literature

ICB 22: Good Man Blumiere and the Scoundrel Bleck

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Count Bleck entered his office having returned from the Solarium. Whatever repairs Nastasia and the Maintenance crew had managed were working for now, and he felt refreshed for once. Indeed, it had been a welcome diversion from the heightened tension he had been feeling as the dark prophesies came to pass.

For the past few days he had been feeling more regret and worse than that doubt, which was a worrying development. He had always felt so certain and every consultation of the Prognosticus affirmed this. So why the doubt? And why now?

Still, there was only one place he could consult this and he knew better than anyone that you did not do so frivolously. That tome read you as much as you read it, and its frightful secrets gleaned from generations of its possessors. It had been a couple of days since he had been in his office after all.

On days like this, Bleck wasn't so sure who possessed whom.


The warm buzz of post-exercise endorphins dissipated as soon as he set foot over the threshold.

Papers were in disarray, with ink splashed on the desk and floor. But worse than that, the atmosphere seemed different. He felt nausea rise within. Only two people could be capable of this outrage, but there could only be one possible culprit. That would explain why he was keeping such a low profile around the Castle. He had been unable to pinpoint him, and none of the other staff members had seen him. He could hold it no longer.

"DIMENTIO! YOU SHALL PAY FOR THIS OUTRAGE!"

That would have to wait. Dimentio was either so convinced of his own success that he was being sloppy, or perhaps he was careless as the end drew near. Either way, any mistake would be an opportunity to wreck his righteous vengeance on that clown!

Feeling calmer, he prepared himself to consult the Prognosticus. He pulled the curtain and made the incantation. The niche revealed itself, along with the tome. He took it into his hand and sought the passage that was troubling him.

'Beware of the young ones, for they do not conceal the truth,
Beware the frivolous ones, for they are the most deadly,
Beware the hidden ones, for they will reveal themselves at the last,
All will be revealed at zero's open mouth.'

Did this refer to the heroes, their pixl companions or his own minions? He could not be sure, but as he handled the book it felt strange. It did not have the strange vitality that it should have, and the text did not give the impression that it had just finished moving on the page. His unease growing, Bleck looked away. He felt nothing, no pull, no hissing and chittering at the edge of his mind. His fingers numb, he dropped the book. It fluttered to the ground, as inanimate as the pen and inkwell on the floor.

He barely made it to the toilet in time to vomit, the realisation blazing as clear as a meteorite. The Dark Prognosticus was a fake! The fact that there was no doubt in Bleck's mind who the perpetrator was was scant consolation.

He sagged against the wall. Dimentio had the Prognosticus. With the Chaos Heart and the Pure Hearts he would be unstoppable. All that could be done now was to summon his three remaining minions to get the hearts to him. If he had them, he could erase them and leave Dimentio powerless.

It doesn't have to end like this. The Heroes. They could help you fight Dimentio

He sighed. Nastasia's outburst nagged at him, ever since there was evidence that Tippi could be an avatar of Timpani. But would they ally with Bleck, Ender of Games, Destroyer of Worlds? Of course not! With nothing else to do, he summoned his three surviving minions one by one.

--------------

"Nastasia, please come in"

No need to summon her, she was just outside the door, the Count having recently given Mimi her final orders.

"Count, you wish to see me?"

"Yes, I do. I know for certain that Dimentio has turned traitor now. He has the Dark Prognosticus. All he needs are the Pure Hearts and should that pass, it will make the End of Games seem like a memory of heaven."

"You say you wish to see me Count? Can I please speak freely?"

The Count had a resigned look.

"Nastasia, please do. I'm listening."

"If Tippi is really who we think she is, perhaps she can persuade the heroes that it is Dimentio who is the threat. I...I beg of you, please don't let it end this way. Oh, forgive me, I should not have said that!"

"Nastasia, please! there is nothing to forgive. I should be asking yours. It is too late for that now. Mimi and O'Chunks have their orders. I know the Labyrinth well enough that Dimentio cannot intercept them. Dimentio will not prevail, they'll make sure of that!"

Count Bleck looked lost in thought.

"Nastasia, why did you not leave when you could? You could always leave with my blessing?"

"I Love you Count, even though you are destined for another. I want a reality where you are here. I had given up on life, I was ready to stay forever as a bat; my people can become Borrowers, skin-changers, there was nothing left and I was on the point of no return, but you rescued me. You showed me kindness and asked nothing back from me."

"I...remember, Nastasia. It was a surprise! There were not many left of our kind. Even less of yours. I miss... him. Blumiere."

The Count seemed to be in some sort of reverie. He got up from his desk, went around and sat on the floor, bidding Nastasia to join him.
Nastasia hunkered down next to him.

"If the heroes come, they can only do so with all eight Hearts. The power is with them still. Perhaps we and Tippi can unite? What of the Man in Green? You know as I know that his World line might not have ended?" Nastasia queried.

"That would only be if Mimi was wrong about Mr L and the Void. I am not sure but then if he were to return it would be up to him. I am not sure it is within my power to persuade him. Or the heroes. Of all who could defeat Dimentio, it is him, but if he is ignorant then no. Now Nastasia, if you wish I can teleport you to Mimi and to O'Chunks?"

"No thank you, Count. My place is here, with Blumiere or Bleck. I promised to be by your side no matter what. Meanwhile here is a little something of my own."

Nastasia produced a small dusty bottle and offered it to Bleck. He summoned two glass tumblers. She poured a shot into each tumbler.

"To the End of Games!" Count Bleck shouted as he knocked it back and winced.

"Grnff! That is strong! Is that some of O'Chunks poitin?"

"No it's Mr L's. I found it when I went around the Mechanical Workshop looking for where he'd gone. I think it might be experimental rocket fuel."

She splashed another measure into their glasses.

"To the Man in Green! Our last best hope!" Nastasia shouted.

"The Man in Green, and let us hope the heroes make it that far and make Dimentio's doom first!" Count Bleck replied.

There was nothing else to do but wait. They would be the first to know when the invaders were at the gates. But what about the terrible possibility That there were no invaders?
This is IT! The final part of Inside Castle Bleck! I will be renumbering the chapters here so they make some more sense as they haven't been written in chronological order. Weighing in at 36000 words it's a bit of a big read.

Thanks to everyone who has read or commented on this!

Link to Part 21: ICB 21: I'll make your heart smile

Link to Part 23: fav.me/dazamo0
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