Bond of Lost Souls

Mayor Lukas Hopkins steps out of city hall with shadows over his face. He looks at the Father Tower completed three weeks ago with disdain in his eyes. His nostrils flare, and he clutches his soon-to-be ex-wife’s note in his hand. This is all Bushrod’s fault.

His car is waiting nearby, but the valet ignores Lukas. As he leaves the courtyard, traffic refuses to stop for him. Lukas grits his teeth as the key burns in his pocket. He travels to the wastewater treatment plant at the edge of town.

The plant operates twenty-four seven because shit is always flowing from the city of Emmer. The workers wear masks to prevent the noxious fumes from damaging them too much while Lukas dawns a handkerchief as he moves to the basement. He’ll have to burn his suit later.

At the back of the basement is a small door with a large warning on it. The second mayor added it due to the mistakes of the first mayor. Lukas puts the key into it and opens the door. The smell from behind the door is worse than the treatment plant itself.

Forgotten items always reek. The stench is an expression of anger. A loaf of bread covered in mold rages at not being consumed, and a human cast out of society will eventually reek of rejection. Yet the same stench always attracts scavengers.

Roots cover the floor and walls of the hallway beyond the door. Mushrooms first grow sporadically from the roots but quickly gain in quantity. A few patches of mushrooms decorate the halls. When Lukas inspects them closer, a human face with closed eyes lies at the center.

More faces line the walls as he walks to his destination. They all possess cracks in their skin, and some have open mouths where the roots enter. A few of the captives open their eyes to follow Lukas.

“Please, don’t make the same mistake I did,” a face says. Lukas ignores the warning.

The hallway leads to a large atrium where the stench is strong enough to cause Lukas to vomit in his mouth. At the center of an atrium, a large pyramid composed of mushrooms and faces stands tall. The base of the pyramid has several small alligators with roots attached to their tails. On top of the pyramid is a woman with roots and cracks running through her skin. The top of her head is a mushroom halo which is constantly emitting spores into the air.

“Lie on the floor.” The woman commands Lukas, and he obeys. The alligators leave her body and begin crawling on him. The roots restrain him to the ground. After several minutes of being restrained, Lukas opens his mouth to explain himself.

“Lady of Lost Souls, I want you to-”

“No.” She points her finger. Two alligators bite his wrists. Lukas suppresses his cries. “I will see your reason for myself.”

******

“Honey, you’re staring again.” Miriam touches his back.

“I can’t help myself. It makes me feel insignificant, but the feeling is addictive.” Frank rubs his wrists as the coarse fibers from his suit tear at his wrists. The sight of his city hall so far beneath him causes him to be sick to his stomach. He always hated being condescended or dismissed, especially by the rich. This tower is a literal representation of his revulsions.

“Okay, I suppose there are worse vices.” Miriam leans against the window. “Are you going to be staring all night, or will we dance?”

“No, let’s dance. This is an opportunity to schmooze.” Lukas glances over his shoulder at the window one last time before joining the party.

In the midst of the ballroom, he and his wife join the first large group. The topic of discussion is Florence’s debut. The most grounded rumor is that Bushrod hired an expensive designer from Groltern to create a dress. The more fantastical tales are that a thousand jewels were sewn into the collar of her dress and her shoes cost more than the building.

Miriam contributes by recalling the dress cuts which are apparently in style. Her opinions are drowned by others stating the dress will be more timeless. Lukas can only smile and fake a laugh at the conversation. An arm around the shoulder rescues him.

“Here’s last year’s man.” Frederick owns several local general stores allowing him to sit on the fringes of high society. He also donated a substantial sum of money to Lukas’s opponent in the last election.

“Frederick, how’s business?” Lukas shakes his hand and allows himself to be escorted.

“Business is fine, but how can you be here for so long without talking to the host?” Frederick asks.

“Did he ask for me?” Lukas subtly straightens his suit and pats his hair.

“No, the party was getting dull, and I always get a kick out of watching you seethe when talking to Bushrod,” Frederick laughs. Lukas joins him but wishes he could strangle Frederick.

