Bills, bank notes, receipts, and bets on horse races. “This was your one true love, huh, Lune?” I muttered to myself at the boring nonsense he occupied himself with. “What a fascinating gentleman.”
The something at the bottom of the pile caught my attention. It was a sketch of an oval object with sparkling stones around it… the cursive scrawl of C.M.D. underneath in bold. Shock tensed my shoulders as I fished in my pocket and pulled out the finished product that the drawing intended. The locket.
A maid laughed down the hall, startling me, and I shoved the jewelry back into my pocket and returned the paperwork to its former messy disarray. Why did I have Alaric’s locket? Who was he having it made for? I couldn’t get out of that place fast enough. Once I was safe on the street, I caught my breath on a nearby bench.
The sapphires sparkled as I turned Alaric’s locket over in my palm. Regardless of how it had happened into my possession, one thing was certain: it wasn’t for Lunette. Now, I hated himall the more. Now, I had to find out what he was up to, who was C.M.D., and who had murdered Alaric Lonesome?
I had an idea of where to start. Soon after, as the sky mixed the shades of orange and purple, I walked into the only jewelry shop in town. Jilly’s Finery’s. Jilly herself, I assumed, cleaned the glass of the countertop as I approached. “Hello, ma’am. What can you tell me about this?”
The old woman adjusted her monocle and took the locket for inspection. “Where did you get this?” She glanced up, giving my attire a once over, her expression seeped in judgement.
“I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re asking. At least… I don’t think I did.”
“Seems like something a person ought to know.”
“Can you tell me anything about it or not? I’ve got places to be.”
Jilly hummed and handed the locket back. “It was a custom order from a well-off customer. To whom or why, I’m not privy to.”
“Well, thanks for nothing, then.” I spun on my heel and halted at the door as the jeweler added to her statement.
“However, I can tell ya… that both the gifter and its recipient are now long dead. Both murdered. Personally, I wouldn’t want that damned thing anywhere near me. You never know with spirits of dead lovers. They’re a dubious sort.”
“Right… well, thanks.”
Dead lovers.
Dead lovers.
Dead lovers.
Alaric had a mistress.
It’s all I could ponder as the locket felt heavy in my pocket. Through the gate of the graveyard, the moon shone high in the sky, and I heard the familiar chanting. The chanting of a girl trying to bring back a dead man who was cheating on her—and she had no idea.
Her true love.
What an idiot to waste Lunette’s affections like that. A woman like her… goddamn, I’d never look at another. Before his death, Mr. Lonesome, however, didn’t share my loyalty. Busying myself with my graveyard tasks, a ghost hummed an eerie tune near her grave.
Swing, swing,
Bleeding by the sea,
Lost lovers cry
Oh, why didn’t you flee?
Sigh, sigh,
Sailor bold.
You lost your lover
In high tide,
You watched her die.
“Well, that’s cheery,” I commented, kicking more fallen autumn leaves off her plot. “How are you this night, Cora?”
