Ghost of Glasgow: Immortal Stonekeeper Case Files #2 (2023) Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Distress Call

Read chapter 1 of Ghost of Glasgow: Immortal Stonekeeper Case Files #2 (2023) by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

There’s a first time for everything. Falling in love, marriage, heartbreak… Murder, even. Fortunately, people get used to most things. Life goes on for those who do. And for those who don’t… Well, let’s just say there’s a reason why bad things happen in the world despite humanity’s best efforts. But like they also say, there are some things you never get used to. And for her, it was the stench of death. Paranormal Investigator Anya Mikhailovna Sechina walked up the battered path leading up to a gaudy porch, her nose wrinkling from the foulness in the air. For better or for worse, the man beside her was either too oblivious or too unbothered to let it stop him from yammering in her ear. “So what do you think about that?” Jonathan Warner chattered away excitedly. “The memories of our past lives are stored in our souls. I can’t believe the key to reincarnation is just a handful of soil and a spell away!” “Save it for later, Jon. We’re here,” Anya hissed as the brownish-white door loomed ahead of them. Her hands fiddled nervously around the cold metal of her car keys. She shuddered internally at the unpleasant familiarity of this whole situation. The last time they visited a house this secluded, a murderous vampire almost killed her. There was no doubt that her immortal friend beside her would protect her like last time, but the face of death was a little too grotesque to stare down one too many times. A sharp rapping of knuckles on wood shook her back to her senses. The door opened almost immediately. “What do you want?” a lanky man greeted them rudely. His clothes stank of cigarettes, and there was an unusual darkness hanging around the corncornershis eyes. Anya reached into her coat— “Metropolitan Police.” Jonathan flashed a name card and kept it before anyone could take a second look. “We’ve received a disturbance complaint, as well as reports of suspicious activity in your house. We have a warrant to search it. May we come in?” “Disturbance complaint?” The man’s eyes narrowed in remarkable anger, before letting them in grudgingly. “Fine. Come in.” Nervousness pooled in Anya’s stomach. This was the only house for miles. Jonathan was being way too upfront with that obvious lie. If they could not find the evidence that they needed, today would be their last day working in the Paranormal Bureau. Anya flashed a small smile at a woman in the corner, which did nothing to calm her down. She observed her actions surreptitiously; the curly-haired woman was visibly trembling in fear for some reason. Ceramic rattled lightly as she picked up a teapot and began pouring into a cup. “There’s no need for that, Madam Wright.” Jonathan grabbed her hand gently for a little too long, as though inspecting her wrist. “We won’t take long.” “Hey, you coppers better not take all day.” The man folded his arms, eyeing the two strangers carefully. “If this turns out to be a waste of my time, I’m lodging a formal complaint to your department.” His voice dropped sinisterly, his gaze flitting to his wife. “And I’ll be dealing with those nosy neighbours of mine.” The duo headed up the stairs. “Please tell me you’ve got something,” Jonathan whispered to Anya, who was already wearing her disillusionment goggles. “My third eye isn’t seeing anything out of place. Any traces of vampiric magic?” Anya tapped the goggles twice, discreetly snapping pictures of the murky, dark essence that littered the corners of the house. She heaved an internal sigh of relief; at least the call to the Supernatural Hotline was not a bogus one this time. “I’ve got plenty,” she said, following an increasingly more obvious trace of magic remnants to the bathroom. “Bingo.” The investigator picked up a black ring from the edge of the basin, examining it intently. It was unnaturally dark, as though any light that fell upon its surface was simply absorbed into its blackened crimson shade. “Ring of the beast…” Jonathan breathed. “Protects vampires from the sun for an hour. Case closed, I sup