A small crowd is around Bushrod. The men wear sashes, medals, and other signifiers of their importance. In contrast, Bushrod’s suit lacks a tie. This simplicity allows his power to whisper and bind the crowd. When Lukas walks to him, Bushrod merely holds out a hand with little theatricality. His grip establishes his control.

“Ah, if it isn’t my new neighbor,” Bushrod says.

“Yeah, sorry I didn’t bring you a welcome present. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to do it later.”

“If my schedule allows for it, I’m quite busy. A new quarry is opening in town.” The crowd begins to whisper.

“A new quarry? I haven’t heard of it. Has work just begun?”

“Yes, we’ve been planning it for around six months. Never got the chance to fully commit until the tower was finished of course. We were going to tell your office when the time was right. You understand, of course,” Bushrod says.

“That makes perfect sense. We are both busy men,” Lukas says.

“Well, I am busy for sure. With how this city’s being run, I’m not sure that I can say the same about you,” Bushrod replies.

“You can trust that I am improving the efficiency of our local government.”

“That’s what the last few mayors said. They never accomplished that particular goal, and I’m not you’ll be different.” Bushrod does a quick glance to the side. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other guests to entertain.”

A few people snicker under their breath. Lukas breaks away from the crowd and desperately looks for his wife. He sees Miriam laughing with a group of women. He pulls her away from it.

“Lukas, what are you doing? I was enjoying myself,” Miriam whispers.

“I need your help. Bushrod told me he’s been building a quarry for months, and he humiliated me.” Lukas raises his voice. The people around him steal glances.

“Okay, don’t think about it for now. See what you can do Monday.”

“That’s terrible advice. Are you hearing what you say?”

“Well what else is there to do? Go stare out the window again?” The orchestra swells as Miriam talks. The guests turn to the stairs. The debutante has arrived.

The rumors were obviously false, but the dress justifies the rumors. The light blue is accentuated by the gold trimmings and golden gloves. The skirt takes up half of the stairs. The diamonds around her neck and on her ears could buy a small house, and her hair is held in place by a bejeweled tiara. Florence walks with a grace that allows the dress to flow with her. She tilts her head down and grins slightly at the crowd creating a demure picture that fills her role perfectly.

Bushrod takes her arm and walks her next to Miriam and Lukas. The rest of the guests align to begin the official dance. Lukas begins to sweat.

“Why would he move next to us?” Lukas asks.

“Keep dancing.” Miriam attempts to give Lukas some grace and poise, but Lukas has the dignity of a mouse looking for cheese. Bushrod spins Florence, and the gems at the bottom of her dress create a glittering whirlwind. The effect is magical, and the audience applauds. Florence giggles slightly and brushes a loose strand of hair back in place.

“Wow, that was amazing,” Miriam says.

“You can’t really be falling for it. He’s a charlatan.”

“Who’s a charlatan?” Bushrod places himself behind Lukas’s back.

“A banker we know, quite the fraud.” Miriam forces a smile.

“No, you’re the fraud, Bushrod,” Lukas says. Miriam rubs her temples.

“Is this the appropriate time to make such accusations? I’m enjoying my dance with my daughter. Perhaps you could contact my secretary, and we could schedule a meeting?” Bushrod says.

“A meeting! You’ve ignored me for the past four years!” Lukas shouts, as the crowd focuses on the outburst.

“In fairness, you are not important,” Bushrod says.

“You bastard!” Lukas throws an open hand at Bushrod. Bushrod reacts by gracefully spinning his daughter in front of him. Lukas hesitates to avoid hitting her, but his hand gets caught on the back of Florence’s necklace. When he pulls his hand away, he knocks her off balance sending her to the floor. The necklace is torn off of her, and the diamonds fall around her.

Florence weeps in the puddle of diamonds. Bushrod bends over to comfort her. People begin to jeer at the mayor. Miriam grabs his arm to drag him out of the room. A few guests claw at them as they leave.

