the back of her translucent head, but I could tell her
expression had transformed to one of stark horror.
At that instant, still in utter silence, all three figures
burst into livid flames. The fire consumed them as they
writhed in agony, and the stillness allowed no syllable of
the apparent shrieks coming from their burning lips. My
perspiration increased, the smell of soot and smoke in the
room grew overpowering, and I felt a fever rapidly press
upon me. In a matter of seconds, these same livid flames
enveloped me, and I screamed aloud as I felt my flesh
searing. The pain became unbearable for one moment, and
as quickly subsided, while the burning mother and children
evaporated before me and darkness descended.
After long minutes of gasping for air and shifting
in the sweat-drenched bedclothes, I was able to sit upright
and light the lamp with shaking hands. First, I examined
my skin. Though I had positively felt it peeling from my
frame while the ghost flame engulfed me, I had sustained
no burns—or even redness. Indeed, I was freezing. I
donned a robe and rang for Jeffries.
He knocked so soon I had a thought that he had
been waiting just without. Speaking no word, he poured
me a brandy at the sideboard. “This will steel you, sir.”
I gulped it down and motioned for another. “It
seems to me you have some knowledge of my being
parboiled by a little family unit of spectres.”
“I trust you are recovered, sir? Master thought you
should have the complete tour. You did want to
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