was shaking. Javier became alarmed and turned the torch on that object. Bobby slowly turned and faced the object. Despite being a wraith master he could still feel fear and anxiety. 

Bobby and Javier slowly approached the shaking object. Javier plucked out a metal baton from his back pack and held it in a manner mimicking a baseball batter.

Bobby’s legs shivered as he closed in on the object . He could not sense any spirit and his training with Esckezi did not teach him how to handle such a situation.