******

Lukas awakens on the floor. His face is wet and coated in mud. The Lady is humming a song that causes the alligators to release their grip on Lukas’s wrists. The shame and disgust in his stomach exits through his mouth mixed with tinges of blood.

“Your desire for retribution shall be met, but I will collect payment for your service.” The Lady waves her arms. “Now leave this place.”

When he stands, his legs are weak and unstable. Every step causes him to sway wildly in the den. Going down the hall, he places his hands on the wall to stabilize himself. His hand touches a face in the wall. It opens its mouth to bite his fingers, but Lukas pulls back. He manages to run and stumble out back into the wastewater treatment facility. The door locks behind him automatically.

Before he leaves, he sits in his car for half an hour to regain his composure and senses. As he stares at his own eyes in the rearview mirror, he begins to doubt his choices. The Lady of Lost Souls is an urban legend to Emmer. A few say that she was there before the city was found two centuries ago. She gathers the souls of those who are lost. The moralizers say this is a punishment for deviant behavior while the creatives weave tales about her stealing them in the night. Most people view her as a local twist on the bargain with a demon tale. In actuality, mayors are the only people who have a key to access her lair.

On the first day of his term, his predecessor, Jim Rochester warned him to only go to her when she was becoming restless. Lukas asked what he meant by that statement, but Jim refused to elaborate. He also warned against using her for any personal gain.

Of course, when Lukas asked if Jim ever saw the Lady for himself, Jim reacted with extreme denial. Lukas asked if Jim’s predecessor, Mayor Tyler Grant, had used the Lady. Jim didn’t believe so, and he was unsure when the last mayor saw her. As such, his statements were as useless as the tales spread on the streets.

A drop of blood lands on Lukas’s leg. He’s going to have to wash his pants and explain the bandages on both of his wrists. Perhaps it was a mistake to see her, but the deal is done. Lukas can only hope to witness Bushrod’s fall from grace.

When he reaches his house, he slaps the side of his head. In his internal turmoil over his decision, he forgot that Miriam asked him to stay somewhere else for the time being. To save embarrassment, Lukas decided to stay at the cheap motel down the street. Lukas backs out of the driveway, and in the window light, he catches a glimpse of Miriam. He isn’t going to stay long enough to be sure. It’s best for both of them if he goes.

The motel is not fit for the mayor of any respectable city. It’s only two stories with stains on the roof of the outdoor hallway. The door doesn’t need to be locked since it requires a large push to open. The room smells of dead rodents and sweat. The bed sheets and furniture are stained with god knows what, and Lukas isn’t in the mood to investigate. The only benefit this motel offers is that the clerk didn’t know who he was. The more upscale hotels would’ve been outside his budget, and he would’ve surely been recognized. As such, Lukas will accept his brief foray into the seedy parts of Emmer.

When Lukas brushes his teeth, he notes a small mushroom growing in the top corner of the mirror. He stares at wondering if the Lady is watching him from this room. There’s nothing he could reasonably do if she was. As such, Lukas goes to bed without giving the matter further thought.

Lukas drives to city hall nodding off behind the wheel. He’s an hour late to work, but tardiness is one of the perks to being in charge. Several times in the night he awoke to an argument below him. He’s sure the activities being conducted were illegal and had half a mind to call the police to get a better night’s rest. The scandal of doing so was too great. Besides, his tiredness could be explained by the many screech owls in the nearby forests.

When he reaches the capitol, he notices his secretary Geraldine waiting in the garden on a park bench. She’s tapping her feet and checking her watch. Lukas looks in the mirror and prepares his smile.

“Don’t tell me. I missed a meeting with the governor.” Lukas hopes the joke will ease the tension. Geraldine looks at him sternly, killing his cheerful mood.

“There was a collapse at Bushrod’s quarry,” she says. Lukas’ smile turns genuine for a millisecond before he forces it to a frown.

