Demons – CH 23

This work borrows some elements from Marius Petipa’s ballet “Le Talisman” as its motif.   All elements appearing in this work are fictional creations of the author’s imagination.   “Every head of the House of Etheldor goes mad.”   Ayesha conceals her identity as a journalist and visits the estate, hoping to break a major story about the tragedy of the House of Etheldor—a prestigious noble family that was once royalty.   There, she meets the young and beautiful head of the household, Cyrex Etheldor.   “Ayesha. ‘It’ is circling around me. Waiting for any opportunity to take over my body.”   An evil spirit, he says.   Such things don’t exist in this world.   That’s merely a sign of the hereditary madness that has plagued the House of Etheldor for generations.   But before long, Cyrex suffers a terrible accident.   Ayesha, who had stayed at the mansion out of concern for him, receives word that Cyrex has regained consciousness after hovering between life and death.   Yet something about the man who opens his eyes feels strangely different.   He looks at Ayesha and smirks.   “We finally meet, don’t we?”   Ayesha realizes it instantly.   This man is not the Cyrex Etheldor she knew.   The evil spirit that stole Cyrex’s body has awakened.   At last, the curse of the House of Etheldor has begun.