The Carnival of the Damned

"Danger you say?" Ancient Blood questioned the gypsy's statement as the mare sipped a cup of warm tea that Apothecarium had been sent to fetch. She nodded into the cup, savoring the soothing taste as she looked back up at the others in the room. Blood kept his eyes on her, measuring each word carefully while also searching for any change in her expressions that could indicate a fabrication of the truth. Ryn paced close by, fuming as he occasionally turned to stare outside one of the drawing room's large windows. Apothecarium also watched Ryn's actions curiously before turning to meet Roma's gaze. He gave a soft smile, urging her to continue her story.

"Ye-yes, Lord. Not too long ago, we were traveling over the moors near the village of Graveskye. It was there that we met a strange traveler. He claimed to show interest in our group, and that he wished to fund the carnival. Of course, my brother jumped at this chance, not even caring about the strange pony's stipulations." She sighed, shaking her head as she thought back. "First, he wished for us to allow his friend into the carnival. I suppose they had traveled together before we came along. Then he wanted us to hold onto a small music box for him, and play it every evening. Strange box too. It has a green glow inside of it...and that music..." She shuddered despite the warmth of the beverage in her hooves as Blood and Ryn turned with wide eyes to meet her gaze.

"Music Box?!" They spoke together, glaring at one another as Roma leaped to her feet. "Y-yes! You know of it? Oh, what a horrible object. I fear that it has a different purpose to it. Something far more sinister than the song it hides."

The unicorn nodded in agreement. "Your brother brought it here when he visited last. Offered it up as a gift, though I sent it away with him after he saw fit to play it in my presence." He turned away with the memory, knowing that the incident could well have been the beginning cause of Rose's current situation.

"I saw him play it too!" Ryn spoke up as he trotted over to where the others had gathered. "Rose was in a caravan with him in the Everfree. He was playing it for her, I think. There was a green glow, but he vanished before I could get a closer look."

"She has seen it?" Roma frowned. "No good...All of the carnival troupe has been in the presence of that box. They have seen it played, and heard it's haunting melody. After that first night... after it was played for me once, I ran whenever it was in sight. It holds power over them all, and the strange patron is the one to blame.  You must believe when I say we were innocent, for I have seen them change before my very eyes. With each playing of the melody, his power grows over them all, this 'Mortis' and his box.  When it is not being played, he keeps it well hidden. He is the only one to touch it, him and my brother."

The white stallion retrieved the now empty tea cup, setting it on a nearby tray as he mused on the box and owner. "Miss Roma, this Mortis fellow, has he any special abilities? Any skill or profession to speak of?"

The gypsy nodded as she thought. "I remember him once telling my brother that he was a scholar. That he specialized in ancient texts and rites of death. Then again, he was speaking with his friend once before. Something about necromancy and..."

"Ah, that solves it then!" Apothecarium grinned, pacing to the room's small bookshelf to retrieve a thick volume. He levitated this in front of him and flipped to a worn section of faded text. "I believe that Sir Mortis' true nature is that of a lich. It seems the only plausible explanation. Please, see here." He set the book down for the others to see, pointing to one paragraph in particular.

A lich is a type of undead creature. Often such a creature is the result of a transformation, as a powerful magician uses spells or rituals to bind his intellect to his animated corpse and thereby achieve a form of immortality. Liches are depicted as being cadaverous, their bodies pale, shabby, desiccated or even completely skeletal in some cases. Liches are often depicted as holding power over hordes of lesser undead creatures, using them as soldiers and servants.

Unlike zombies, which are often depicted as mindless, a lich retains independent thought and is usually at least as intelligent as it was prior to its transformation. Liches can be distinguished from other undead by their phylactery. This is an item of the Lich's choosing into which they imbue their soul, giving them immortality until the phylactery is destroyed.

Shutting the book, Apothecarium set a hoof to his chin in thought. "Miss Roma, you said that he allows no other but himself and Dimitri to touch this box? That it contains a power most unusual and through it he seeks to exert power over the carnival members? This may be a stretch of my imagination, yet I do believe it is quite possible that Mortis is a lich. Also, that this 'phylactery' may be the music box. His soul is tainted with such a dreadful power and he uses it to infect others."

"Th-then my brother?" Roma paled as the physician's words began to connect the string of strange occurrences of the carnival.

"He and the others should be safe if we hurry." He set a comforting hoof on her shoulder, turning to Ryn and Blood as he continued. "I fear though, that he has an underlying plan. One that could prove far worse should we remain inactive. My Lord, do you remember Dimitri's inquiry when he first arrived here?"

The Lord paled. "He plans to use her blood..."

"Eternal life for lifelessness." Apothecarium nodded grimly.

"What? Wait, explain!" Ryn stood between them, turning his eyes to each in turn. "You mean Nicolae wasn't the end of this spilling blood nonsense?!"

Neither spoke.

"Damnit! We can't wait any more! Let's go!"

The sentiment was echoed by the other three as Blood turned to Apothecarium and Roma. "Both of you are to remain here. I will not risk any more lives. Kuromaru..." He glowered at the pegasus who nodded.

"Yeah, I know. We finish this after she's safe."

The gypsy bowed to the three, tearing up as she spoke. "The caravans are close by. There is an abandoned cathedral near the far end of the Dead Forest. They call it 'Sanctuary'. Please, destroy that box. B-bring my brother back to me. My real brother." Her words collapsed into sorrowful cries as the white unicorn consoled her. Nothing else needed to be said. Both of the stallions raced from the castle at breakneck speeds. Ryn flapped his wings as soon as he cleared to doorway, taking off into the night sky as Blood faded into the shadows.