“That’s horrible news. I’ll need a full briefing.” The two walk into the side door of the building. The mayor’s office is on the third floor with a private elevator and staircase. Unfortunately, the elevator is out of commission so they must take the stairs, and Lukas never cared for exercise.

“Do we know what happened at the quarry?” Lukas replies. He is slightly out of breath after the first flight.

“At the moment, they haven’t gone public with any details. Emergency services are already at the scene,” she replies.

“Oh god, that’s horrible.” Lukas cheers inside as his revenge works. “Have you heard anything else?”

“I’ve already contacted the city council to prepare for an emergency meeting tonight. Several food banks and aid foundations are already in line to help the families afterward.” When they get to the top, Lukas supports himself on the railing. Geraldine is still spry.

“Wow, you were productive in that hour without me. Maybe I should come in to work late more often,” Lukas says.

“Yeah, it was fun being mayor for an hour. Just wish you picked a different day to do it.” They walk into his office. “Oh one more thing, Bushrod is planning to hold a press conference at ten. He wanted you and your wife there.”

“That seems.” Lukas pauses to pick his next work. “Gracious. I’ll contact Miriam.”

“No need. I called her this morning. She said she’ll be there,” Geraldine replies. Lukas’s face turns red.

“I was in a particularly deep sleep-” Geraldine holds up her hands.

“No need to explain yourself. I don’t like getting involved in my boss’s personal life.”

“Thanks Geraldine. You’re amazing.”

“Amazing enough for a raise?” She raises an eyebrow.

“You know that’s not my decision,” Lukas stutters.

“I’m joking.” Geraldine leaves the room, and Lukas claps his hands. That witch did it. She hit that leech exactly where it hurt. After the conference, Bushrod will surely be crawling to Lukas begging for help with clearing the debris. His trust amongst the lower classes will be destroyed, and the gossip of the upper class will be his failure.

The Lady can’t do everything. The upcoming events will be shaped by Lukas’s actions, and there is much to be done. Taking out a small notepad, he begins to write his speech for the event. Oratory skills are a necessity for politics.

Fellow Citizens.

Too generic.

Thank you for having me.

No, too submissive.

I’m saddened to be speaking after this tragedy.

That’s a bit too dramatic. It’s just a quarry. Lukas tears the page and tosses it into the trash. It’s better to start on the middle passages and come to an opening later. He bites on the end of his pen. His remarks should be quick since it’s a last-minute event.

Putting pen to paper. He makes a few comments about industry being the lifeblood of our community, and how he will support it. A few recommendations for the workers who are out of a job such as Saint Julians and Breckenridge neighborhoods. Yes, those two places supported him during the campaign so it would be nice to repay them.

Should he insult Bushrod? No, it’s best to take the high road. The press will do the job by framing him looking tall while his opponent will slouch in disgrace. In fact, the closing should be him taking Bushrod’s hand and saying, “We’ll get through this together.”

Perfect, as for the opening, that can just be a good morning before transitioning to the rest of the speech. No one will care.

“Sir, it’s time to go. Your wife is here,” Geraldine says. Lukas smiles at her.

“Fantastic.” Lukas walks down the stairs humming a tune to himself. The car waiting outside is a small limousine with a chauffeur and perfect interiors.

Miriam has her arms crossed and is looking at the window when he enters. She doesn’t turn to greet him. Her hair and make-up are perfect, and the dress is from her mother. Her jewelry is deliberately understated for the event.

“How was your evening?” Lukas asks.

“Fine,” Miriam’s voice is cold.

“Was the ride over enjoyable?”

“No.”

“This is a lovely limo. I assume your father paid for it?” Lukas pats the soft seats.

“I’ll be sure to thank him on your behalf.” Miriam gazes directly at him. “I’ll be sure to capture the pained expression you do so well when thanking him for financial support.”

“Miriam, is this behavior necessary? If you’re this callous at the event, the press will-”

“I know exactly how they’ll react. I read the society papers.” She cuts him off. “I’ll smile and wave when we enter. I will wrap myself around your right arm to show my good side to the camera. When the lights flash, I will have a look of concern and sadness and shift to one of compassion and support. Try not to screw this one up.”

