5. A Red Moon Smiles

His eyes closed, Rupert Spring sat next to the piano of the living room, his face empty and white as a winter sky. Caressed by a soft melody, he drifted away, waiting with a knife in his hand, waiting for the time to come, to stop by and wave a discrete hello. His contact would be here soon, and finally, after years of planning, a worm he had so eagerly spied would come to the end of his days.

He would not kill the man himself, no, but he would prepare the scene for the other. He knew his actions would not be on the soft side. There were many killings to undergo, and only one little sparkle to save. He meant not to taint the world with his own existence, but somehow, he knew that ignoring his nature would only lead to darker ends than the ones he hoped for.

He was prepared for the worse, prepared for a fail in his plan, although the pieces were set. As he agreed to do, Rupert had left all the information on Barton that he had ever found in his mansion’s safe. Frank Clearwater would easily find it, and whatever he did with this information did not matter to him. His living in Barton's mansion had been most painful. He had learned more than he'd intended, and thanks to his clever silent disguise, trapped the foul man, prepared him for the coming cat. Now, all was left to do was to give in a small hint for the coming partner, something to leave him either burning in rage, aroused with curiosity, or both, should he be in any way wise.

The music was over. It was midnight, and should there have been a thirteenth bell sound, it would have marked the very entrance of Maid Suzan in the living room, coming right from the Main Entrance of the mansion, out of her room. Boy this mad hag had amazing ears.

"What are you doing here, you nameless scum?" she asked, in a cold voice.

Rupert turned his head slowly, his eyes open, and his stare solid as rock.

"Get outside and do your surveillance round!"

The man sighed. He wouldn't have to pretend anymore. This was a lot less troubling too, especially when there is a beast to keep inside. He smiled up at her. His face and new expression as light as a feather: "I'm sorry you sick old woman. But I need your blood for tonight."

Rupert stabbed Suzan in the chest. Should the master of the house awaken, fifteen minutes later, he would find that a guard was missing, his 10 year-old daughter as well, and that a bloody message could be read on the wall when entering the house, a mad maid's corpse right under it. But surely Frank would be the one to wake him.

The Game was set.

Can you hear me?
Three dark melodies in the night.
Three dark secrets in sight.
They all bear the name of the devil.
A devil of Gold.

NOW WATCH ME DIE