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Wash Away My Sins	By : horrorgal Category: +A through F > Amnesia: The Dark Descent Views: 2698 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, nor the characters. I do not profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter 17
Spring was approaching and with it came sunnier days. Daniel watched the afternoon sky through the bedroom window, the sun so bright that it almost made his head ache. The clouds were sparse today, leaving the blue sky open and vibrant. Such a day should have made him feel safer, but Alexander was not a vampire that could be repelled by sunshine. Day or night, he brought darkness and shadow with him, like a loyal pet that never left his side.
He looked to the journal that lay open before him on the desk, cursing when he saw ink dripping in a pool on the page where he held the fountain pen. As of late, he found himself more and more distracted. His thoughts were like mosquitoes flying around his head, making it impossible to concentrate on much without getting frustrated. He blotted the mess as well as he could, getting black ink on his fingers in the process.
John said that they would return to the farm in the next month. Daniel was eager to do so. He missed the quiet and tending to the horses. London had become something ominous around him. He feared though that going back home would reveal to be no different. The Baron would follow like the curse he was. He had no doubt of that, and Alexander was always quick to remind him that he wasn't going anywhere, be it a whisper in his mind and to appear before his eyes, even if for a moment.
Daniel had grown used to his presence, like a old man might grow accustomed to a bad knee. It was just there and nothing would make it stop. He had tried to read up on ancient histories, and even the occult to figure out exactly what Alexander was. He claimed he was from another world and Daniel believed him; for what kind of mortal human being could do the things he did? In the end, no book he found could help him understand the nature of the man.
John still knew nothing of what was happening to him outside the occasional nightmare or uneasy feeling, and if he did suspect something more, he gave Daniel no indication of it. Either John was hiding his own concerns for him well, or he was too busy with business meetings and preparations with the new mansion to show worry. He wanted so much to confess to John what was happening, that maybe some of the heavy burden might lift from his shoulders, but he still refused to risk it. He had to find a way to stop Alexander, but he wasn't sure how to do it without putting John in danger.
He put away his journal before he left the bedroom to wash his hands in the washbasin. He rubbed the hard bristles of the brush across his fingers, but the ink was stubborn. He muttered to himself over his clumsiness, setting the brush aside before he made his skin raw. It would just have to fade on it's own. Heading downstairs, he heard John's voice and another man's coming from the sitting room. He didn't want to be rude by interrupting in case it was business related and went towards the kitchen instead to get some tea.
Robert ushered him out before he got a foot in and asked that he sit at the dining table so he could bring him the tea. He did as he was asked, keeping his complaints to himself. He didn't bother to ask who the visitor was when Robert placed the cup in front of him. He sipped the herbal warmth, aware of the presence behind him. Daniel looked over his shoulder to see Robert watching him with interest.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
Robert looked to the empty doorway before he answered. "I'm not sure it would be proper to discuss my concern with you, but you seem a... more common man than our employer," he said, voice cautiously low.
"Well, yes. I can't say I'm of rich blood," he said with wary, but his interest perked. He'd never seen the butler look so uneasy before.
"You also have a look about you, like you have seen much."
"How so?' Daniel asked.
"I've seen fear in your eyes, Sir, on more than one occasion."
Daniel looked away from him and sipped more tea, the taste now seemingly dull on his tongue. "I have sleeping problems and I'm sure you know of my nyctophobia. I have been working my way to get better with it. I think I might be making a little bit of progress truthfully," he answered, but would never dare to tell him how.
"Yes, Sir. We are told to keep candles and lamps in every room of the manor at all times. There are even some in the attic by the entryway." Daniel was quick to notice the waver in his voice when he mentioned the attic.
"Is there something amiss, Robert? Have you seen something strange?" He turned in his chair to look at him. Had Alexander done something? He hadn't thought to worry about the servants as much when Alexander only seemed pointedly threatening when it came to John's welfare. He looked hesitant to answer. "Please, if you have anything to say, tell me."
"There is something in the attic, a strange looking relic. I am not worldly or educated on foreign lands, but you seem to be. I see you reading books of that sort often."
"Relic, you say?" Daniel could feel his stomach squirm.
"It is perhaps nothing. Maybe just a statue that the master of the household acquired, but I did not like the look of the thing. I would not have seen it at all if not for him asking me to go collect boxes stored there that he needed this morning. I casually tried to discuss it with him before his guest arrived, but he waved off my attempt. I didn't dare push the issue and anger him. I enjoy my work, so much so that I was going to request continuing my employment."