“I won’t. My speech is amazing.” Lukas pats his breast pocket. She glares at him.

“Did you drink something? This car has been malodorous since you stepped in,” she says.

“Nothing in particular, Geraldine didn’t mention anything.” Lukas turns to the chauffeur.

“Excuse me. Do you smell anything bad back here?” The chauffeur inhales a few times.

“No sir. Everything seems fine,” the chauffeur says.

“Maybe I’m projecting my feelings about you,” Miriam says.

“You married me.”

“It was a bad investment.” Miriam opens her compact to check her make-up. They sit in silence until they reach the quarry.

Bushrod is already there shaking hands with the press. His suit is covered in dust, and he has sweat on his face. Lukas laughs to himself in the car until Miriam hits him in the stomach.

“Can’t you see he’s making it look like he’s on the front line,” she says. Lukas gasps at her statement and realizes she’s right. He hasn’t left the limo, and Bushrod has already won the game of images.

When they exit, a few photographers come to take their picture. They smile and wave at the few cameras.

“How do you feel being here after your recent outburst at Bushrod’s gala?” Lukas scans the crowd for the reporter who asked that, and his heart sinks when he finds the man, Richard from the Emmer Daily. His facts are never correct, and his stories are often deliberately misleading. Unfortunately, his sensationalist stylings cause the largest headaches. Lukas walks past him in silence and reaches the podium.

His hand is immediately grabbed by Bushrod who shakes it with a heavy grip. Bushrod’s other arm taps Lukas’s shoulder ruining the crease on his suit.

“We’ll get through this together.” Bushrod walks to the stand. “What happened here was a tragedy.” His voice projects through the crowd. “I have already assigned a team to determine how this happened and ensure it doesn’t happen in the future. There will be consequences for the ones responsible for this mess.” Lukas makes revisions to his speech on the fly to outshine him. “I must thank the heavens that no one was injured; however, there’s more than just physical wellbeing to life. A large number of people are out of a job, and I will be sure they’re taken care of.” Lukas snaps out of trance. “Everyone will get paid as if they were working until this quarry is reopened. If that cannot be done, I will help them find a job.” The reporters go wild at this statement. “This is my responsibility, and it will be handled. Thank you for coming.”

When he walks to the side of the stage, people swamp him for questions. A few people cry and thank him. Lukas steps forward for a speech of his own, but Miriam grabs his arm. All Lukas can do is smile at the crowd until it disperses. Afterward, he gets back in the limo with Miriam.

“I can’t believe he did that.” Lukas hits the seat.

“Shut up,” Miriam replies.

“What?” Lukas asks.

“I’ve heard you talk about Bushrod for too long. Simmer in silence so I can enjoy the car ride in peace,” Miriam says.

“You ungrateful-”

“Remember who’s renting the limo.” Miriam holds up a finger, and Lukas settles down. He doesn’t speak a word for the rest of the ride. At city hall, Miriam doesn’t bother to say goodbye.

Geraldine has already gone for lunch when Lukas arrives. She’s worked with him long enough to develop the same tactics as his wife. All Lukas has are his thoughts. Thoughts of anger and frustration are horrible to be left alone with. They multiply and reproduce faster than other thoughts. Within moments, they overwhelm the mind, and all one can think about is the object of their revulsion.

Logic and reason can be employed to disarm the effect of anger and frustration, but it’s rarely effective. The more sadistic few imagine cruel punishments for their enemies, but that hardly works. Lukas spends the rest of the day hoping that the Lady’s next act is more heinous.

******

The week is filled with meetings, press conferences, and hours alone with his thoughts. A few crumbs of good publicity landed on Lukas’s plate including a photo opportunity with one of the employees alone as Bushrod canceled his appearance at that particular event. At the end of the day on Friday, Lukas receives a call that changes his perspective.

“Lukas,” Bushrod’s voice comes through the line. Lukas chokes himself.

