CHAPTER#137

He didn't hear any response, so let out a sigh. Apparently these visions were meant to be slightly frustrating at the very least. "This place is called the Sanctuary. Sanctuary from what?"

The lights swirled around him, the voice now coming from them instead of his own body. "Everything. This is the place between the real world and the one beyond, between your dreams and your nightmares."

"Why does such a place even exist? What do I need to be safe from?"

From the others. The cold voice hissed like a snake, and Mike turned around to see the shadow standing behind him. The others like me.

"Hell no, absolutely not." He took a step back and bumped against the fountain. "I already told you no."

You did, but now that I have seen you, I can find you anywhere. The shadow approached, but then thought better of it and walked to the side. This one is frozen in time, yet has something you need. What if I told you I could help you get it?

"I'm guessing in exchange for a small part of my soul?"

Just a small piece. That I may persist.

"What are you? Or what were you?"

The shadow rippled and then hissed like a boiling pot of water. I was once a man like you. I became a part of the Grand Game, a pawn of the gods. And when I fell, I clung desperately to this existence that I could persist.

"What is the Grand Game?" He thought of the vision he had seen, a board with game pieces spread across it. It had to be a reference.

The shadow laughed. You have progressed so far, yet know so little. I shall give you the answer to what you seek, but in exchange...

"Yeah, yeah, a piece of my soul. The answer is still no." Though he said the words out loud, the temptation was still there. Ratu had said that the wrong piece could change who he was, but if it was small enough, maybe it would be worth the price? The shadow seemed to have answers, and he was desperately short on those.

You waver.

"Not today, no. I don't need your help." The words didn't even sound convincing to him and he paused. The shadow was like the whistle blower from Hell, willing to give him whatever he wanted in exchange for progression toward... something.

I can sense your resolve weakening.

"Slow down, Palpatine. You aren't the Senate yet." He saw the shadow tilt its head, uncertain of the reference. This being clearly wasn't omnipresent. It had already answered a couple of his questions, and maybe he could squeeze a couple of freebies out of it. "You said this place is meant to keep me safe from people like you, yet here you are."

The shadow paused for several seconds as if reflecting. This place was meant for all of us. We could converse safely here without fear of reprisal.

"Like, we couldn't hurt each other?"

Correct. Were I alive, we could do no harm to each other.

"Is that why I'm a woman here? So I can't bring weapons or whatever?"

The shadow chuckled. The Great Game had been played for centuries by many pawns. You wear the same body as your predecessors, the body of the house itself.

"Wait, so does that mean the house is alive?"

Several seconds passed, the shadow suddenly silent. I have said too much already. I am willing to tell you much, but I demand a price.

Mike seriously contemplated the offer, but thought back to what was happening right now in his front yard. As tempting as exploring the home's mysteries was, now was not the time. "The answer is still no. Not for a piece of my soul. Come up with a different price."

The shadow hissed and moved toward him, hands outstretched. They passed harmlessly through him, but left a chill behind.

It will all burn! Your whole life will go up in smoke! In that moment, the garden was gone and he stood in his front yard, staring up at his home, the flames stretching far into the sky. Cries of alarm came from within and he fell to his knees in shock. Is this really what you want?

"No. No it isn't." He rose, anger flooding him. "But how do I know that this is real? How can I believe in you when you're clearly just a shadow of the man you once were?"

The shadow hissed in response, flickering in the firelight. When the time comes, you will come crawling to me.

"That may be. And when it does, you can rub it in." He shook his head and willed the vision to depart. It faded from his sight like a ghost, leaving only the meadow and a giant, house shaped scorch mark in the grass of the garden. The shadow was gone too, and he turned to face Naia once more.

"I don't suppose you know anything about that asshole, do you?" He moved closer to her, his eyes on hers. "So I'm the house right now? The house is a woman?"

He didn't expect an answer, but now he contemplated the fountain beneath her. He sat down on the edge of the fountain, crossing his legs and tugging down his skirt. It reminded him of being stuck in Emily's memories, but now he was in complete control of the body he was in.

"I'm the house." He had an inkling of an idea, but his thoughts were dancing around it. The Sanctuary was in between his world and the next. He had willed himself here and, for the first time ever, didn't feel like he was about to get yanked out.

Was he asleep in the real world? Had he dozed off, only to find himself in this strange place? Or had his consciousness ascended, allowing him to briefly meld with the house?

The spring bubbled behind him and he turned to look into it. His reflection was scattered, and he was unable to see the face that he wore. However, he felt like he was missing something, a hint that had been accidentally given.