"You wish to travel back with us?"
"I would like to, yes, but I hold no illusions that he will want to keep me under his employ once he leaves London." Daniel had no say in the matter. It would be for John to decide, but perhaps he could sway his lover with the issue. Right now he was more intrigued about the find in the attic. As much as he loathed the thought of going up into the dark, his damned curiosity nudged him to get up from the table. "Do you want to see it, Sir?"
Daniel held his breath a moment. "Yes, I'd like to have a look." He already felt a touch of regret as he followed Robert out of the comfort of the dining room. They moved up to the second floor and down the hall to the small door that lead further above.
Robert opened the door and bent to pick up the lantern that sat unlit on the bottom step of the narrow staircase that led up. Daniel looked up as he went about lighting it, disturbed by the lack of illumination coming from above. It felt heavy and foreboding. Only when John lifted the lantern could he see the way more clearly.
The stairway was too narrow for two people, so he had no choice but to follow after Robert's climb up the steps. He was halfway up before he noticed the feeble light from below him was fading far too much. He looked back and saw the door swinging closed, a slow movement with a slight squeak of the hinges. He froze when it closed with a click sound that was hauntingly loud in the quiet of the attic.
"It is alright, Sir. The door never stays open. Just follow close and you'll be fine."
Daniel looked back ahead where Robert stood standing there waiting, lantern a soft glow around him. "Are there no windows in the attic?" he asked, hand grasping the cold handrail.
"I'm afraid they were boarded over at one time."
"Oh bloody Hell, who would do that?"
"I'm not sure, Sir. It would be easier to see during the day, but alas, it is not my home to question it. Are you sure you're alright? We can go back down if this is too much for you."
"No, I'll be fine," he insisted, even as he felt the chill press around him. The wood creaked with their footsteps as they reached the attic floor. Boxes were stacked in one corner, old furniture covered with dusty sheets sat in another. Robert lit a few candles to brighten up the space and led Daniel to the far end of the attic.
"It's here," Robert said, motioning to the unknown thing that was covered up with a sheet as well. "I covered it up before I left. It's a unsightly thing to look upon."
It was waist high to him as he stood beside the covered oddity. Robert remained unmoving, obviously waiting for Daniel to do the honors. It had to be horrible indeed if the butler wanted nothing more to do with it. That only made Daniel all the more nervous about what it might be. He hesitated a moment before he grabbed the sheet and pulled it away. What lie beneath was more ghastly than he imagined.
The pedestal was designed in a way that reminded Daniel of nature, like gnarled tree branches entwined together to create a thick pillar. It's what sat atop it that was of concern. It was a head, but not human, the eye sockets large and empty, the nose curved to a point, the mouth huge with long sharp teeth in a straight row as if the thing was grinning, amused by something only it could see. The skin of it was gray, like that of the dead, pulled tight over pointed cheek bones. It had no ears that he could see. The top of the head was hairless and slightly oval shaped with four protruding horns, two on each side of the head, their color deep crimson.
"Dear God, what is this?" Daniel rasped, unable to look away from it, even though he wanted to. It could be nothing more than a sculpture of the macabre, but he knew deep down that it was something that had lived at one time. He reached out with trembling fingers and touched the skin. It was cold and leathery to the touch. He withdrew his fingers quickly when he felt a slight vibration, as it the thing was not quite as dead as he thought, but it did not move or attempt to bite at his curious hand.
"You can see for yourself why I'm uncomfortable, Sir," Robert said, disgust in his voice. "I've never seen anything so vile before."
"I have," Daniel muttered, watching the head with horrified wonder.
"Sir?"
"Not something like this exactly, but....never mind." He summoned courage and took the lamp from Robert to move in for a closer inspection. The back of the head had a long vertical cut that had been meticulously sewn back up, the stitching so fine that it was obviously done with incredible care. Why was it cut open in the first place though? To remove the brain? Or to hide something? He moved the light back around and focused on the eye sockets and gasped when he saw a shimmer, like dark reflecting glass. There was something resting inside. The object brought more fear than what was protecting it. An orb.
"What is it?" Robert asked.
"We should get out of here." Daniel lowered the lamp and took a step away from the artifact. The air around them felt colder and the pressure he had felt before had become more constricting. "We have to go now!" His legs felt like lead when he tried to walk and he stumbled, nearly dropping the lamp. Robert hadn't moved a inch, staring with wide, fearful eyes at the artifact, his body stiff as a board.