“Hello Bushrod, how are you?” he asks.

“Would you be able to come to my penthouse?” Bushrod’s voice has a vulnerability to it that Lukas has never heard.

“I’ll see if I can make it, but I’m not sure for how long,” Lukas smiles.

“If you’re worried about your wife, she’s already here,” Bushrod replies.

“What? How?” Lukas shakes his head. “I mean it’s rather odd that she would be there.”

“She’s in a club with my daughter. I’ll explain when you get here. Tell the clerk at the front desk that you want to see the stars. With that phrase, they’ll give you access to my private elevator.”

“Will do.” Lukas hangs up the phone and gags himself like a child. Of course Bushrod would choose such an egotistical phrase. He nearly vomits when he is forced to repeat it to the clerk. The private elevator has paintings on the wall and ceiling, but Lukas ignores them. When the doors open to the penthouse, Lukas narrows his vision. He doesn’t want the wealth to mock him. Bushrod is waiting for him, making it easier.

“I’m delighted that you came.” Bushrod shakes Lukas’s hand, and Lukas can feel the sweat. “It’s Florence. She’s extremely ill.”

“That’s terrible.” Lukas says with genuine feeling. Florence never offended him, and he did embarrass the girl at her own debutante ball. “But why would you call me instead of a doctor?”

“Well.” Bushrod pauses for several moments. “Let’s go see her. Miriam is by her bed.”

“Alright.” Lukas grins when Bushrod’s back is turned. His eyes wander off the path to view the furniture and layout of the apartment. The furniture is handcrafted with carvings of leaves. The rugs are of high-quality wool, and the artwork is by renowned artists. Everything is clean yet understated. None of the furniture has elaborate designs, and none of the frames on the paintings are trimmed. Bushrod no doubt could afford to be more ostentatious, but he knows that doing so would be a social faux-pas.

Florence is suffering in a canopy bed with green sheets and drapes. A large wardrobe sits in the corner next to a dress and make-up table. Florence lies in her bed while Miriam whispers holding Florence’s right hand between hers. Bushrod moves to his daughter while Lukas focuses on Miriam. A spark of blue occurs between Florence’s hand and Miriam’s.

“I’m back my dear.” Bushrod moves to rub Florence’s face as Miriam steps away.

“Hi dad.” She wheezes out the words in a soft voice with a breath between every syllable. She shivers under the thick bed, and her ears are bright red. She looks at Lukas. “Hello Mayor.”

“Call me, Lukas.” He touches his pockets. “I wish I had something to give you.”

“It’s fine. I’m glad you and your wife.” She pauses for several moments, and her eyes roll back in her head. Miriam takes her hand and rubs it. Florence’s eyes return. “Were able to come.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Miriam smiles.

“Are you on any medications?” Lukas stumbles for conversation with the woman he barely knows who he last humiliated.

“I don’t believe that’s any of our business,” Miriam says.

“I don’t mind,” Florence says.

“Her doctor prescribed a few to help reduce her symptoms, but none seem to be working.” Bushrod catches himself. “For now.”

“I’m sure she’ll get better. This just has to run its course. I remember I was bedridden for a month as a girl.” Miriam strokes Florence’s hair. “I’m sure it won’t be that long for you.”

Florence closes her eyes and quickly falls asleep. Bushrod touches Lukas’s arm and gestures for them to go outside.

“Why’d you bring me here?” Lukas asks in the hall.

“Her illness is directly related to the quarry collapse,” Bushrod says. Lukas steps back.

“What?”

“She stayed at the relief site after the conference and went to it every day afterward. Everyone who worked there or lives nearby has gotten ill. I don’t know why or how far this could spread,” Bushrod explains. Lukas puts his hand to his face to imitate concern, but he is smiling underneath.

“Why didn’t you contact my office?” Lukas removes his hand after ridding his face of his smile.

“This is personal; I didn’t want to use formal channels.”

“I see.” Lukas looks into Florence’s bedroom and feels guilt. She doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this feud. Why is she cursed to suffer for his follies? “Would you like me to contact the state or other public health officials? This could cause a scandal for you.”

