Miss Stockbridge

[SunlessNick]

"The demon lover!" the woman cries. "Oh, he burns like the flames of perdition, so sweetly! His embrace causes such exquisite agony! I have wandered time out of mind through these cold, cold caves, wishing only to be enslaved again. Will you not lead me to him? Come, let us search together."

She grabs Josette's hand and tries to pull her deeper into the maze of caverns.

"None should be enslaved," says Josette. But you are in pain, and I will help you search." The woman's story makes her think of Amos - as shameful as that is - and what it must be to be possessed by that gentle yet strong man of the sea.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good day, Detective," says Victoria. "We've spoken before, on the telephone. I'm Victoria Winters. I spoke to you about a missing boy, David Collins. My friends and I came here to find him and bring him home, and we were hoping you've made some progress on the case."

[Mr. Handy]

"Pleased to meet you," says Reverend Trask. "I'm Reverend Orville Trask."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Looking up at the visitors, the detective remarks, "Yeah, I remember. I recall talkin' to you, but I don't know these two characters with you. All I can tell you is what's public knowledge. The Collins kid showed up with his guardian the other day on a Greyhound bus. I had a coupla guys keepin' an eye on 'em. Nothin' suspicious. The kid is here of his own free will. If there's some kind of domestic dispute back home -- Maine, wasn't it? -- that's out of my line. They visited the apartment where the kid's mother burned up, poor tyke. Seems natural enough. You got anything to add to the arson case? The boys in the lab are calling it 'spontaneous combustion,' which sounds like a lotta baloney to me."

Turning to the men, he says, "So what's your interest in the kid, fellas? I don't think the lady was exactly the church-goin' type, Padre."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Deeper and deeper the woman leads Josette into the maze of caves. The air grows colder, the illumination provided by the few weak candles ever dimmer. Soon, barely perceived in near total darkness, there seem to be occasional human figures lying upon the ice-shrouded rock. The woman disregards these, and soon thereafter wanders aimlessly, often retracing her steps.

[SunlessNick]

Turning to the men, he says, "So what's your interest in the kid, fellas? I don't think the lady was exactly the church-goin' type, Padre."

"Indeed she is not," says Nathan. "We are here mainly out of concern for the boy. And of course we could not allow Miss Winters to undertake such a quest alone."

[SunlessNick]

Deeper and deeper the woman leads Josette into the maze of caves. The air grows colder, the illumination provided by the few weak candles ever dimmer. Soon, barely perceived in near total darkness, there seem to be occasional human figures lying upon the ice-shrouded rock. The woman disregards these, and soon thereafter wanders aimlessly, often retracing her steps.

Josette puts a hand on the woman's arm to stop her, and examines one of the figures - it it a person? - are they alive or dead?

[Mr. Handy]

"Just so," says Reverend Trask. "Miss Winters is one of my parishioners, and we could hardly let her travel unescorted. I would also like to make sure young David returns home to his father safely."

[Mr. Handy]

"Laura Collins was David's mother," says Victoria. "With her passing, his father Roger Collins has sole and undisputed custody, so it's not a domestic dispute. He ran away from home, upset because of his mother's death, and came here because this is where she lived. Jerry is a more distant relation of his. Do you know where they are now?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The various persons discovered in this frigid and gloomy place are without life, although the extreme cold preserves their bodies, much in the manner of waxworks. Each bears a wide smile, and eyes open wide, covered with frost, as if they died in ecstasy. The woman collapses to the ground, as if she would join them. As she does so, a biting wind emerges from yet deeper within the cave, from parts completely without illumination.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"My guys followed 'em as far as the Hermosa Inn, in the community of Paradise Valley, outside of town. Place was the home of some cowboy artist, I think. Now it's a guest ranch. Nothin' suspicious, so we quit tailin' 'em. Kid seemed to be havin' a ball, ridin' and stuff." He shrugs. "Check it out if you like. It's a free country."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, we'll do that," says Victoria.

[SunlessNick]

The various persons discovered in this frigid and gloomy place are without life, although the extreme cold preserves their bodies, much in the manner of waxworks. Each bears a wide smile, and eyes open wide, covered with frost, as if they died in ecstasy. The woman collapses to the ground, as if she would join them. As she does so, a biting wind emerges from yet deeper within the cave, from parts completely without illumination.

Josette tries to pull the woman to her feet. "Come, we must away from here before we share the fate of these poor souls."

She finds herself wishing even harder that Amos were here. She has been distant from him since he came to work at Collinswood, something for which she abruptly filled with guilt and regret.

[SunlessNick]

"You have our thanks," says Nathan.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

3d20Neither persuasion nor force can prevent the woman from rushing ever deeper into the darkness of the icy caverns. Josette is left behind in what now seems to be an inescapable labyrinth. Rushing hither and yon, without any sense of direction, in what would seem to be a hopeless search for escape, until . . .

Waking up in her own bedchamber, she recalls what seems to have been a vivid nightmare. When she rises and gazes in a looking glass, she sees that her face shows the first signs of aging, as if years have gone by. Are all her nights doomed to be haunted by such dreams?

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After arranging for transportation, the trio arrive at the Hermosa Inn, which turns out to be a combination of a dude ranch and a luxury resort. There are horses and bridal trails available for the guests, hiking trails, swimming pools, cookouts, and fine dining. The reception area is a building made from rough-hewn wood, but richly decorated. Upon entering the three are greeted by an employee in stylish Western clothing.

"Welcome to the Hermosa Inn. Do you have a reservation?"

[Mr. Handy]

"No, I'm afraid not," says Victoria. "We do have a couple of friends staying here, Jerry and David Collins." She describes them.

[Mr. Handy]

Reverend Trask stands back and lets Victoria do the talking, as this is her time, lest he accidentally commit some faux pas that would not fit in the twentieth century.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Oh, yes, the Collins boy and his guardian. I believe they went out horseback riding early this morning."

It is now late afternoon, the blazing sun casting gaudily colored shadows on the desert landscape.

"Strange. They should have been back by now."

[Mr. Handy]

"We should go look for them," says Victoria. "Which way did they head?"