Daniel lifted his hand to reach out to Robert, or so he tried. His arm felt nearly useless at his side, like invisible weights hung from his wrist. The lantern did drop from his grasp then, his fingers going slack. The flame extinguished as it fell to the floor. He could hear Robert making a odd croaking gasp sound. Was he choking? Daniel found himself on his knees, confused as to when he had fallen down. The weak candlelight swayed and danced, the effects hypnotic. Shadows moved along the rafters, twisting and slithering along.
"Gah..ughhh.." Daniel lifted his eyes towards Robert again to see the butler twitching, the pained sounds coming from his throat. It had him. Oh God, the shadow had him! Black and deep red was coiled around the trapped man's arms, legs and neck.
Daniel tried to protest, but his yell came out a wheezing croak. The orb, still cradled inside the grotesque skull, brightened. The light steadily grew until it was so bright that the attic was awash in it's brilliance. Never had he prayed to be hidden in the dark as he did then. He could see everything in all it's nightmarish glory. The shadow wrapped and encased Robert completely, the fleshy wet creature pulsing and squirming around his body like a thriving cocoon. The slimy tentacles slithered and wove throughout the attic, blocking escape. Try as he might, Daniel could not move.
"Please... stop..," he strained to plea, slipping further as the fogginess in is head grew more incapacitating. He could not look away from the horror that was happening. Robert's life was being drained away, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Another death to bloody his hands with. Another life taken because of his damn curiosity over the ungodly orb.
"A pity, yes? I dare say it was bad luck that this man saw the gift I left for you."
Daniel shuddered, the sound of Alexander's voice like hissing snakes slithering inside his head. A gift? His lips formed the question that he couldn't voice.
"The orb makes it easier for me to converse with you, therefore I placed it here. Unfortunate that this poor soul looked upon it, but you and I both know that I can't have anyone getting in my way."
Daniel despairingly watched as the shadow began to recede, the sickly wet sound of it making his stomach turn. It left nothing of Robert behind as it went. It had simply adsorbed him, flesh and bone. The weakness in his own body remained and when he tried to crawl towards the stairway, his arms gave way and he dropped onto the unforgiving floor. The light faded with the shadow until he was left in the stark darkness of the attic. Even the candles had lost their flame during the attack. He could feel Alexander's presence above him. He imagined a vulture descending down to feast upon his flesh. His voice no longer came from within his mind, but close. Much too close.
"Don't worry yourself, Daniel. You won't remember what has happened here today. As far as you and your fleeting lover is concerned, you will both think that Robert just went on his merry way to seek employment elsewhere." He felt the touch of bony fingers on his back. When he felt cold lips against his ear, it was tremendously worse. "Now, go to sleep, and dream of me," he whispered, and Daniel slipped under, too helpless not to obey.
~~~
Daniel woke up feeling warm and rested, curled up under the bed sheets. He had been having a glorious dream of a foreign land, so clean and vibrant that it couldn't have been real. The architecture, the lands, even the sky itself had been so consuming to look upon. He blinked the sleep from his eyes, getting fleeting images of the man that had been there. Handsome was the first word that came to mind, but it seemed an inadequate word to describe his pure beauty. His long hair had been a flaxen blond, his skin flawless, but it didn't make the shape of his face any less masculine. And his touch had been..
Daniel flushed and eased himself up to sit and felt the familiar tightness of a erection in his trousers. John crossed his thoughts and it shamed him that he was aroused by another man, even if it had just been a dream. He forced himself to ignore the insistent throb and untangled his legs from the sheet to get up from the bed. He had taken a longer nap than he meant to. By the look of the sky outside it was nearly time for evening tea. He opened the window to take in a deep breath of cool air in the hope of taming his arousal. By the time he felt ready to leave the bedroom, John was on his way up the stairs to check on him.
"There you are. I thought you were still sleeping."
"I am sorry. I did not intend to lay in so long," he said.
"Oh, don't worry yourself over it. Once we get back home, I'm sure you'll forgo resting as much, so there is no shame in doing so here. I know how hard you like to work."
"Don't worry myself. Right," Daniel said and nodded, aware of the knot in his stomach. Don't worry yourself. Why would that make him feel uneasy? He smiled to John regardless of his strange feeling. He was determined not to let the slightest things keep attacking his nerves. He gave his lover a chaste kiss as they stood on the stairs, then descended with him to enjoy their meal together in the dining room. He didn't find out until later that evening that Robert had left a letter of resignation, leaving with such discretion that even the maid did not know he had left. Daniel was sorry to hear the news. He had quite liked Robert.
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Wash Away My Sins