“The newspapers are already asking about the events. It’ll be public knowledge soon. Please contact anyone who can help to stop this disaster before it spreads.”

“I will.” Lukas nods. Miriam steps out of the room. They stare at each other for a few moments.

“If it’s alright, I’d like to be alone with my daughter,” Bushrod interrupts the tension.

“I was just leaving anyway,” Miriam says.

“Me too.” The two exit the penthouse together. When they reach the elevator, she smiles at him.

“Why don’t we have a drink in your office?” she asks. Lukas raises his eyebrows.

“What a wonderful surprise. I’d love to,” he replies. When they walk out of the elevator, his smile covers his face. Miriam is seeing how well he handles crises, and his reliability is being proven. They walk across the street to city hall together, and Lukas considers taking her hand. He decides that it’s too soon for such displays of affection. When they reach his private stairwell, he begins to fantasize about her apology. She would follow that apology with a kiss. Perhaps more. His wife shatters that fantasy the moment his office door closes.

“I know what you did, you bastard,” she says. Lukas turns to her and rolls his eyes.

“Just because I’ve been living alone for the past week, doesn’t mean that I’m cheating on you,” he says, “Besides, if I did, you brought it on yourself.”

“You’re disgusting. No one would want you anyway. I’m talking about how you went to the Lady of Lost Souls.” Miriam stands close to his face and bares her teeth. Lukas slouches back in fear.

“Still believing in fairytales are we? I would only sell my soul to ensure you never spoke to me again,” Lukas shouts.

“As lovely as that sounds, I know you’re lying. You used your mayor’s key to go to her chamber under the waste treatment plant. The stain that monster left on your soul was absolutely pungent. I almost threw up in the car,” she says. Lukas prepares to scream and deny her accusations, but her look of determination breaks him quickly. He used to like her persistence.

“Alright, I went to the Lady of Lost Souls. How did you know about her? I thought only mayors were told of her existence,” he says. Miriam laughs.

“My prestigious family may not be as wealthy as we once were, but we maintain other forms of power and knowledge.” She runs her hands along the back of the chair. “I also sensed that Florence’s illness came from the Lady. You wished for revenge on Bushrod. Didn’t you?”

“Don’t judge me. You share my distaste for him.”

“He’s a bit ostentatious, but he’s harmless. Certainly not worth a deal with that creature,” Miriam says.

“And what about you?” Lukas moves closer to her. “You’ve expressed your fear about her, but you never talked about her beforehand. You had to know that I would discover her from my predecessor.”

“I didn’t think you would use her. The last time my family tried to work with a mayor was two centuries ago. That mayor betrayed us and attempted to eliminate us with her. After that, we resorted to using the fear and legends to prevent anyone from summoning her,” Miram chuckles, “It’s actually embarrassing that our creed was broken for such a petty reason.”

“Embarrassing.” Lukas shakes his head. That’s all you ever say about me.”

“I keep saying it because it never ceases to be true. You are a pathetic man willing to destroy the lives of many people out of your inferiority.” Miriam walks to the door. “My mistake was thinking you had ambition to improve yourself. In actuality, you want everyone to join you as you wallow in your own misery. I should’ve left you at the altar on our wedding day.”

Lukas throws a glass at the door after she closes it. He sits at his desk and grabs his hair. How is she able to get under his skin so effortlessly? She always acts so far above him, but she was as cut-throat as he was. The only difference was that she was born at the top of society while he had to fight to get there.

Grabbing the decanter, he pours himself a drink in a new glass. He mustn’t let her get to him. No, he must thrive. He’s already beaten Bushrod. When he takes his first sip, Florence’s weak face and voice fill his mind. He makes a fist and begins to hit himself.

“Stop it. Stop it.” He screams to himself. She was an unfortunate casualty. If it wasn’t for her father’s behavior, she wouldn’t have been in the situation. Bushrod would’ve injured her anyway with his naked ambition. Yet it was he who caused her suffering.

