I Bear The Devil's Eye

Chapter six, titled: A Luxurious Setting

Henry glanced into the mirror, his reflection warped by the demonic red glow emanating from his left eye. The firey light cast a haunting hue across his face, amplifying the horror etched in his expression. His body began to betray him, growing numb as this strange sinister energy coursed through his nerves like a wildfire. He felt his limbs trembling uncontrollably, his breaths shallow and frantic.

In that very instant, the glow suddenly faded, followed by the overwhelming pressure he felt. The pulsating energy that had gripped him was gone, leaving his eye dim and lifeless. Henry slumped forward, his gasps slowing as the tremors in his body subsided.

But the relief was short-lived. The incident had carved itself deep into his mind, impossible to ignore or forget. He clenched the edge of the sink, his knuckles whitening as it was revealed that the reason for his near panic attack wasn't because of the pain the devil's eye had caused him, but the traumatic moments from his childhood it had replayed vividly for him to experience altogether. Each one he experienced had a sharp and painful comeback as it occurred.

Whatever this eye was—whatever connection it had to the Source—it was no gift that the infamous Lady Velvet had given to him. It was a curse, one that not only affected his body but also sought to torment his very soul. Despite his attempts to shake it off, Henry knew the damage was already done. This power, or curse, wasn't going to let him go so easily.

Once Henry had regained his entire composure, his attention was directed back to the closet Lady Velvet had mentioned. Moving toward it, he hesitated for a moment before dragging open one of the drawers. Inside, he found a collection of fine men's clothing, each piece radiating luxury—something far beyond anything he could have ever dreamed of getting or affording in his entire life.

"Th… this is so nice…." he muttered bitterly, his voice tinged with shock and sarcasm. The lavish setting surrounding him felt like an insult, a cruel reminder of what he'd lost. Despite waking up in comfort, the crushing guilt of his past weighed on him. He couldn't escape the feeling that he didn't deserve any of this—not after what happened to his family.

Henry took a deep breath and placed his hand on the door knob, but the moment his fingers touched the cool metal, a wave of unease surges through his entire body. It was an instinctive feeling, primal and urgent, sending shocks through his nerves. He had experienced this before as a child, the time he was forced to open the door for his landlord when his mother didn't have enough money to pay for their stay. This feeling heightened is senses, and he couldn't ignore the ominous shadow stretching across the floor through the gap in the slightly ajar door.

His heart raced as he stood frozen in place, his mind racing with many possibilities. What could be standing just behind that door? The dread was palpable,but there was only one way to find out. Bracing himself, Henry tightened his fist and opened the door, and what greeted him made his breath catch in his throat.

Standing before him was a figure wearing a ceramic mask, its design resembling that of an African tribal motif. Thr mask's intricate patterns and haunting expression added a strange unsettling presence to the individual. The figure, shorter than Henry, remained still, staring at him through the slightly opened slits in the mask.

Henry's heart skipped a beat, and before he could react in a way he had planned too, he stopped, noticing the petite frame of this individual. It was infact a little child, and just has he the tension had settled, he stumbled backward, tripping and landing hard on the floor.

Then to his utter confusion, the masked child began to chuckle—a light, childlike laugh that echoed through the hallway, proving him right.

Ths tension in the air finally ceased as the masked individual reached up and removed their mask, revealing their true identity. It was a young girl, her face adorned with very light blue eyes that made it seemed she was stairing directly into Henry's should due to its opacity. Her delicate features, framed by dark hair tied into chinese double buns and intricate bangs that hung over her forehead. This left no doubt about her age.

Henry blinked, still trying to process what had just happened. This child, so innocent looking, had managed yo terrify him in an instant. He frowned slightly, his fear replaced with a mix of annoyance and tension as the girl smiled brightly, her deadly eyes still menacing but she didn't seem to be the kind of person to harm anyone, she then leaned closer lending a helping hand to a fully grown man.

"Who… who are you?" Henry finally managed to ask, his voice still shaky as he stared at the girl, unsure whether to be angry or relieved.

The little girl raised an eyebrow at Henry's question, clearly expecting something different from him—perhaps for him to take her outstretched hand. But Henry, like anyone with common sense or reasoning, hesitated. Trusting a stranger, especially one he had just stumbled across, wasn't exactly high on the list.

Realizing her mistake, the girl sighed and pulled her hand back, looking almost dissapointed as she had not said a single word. It seemed she wasn't educated on the usual rules of interacting with strangers, or perhaps she just didn't care for them.

Henry quickly scrambled to his feet, brushing off his clothes as he stood to face her properly. However, before he could say anything further, a light middle-aged male voice called out from somewhere down the hallway, interrupting the moment.

