Elodie's Ghost by David Alexanian

Author:David Alexanian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: demon, horror fiction, fantasy horror, horror action, personal demon, ghost fantasy
Publisher: NewLink Publishing

Burakumin

Even with the sun out, a haze blanketed everything around them, as though the rays passed through an invisible filter of gloom. Mifune, the husband of Matsu, appeared bereft and defeated. The unfortunate day Laplace arrived with his friends happened to coincide with the funeral of the poor man’s wife. Despite the cool weather, it seemed the entire village had come out to mourn.

The gathering, dominated by a profound, palpable sadness, fatigue engraved on every worn face, left a taste in Laplace’s mouth like that of rotting fruit. The heaviness of it all pressed down on him, making standing uncomfortable. An army of spirits, ancestors to be sure, gathered among the mourners with as much grief as any living being there.

The coffin, taken from the hearse by six strong men, was placed in the center of the shrine. The mourners wore only black and some carried long stringed-beads as a prayer aid. With the assistance of some of the monks from the temple, a Shinto priest presided over the ceremony, which included chanting, singing, and praying to begin the period of mourning. The wailing of the woman’s family drowned out much of the ritual and stung at Laplace’s insides.

“What are they passing to the family in those envelopes?” said Laplace, seeing small white pockets being handed over and collected in a decorated box.

“During this time of mourning, there is a tradition known as koden. This is a gift of money from friends and relatives to the close family of the deceased. Its purpose is to help with the funeral costs.” Toju appeared as somber as Laplace had ever seen him.

The whole ceremony took maybe a half-hour, but to him it seemed like time stood still. The sorrow of the event washed over him, accentuating all his own recent losses. After the service, Toju approached the family, offering some funds collected from the temple—including a donation from both Laplace and Clovis. Pulling Mifune aside, Toju spoke to him out of earshot. There were a few nods and then the yellow-robed monk returned to where they waited.

“The husband has agreed to show us where the attack occurred, according to their daughter,” said Toju.

“That’s good of him, considering the circumstances.” Clovis kept his hands in his pockets in an obvious attempt not to fidget.

“He wishes to discover the truth about what happened to his wife,” said Toju. “He has assured me that Matsu was a gentle soul and had neither the aggression nor the skill to foster such an attack. I have assured him that we believe this and are here to help solve the mystery.”

It took only a short while for the husband to say a few words to the family before he came to them. From his appearance, Laplace judged him to be a younger man of modest means who had put on the best he had for the sad occasion. The redness of his eyes and the dark rings beneath them revealed the sleepless nights he had endured since the incident.

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