Lukas sets his glass to the side and grabs the decanter. Drinking straight from the bottle, Lukas chugs the liquid and hopes that it will impede his brain and rid him of his morality. When the decanter runs out, he grabs another one. After two, he feels sufficiently impaired.

When he stumbles to his car, he pulls out his keys to unlock the door. In his drink fueled stupor, his hand is too far to the right, and the keys strike the door. They fall from his hands to the ground.

“God damnit.” He bends over to look for them, but they’ve disappeared. The night is warm, and his motel isn’t that far away.

Walking on the sidewalk, he hopes that no one recognizes him. The scandal of being inebriated would be too great. Perhaps he should’ve stayed and looked longer. No, he’s already walking. He should commit.

******

Lukas wakes up the next morning forgetting about the rest of his walk. A disgusting taste lingers in his mouth and nose. Looking over the side of the bed, he’s greeted by dried vomit. At least it wasn’t in the bed.

His eyes are burned red, and his breath smells horrible. Thank goodness it’s a Saturday, and he will have the weekend to recover from his bender.

Except for the car. He slaps his forehead. It’s still at the office. He should pick it up before people start asking questions. Putting on a light outfit he runs in the direction of city hall. He must’ve woken up early as the streets are empty of life. It is Saturday morning when most savor their much-needed sleep.

He is knocked off balance suddenly as the ground beneath him shakes. The cars on the side of the road crash into each other and keep moving. The windows on the sides of the street break and begin to lean. Long tendrils emerge from the ground and grab the two towers in the distance. Cracks appear in the stone. Lukas changes his position to cover his neck. He hears a loud crash in the distance, and the shaking stops.

Lukas stands up. The Father and Daughter which dominated the skyline are gone. He runs towards the building ignoring the broken glass he’s spreading and the collateral damage. People have left their homes to gasp in horror at the terror, but he ignores them as well.

When he reaches the crater, he sees the damage. The two towers and city hall are gone. The trunk of his car sticks out of the small hole. A piece of fabric flies from the crater with the wind. He gets on his hands and knees. So many people died.

Mushrooms grow out of the cracks in the wreckage at an alarming rate. They gather into larger mushrooms and change form. Four alligators appear before him. Lukas’s wrists begin to burn.

“Oh no.” He flees from the beasts, but they quickly catch him. One grabs his left leg, and he falls. The other three take the rest of his limbs and drag him into a small hole. The mushrooms coat his face as he is dragged through the ground to the hall of the Lady’s domain. There are more faces on the walls, and they are screaming in terror at their new fate.

“Why! Why!” Lukas sees Florence’s face frozen in horror on the trophy wall as he is dragged past her. Closer to the entryway, he sees Bushrod with his eyes closed, resigned to his fate.

In the middle of the cavern, the alligators revert into mushroom vines that lift in the air. The Lady of Lost Souls stands before him laughing as he draws closer to her. He didn’t notice her several sets of teeth and how spores emerged from her breath when her mouth opened.

“Were my acts to your satisfaction?” Her spores fly into his face. He feels them extend into his skin.

“No, why did you have to kill so many?” Lukas weeps as the mushrooms enter his eyes.

“You didn’t express regret when I destroyed the quarry, and you tried to suppress your feelings about the plague you unleashed.” The Lady holds up a finger and scratches Lukas’s cheek. “Do not lie to me. I can sense what is in your heart.”

“I only wanted Bushrod to suffer,” Lukas says.

“And you were apathetic to your surroundings. Many people do not think of the consequences. You also have not held up your side of the bargain,” she smiles.

“Isn’t there enough pain in my life?” Lukas asks.

“That was not your payment,” the Lady laughs. The vines drag him away from. A hole opens in her dress, and Lukas is dragged into it. He screams in terror as it closes around him. He reaches out his hand hoping to grab safety, but he falters. The tentacles wrap around his limb and pull him back. He shall be with the Lady of Lost Souls for eternity.

THE END

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