Adam the Spirit Master

Chapter 14

I took a deep inhale before moving on. Slowly, but steadily, I ascended the stairs and soon found myself in the living space. The yellow Orchids were still there but this time it has faded to a lower tone of white. 

There seemed to be an assortment of sounds coming from the rooms down the corridor. 

I tightened my grip on my brush and paced down the corridor like a panther. 

I pushed open the first door, it had a bed and dressing table. The walls had a coat of pink with a nice desk. There was a working desk placed adjacent to the the window, and I saw some photo frames. I stepped closer and found them to be pictures of Mavis with her parents. There was also a picture of her in her graduation gown. 

 This must be Mavis’s room. 

Suddenly a thump from my back snatched my attention. I swung around and heard something from the other room. The corridor had taken on a pale light. Something is not right.

“Who is it?” I demanded but was only greeted by an eerie silence. 

I tightened my grip on my golden brush and slowly stepped back onto the corridor.

“Is anyone there?” I asked.

This time, I was greeted by a soft groan.

My skin went cold. It was coming from the last door at the corridor.

Who could it be?

**

I dashed towards and with my golden brush, wrote on the door of the room. This is a talisman meant to suppress any dark spirits. If there is a dark illumination, there is an ominous presence but instantly the talisman glows. 

A benign presence? I opened the door slowly and found a pint-sized figure stranded on the floor, huddled. 

“Who are you?”

“Oh goodness, you did not see me, you did not see me.” The quivering voice goes. 

“What happened to you?”

I bent over and saw an aged lady with bushy eyebrows.

“Who are you? You are who?” She asked.  “Don’t attack me. Don’t…” her pleas came through in quivering voice.

Judging from her silken robes, and facial features, I could guess her identity.

“You must be the 地基主 local guardian of this mansion?”

She turned and peeked at me

“How did you know?  You are…” She raised her head and drew closer, studying me from head to toe. “Who are you?”

“I am Adam Wong Takahashi, the Spirit Master, an Onmyōji. I can travel between the worlds. Are you the guardian of the Chua Mansion?”

She struggled to her feet and I realized she had a crane on her right hand.I helped her to a seat. This was then I noticed the bruises on her forehead and cheeks

“What happened to you?”

“You are? What’s your name again?” Her expressive eyes narrowed into slits of inquisitive light.

“Adam Wong Takahashi. Just call me Adam”

“What a name.” The old lady straightened her back.  At full height, she stands at about 1 meter, is slightly hunched. She has a protruding forehead that was heavily lined by time. Despite her age, her eyes were bulbs of gentle kindness. 

I know such guardian spirits usually carry a red aura but the lady in front of it had a dim aura.

“Ah, Sir Adam. I am surprised to see you.”

“I was recruited by the police to investigate.”

“Recruited?”

“There was a questionable death and I had been asked to investigate. How do I address you?”

“I am Gui, the 地基主, household guardian of the Chua Mansion.”

“How long have you been here?”

Gui started numbering with her fingers and then spoke

“This would be the fifty-eighth year.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Once I served 60 years, one cycle. I am ready to be promoted to the next realm.”

“A long tenure but I wished you ascension.”

“Looking at me now. It is so unexpected.”

“What happened?”

“I am not sure too but why are you here in this realm? I know not many humans can cross over.”

“I have my powers.”

“Ah, you are the rare ones.” She studied me like a book and remarked “What brings you here, Sir Adam?”

“There was a questionable death just twenty-four hours ago.”

 Instantly Gui’s face straightened and her mouth went agape.

“Horrible. I knew it. I sensed blood a few days ago and then when I investigated yesterday, I was attacked. “Do you know….”

She put her fingers to my lips instantly

“Did you see it?” She asked, wide-eyed.

“See what?” I asked.

“When you arrived. Did you spotted it?”

I shook my head. 

“Who is ‘it’?”

“It is a horrible energy. Fifty-eight years, and this is the first time I witnessed such horror. I don’t know where it came from and the reason for it but it just exploded into my world.

“What happened?”

“I tried to stop it but it blew my altar to pieces.”

“You have your powers?” I said “That should be adequate.

“I thought so but I was wrong. This is a powerful force, a dark presence.”

“Even you could not suppress it.” I whispered. 

“It surprised me. I did not expect the spirit to have such powers.”

“Why surprised? You have been around for a while.”

“Many years to be honest. This is a fine property with benign vibes. Look at the beautiful lawn and you can tell the congregation of positive energy. The inhabitants have good character except…”

“Except for what?”

Grandma Gui shook her head

“There is something that lurks.”

“A spirit? The dark presence.”