"Isabella!" the voice called, firm but not harsh, which the two heard.

The little girl's head snapped towards the direction of the voice followed by footsteps, her mischievous expression replaced by one of recognition. Without uttering a word, ahe turned and sprinted down the opposite side of the hallway, her small figure disappearing around the corner in seconds.

Henry blinked, unsure of what to make of this encounter. The girl—Isabella, as she'd just been identified—had vanished as abruptly as she appeared, almost like she transported from there, leaving him alone once again.

Just as Henry processed the sudden silence left by the departure of the little girl, Isabella, the owner of the voice that had called her appeared at the door. Standing there was none other than Dr. Matthew Hartford, the same man who had saved Henry's life through Lady Velvet earlier.

"Darn, that silly child has run off again," Matthew muttered in irritation, shaking his head before his gaze shifted to a flabbergasted Henry Adams.

Noticing the surprised stare, he offered a casual smile. "Well, you seem to be in good health. For a moment, I thought Lady Velvet was pulling one of her tricks on me." He extended his hand for a handshake, his demeanor warm but composed. "Dr. Matthew Hartford, though you can just address me as Matthew—it's easier that way as people say it."

Henry hesitated for a second before tentatively reaching out to meet the handshake. Their hands connected briefly, Henry still unsure how to read the man in front of him.

"I'm…" Henry began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to decide whether to introduce himself.

Before he could finish, Matthew interrupted with a reassuring smile. "No need for formalities, Henry Adams. I already know who you are." His voice was kind but carried an undertone of knowing, which left Henry feeling slightly off balance. "Come with me," Matthew added briefly, already turning to leave.

Henry remained rooted to the spot, unsure of whether to follow or just stay behind. He stared after Matthew, still trying to piece together everything happening around him.

Noticing the young man hadn't moved, Matthew stopped ij his tracks and turned back. Tilting his head slightly to the side, hr gestured for Henry to follow. "Didn't you say you had some some questions for Lady Velvet?" he said, his tone light but encouraging.

"Oh.." Henry stammered, his confusion evident as he realized he'd been lost in his own thoughts. Shaking himself out of it, he stepped away from the door and followed Matthew down the hall, a strange sense of curiosity washing over him as ro what answers he might receive.

The two walked in silence for what felt like mere seconds, only to find themselves passing room after room at the edges of each hallway. Each room stood eerily empty, adding to the endless monotony of their trek. Henry wss already growing weary, his patience wearing down, as he silently hoped this exhausting journey would soon come to an end. At last, he wish came true. Ahead og them was the end of the hallway, where a grand spiral staircase stood, separating the current hallway they stood in from another that stretched beyond it.

Matthew let out a deep sigh, clearly feeling the same fatigue. The long walk had drained his energy, and it seemed as though he had momentarily forgotten just how endless the hallway truly was.

"We're here," Matthew announced, his voice tinged with relief as he reached the base of the stairs. He turned back to look at Henry, who appeared lost in thought, his focus seemingly consumed by the repetitive journey they had just endured.

Henry blinked, snapping out of his trance, and hurried to catch up. Matthew, watching his companion's sluggish movements, couldn't help but feel a twinge of disbelief. How could someone as clueless as Henry have attained the Devil's Eye, a power so rare and formidable? Still, Matthew didn't blame him; after all, this was unfamiliar territory for Henry. For someone who had experienced death and then risen again, it was no surprise that adjusting to such a reality was overwhelming.

Henry finally stepped forward, joining Matthew at the base of the staircase. As he turned to take in the sight before him, his breath caught in his throat. The grandeur of the space was unlike anything he had ever seen. A massive, dazzling chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the entire area with a radiant glow. The interior resembled that of a lavish manor, with pristine white walls and floors patterned like a chessboard battlefield. The sheer beauty and magnificence of the place left Henry in awe, his emotions bubbling to the surface. A single tear escaped from his left eye as he stood there, overwhelmed by the dreamlike scene.

"Welcome to the Heavenly Bureau," Matthew said, gesturing grandly as he introduced Henry to this opulent setting.

Henry, still captivated by his surroundings, failed to notice the figure standing in the center of the room, directly beneath the chandelier. "Mr. Henry Adams," a smooth, commanding voice called out.

Henry turned his attention to the voice and saw Lady Velvet standing elegantly in the middle of the room. She was dressed in a stunning red velvet gown with a high slit that revealed her right thigh, her presence both commanding and alluring. Henry instinctively glanced behind him, expecting to see Matthew still there, but his companion had vanished. Now, it was just him and Lady Velvet in this extraordinary yet mysterious place.