A strange Mundane practice. Strange because after the death of someone, people who neglected and hurt them for years get the sudden need to talk to them. To Magnus it seemed like the price for proper attention from the mundanes was nothing less than Death itself. Bereavement made them anxious it seemed. ’Would the dead think ill of us?’ ’Do they recall the slights done to them while they were alive?’ ’Are they coming for revenge?’ Mundanes had questions and it seemed that nothing would stop them from getting the answers they wanted. Not even Death.
As any warlock worth their magic, Magnus Bane knew that there was no way to pierce the veil between the dead and living. And knew better than to meddle with such powers that were limited to Angels and only angels. No demon, not even the Greater ones had such power. Magnus knew that well enough, having meddled with the darker aspects of his magic in the last for at least a chance to talk with his mother, to absolutely no avail.
But now there were rumors. Rumors of a girl, who could communicate with the dead. Who let you hear exactly what you needed to hear. Who was clearly and inexplicably gifted. Someone, Magnus Bane had to see for himself.
Thus here he was. Seated at a round table with four mundanes, impeccably dressed in testimony to their wealth and status, (The girl wasn’t easily afforded.) holding each other’s hands in a lavish but darkened chamber. Magnus’s left hand held the wrinkled right hand of an old gentleman, while his right hand held onto the soft and slight left hand of the Medium herself.
Among the gaudily dressed Gentry in the room, she was a stunning specimen of female beauty and elegance. Clad in a dark velvet dress that clashed against her pearly skin but brought out her dazzling green eyes, she looked like a woman who knew what she was doing. Whether it was communicating with the dead or conning wealthy guilt ridden Gentry out of their money, was yet to be seen.
”You might want to take that ring off. Iron gets in the way of summoning the spirits of your beloveds.”
The girl’s voice brought Magnus out of his reverie of observation. She was referring to an Iron ring he wore on his index finger that bore a protective charm against demons. He briefly entertained the notion Miss Nypan was a demon herself but was quick to get rid of any such suspicions considering how she had shown no indication of recognizing a warlock.
“Odd little detail, isn’t it? How they are troubled by the most commonplace metals they were fine with while alive?”
Magnus had no trouble whatsoever with voicing his skepticism, only he was a little subtle about it. He saw no reason to irritate or anger the other people around the table, though admittedly he couldn’t decide which would be more fun to see: taunting these superstitious old men or watching them being tricked into spending a fortune on pretending to communicate with the deceased.
“You are not a believer.” The girl stated as if it explained everything about Magnus. From the way the others around the table nodded in agreement, it might as well did.
“I’m simply unable to grasp how you communication with the dead. Can you blame a man for questioning what he hasn’t witnessed?”
“Have you witnessed God, Mr…”
“Bane. Magnus Bane. And you Miss Nypan were too quick to assume that I believe in God.”
People around the table bustled at the declaration. Many bore a look of disgust upon their faces. Disgusted about the heathen amongst them. Disgusted as if they weren’t here against the teachings of their Prophet themselves.
“What you believe or don’t believe is none of my concerns.” The medium said. “You have paid for my services and I’m here to provide them. But I would like for you to compromise so that I can perform to the best of my abilities.”
“As you wish Miss Nypan.” He had to yield, because a part of him was eager to see what this young woman was up to.
The seance that commenced since was a textbook example. The girl called upon the spirits of the dead and answered the questions the gathering had for them. Lady Montgomery wanted to know how her son who had died of a brain fever fairing in the afterlife whereas Mayor Renfield, the old gentleman seated next to Magnus was eager to ask after his dead wife. The girl answered each and every question. Gave proof that the spirits who were communicating with them were in fact the real and exact people of her clients’ demands. There was a fair amount of theatrical effects happening about them too. Candles flickering around madly without a bit of wind, curtains in the windows ballooning in and things moving by themselves across the table they were seated around. Each and every trick giving Magnus clearer and clearer hints as to who or more accurately what she really was and before long it was his turn to summon the spirit of a dead beloved.
“I would rather not talk to the dead from my past, Miss Nypan.” He smiled politely before declining. “Don’t want to bother these refined ladies and gentlemen with the past of a heathen.”
”But you paid for my services…”
”I paid for entertainment. And I got plenty of it.”
”As you wish Mr. Bane.” She sounded resigned but continued to bring the seance to an end. The gathering dispersed after praising and thanking Cassiopeia Nypan for her skills and services, and all of them made a point of shooting dirty glances at Magnus who was lingering behind, as if he were just a young man with too much money than he knows what to do with and thought of these “serious affairs” as nothing but mere entertainment.
“Miss Nypan, may I escort you to lodgings, once you are done for the night?” He didn’t want to waste any time letting her know what he had just learnt. “I have much to discuss about your charming…performance.”
“I am done for the night, Mr. Bane. These seances take much out of me, leaves me tired and in need of rest.”
She let him help her into her coat, an elegant dark green long coat of an exquisite material, and gracefully accepted his offered arm.
“I know what you are Mr. Bane.” She said as they stepped along the road paved with cobblestones. Her voice held no accusatory tone but merely an informing one, as if she were telling him a matter of fact. “Or more accurately I know what you are not.”
“And What is that, Miss Nypan?” Magnus tilted his head at her with a dazzling smile upon his lips. “Do share your theories about me so that I can share mine about you!”
“Well I know you are not entirely human.”
“Something of demonic origin. I can feel sinister sort of energy radiating off of you. Wave after wave of demonic power induced magic.”
“You are quite right, Miss Nypan.” Magnus admitted with a nod of his head. “My father is a demon from a realm other than ours and I do possess magical abilities. But my mother was a human, and my kind, the odd mix of demons and humans are known as Warlocks.”
If the girl was frightened, she showed no sign of it, he only received curious glance from her before she spoke.
“Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Bane. Now would you be so kind as to share your theories about me?”
“Well I know both what you are and what your are not.” It was Magnus’s turn to be direct. “You are not a medium. Not at all. You are a con artist. An incredibly talented one at that. And I believe part of that talent is owed to the fact that you are a very powerful witch!”
To her credit, Cassiopeia neither faltered nor stumbled at his declaration. She simply nodded her affirmation and kept on walking with their arms still intertwined.
“You are correct. I am a witch. Now what do you think to do with this information Mr. Bane?” She questioned nonchalantly, seemingly not at all bothered by him knowing a vital secret about her.
“I was thinking of blackmail.”
“Yes. I want to blackmail you into having dinner with me tonight. Oh the amount of questions I have for you, you delightful little thing!”
His words managed to bring a surprised smile to her lips, as her gaze flickered up at his own hazel eyes.
“What If I don’t accept your invitation?”
“Then I will be at the seance tomorrow as well, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that until you agree to share a meal with me.”
“Aren’t you a persistent one!”
“Oh I very much am!” Magnus laughed out loud as they came to a stop in front of a town house which seemed to be Miss Nypan’s lodgings while she was staying in town. She let go of his arm before climbing the three steps up to the front door without giving him a proper answer but at the last minute she turned back.
“I will accept your gracious and extremely persistent invitation Mr. Bane. But only because you have piqued my interest with all your talk of demons and magic.”
“Amazing!” Magnus clapped his hands together, his smile never leaving his lips. “But I have one more thing to ask of you, Miss Nypan.”
“And What would that be?”
“Very well Magnus, I will see you tonight!” She nodded before opening the door and stepping inside. But before closing the door, she sent a smile his way, followed by the words that helped widen his smile.
“And you can call me Cassiopeia too.”
