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“This way, Yanfei!” Yelan held her wife’s hand as they jogged through the forest. “It’s just up ahead!”
Yanfei panted beside Yelan, looking around the forest. “Where? I literally can’t see the forest through the trees! Where are we going?”
When Yelan had asked Yanfei what she wanted for her birthday and she had said “to spend time with my gorgeous and sexy wife”, running through a forest was not what she had in mind. Yanfei had pictured a nice quiet dinner at home and curling up on the couch while watching a movie followed up by a romantic night under the glow of candlelight. But then, Yelan mentioned an abandoned mansion rumored to have the biggest collection of books this side of Teyvat, and Yanfei was hooked.
“We’re almost there,” Yelan grinned at Yanfei, squeezing her hand. “How are you doing, love?”
“Fine, though a warning about hiking in the woods would have been nice. I feel like we’re in the Blair Witch Project.” Yanfei met Yelan’s gaze and sighed, smiling. “But so long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”
“Good.” Suddenly stopping, Yelan tugged Yanfei against her chest and ran a finger down her jawbone. “After what I have planned for you, I hope you’ll be feeling very happy.”
Yanfei felt her face turn bright red and she quickly looked away, weakly shoving at Yelan. “Sh-shut up.”
Chuckling, Yelan caught Yanfei’s hand and pressed a quick kiss to the knuckles. “Come on, we’re almost there.”
The pace slowed from there as Yelan led Yanfei deeper into the woods, her eyes on the path ahead. Yanfei looked at their surroundings, taking it all in with curiosity as she wondered just where her wife was taking her. Then, they rounded a corner into a clearing and Yanfei stopped short.
A large house stood before them, dramatically dark in the sunlight streaming into the clearing. The roar of running water filled the area and Yanfei turned her head to see a waterfall behind the structure that seemed to feed the form of an equally large lake. Shattered windows covered the front of the house, showing a dark, dingy interior, though the double doors that served as the entrance were shut. One side of the house curved out with a domed glass roof, which Yanfei could only guess was the library. Thick stalks of ivy wound all about the columns carved to appear like they were holding up the roof, adding to the dramatic appearance. A single iron-wrought fence surrounded the entire estate and a thick chain and padlock had been woven through the bars of the gate.
Looking at the gate, Yanfei frowned at it and blinked when she saw someone had already wedged it open.
“Alright, let’s go!” Yelan said, striding to the gate. “We’ll be in and out before nighttime.”
“Wait, you’ve done this before?” Yanfei gaped at her wife.
Grinning, Yelan stepped backwards through the opening in the gate. “Maybe. Don’t worry love, I’ve been to this mansion a dozen times and nothing’s happened. Besides,” she winked. “Isn’t breaking the rules once in a while fun? That’s why you married me.”
Crossing her arms, Yanfei huffed. “Just be happy you haven’t done anything that warrants a divorce.” With a heavy sigh, Yanfei stepped through the gate and followed Yelan to the mansion.
The main entrance, Yanfei noticed, was flanked by two tall statues of armor that vaguely reminded her of the ancient warriors of Inazuma. Their armor had been painted a vibrant purple and black and horns curled up from their heads, and each clutched a naginata in their hands. Oddly enough, only one of the two statues showed signs of being weathered by the elements, while the other simply appeared to have collected cobwebs. Raising an eyebrow, Yanfei let Yelan pull her away from the front entrance around the side of the house to the room with the glass dome ceiling.
“There should be a door right around…there!” Yelan pointed to a simple wooden door with a frosted-glass window. Taking out her lock pick, Yelan kneeled down and set to work while Yanfei continued to study the area around them. They were standing in an overgrown yard full of broken statues and marble busts.
A bush shifted nearby and Yanfei could have sworn she saw a flash of a pink bushy tail, but it vanished. Creeping over to the bush, Yanfei leaned over it to see if she could catch another glimpse. Carefully, Yanfei pushed the branches apart, right as there was a loud click and Yelan whooped with relief.
“I got it! Yanfei!” She waved her wife over. “Let’s go!”
Yanfei looked back down at the bush and stepped away, walking back to Yelan and the open door.
“Wait one sec,” Grabbing a large stone block, Yelan pushed it against the door so it was propped wide open. “Can’t be too careful.” She offered her arm to Yanfei. “Shall we?”
Rolling her eyes, Yanfei looped her arm around Yelan’s and followed her into the house. They were standing in a short hallway that led to a massive open space filled with rows of shelves stuffed to the brim with books, so much so some were stacked in tall pillars. Yanfei raised an eyebrow as she passed a particularly tall stack of books and lightly tapped it with a nail.
“Did you do this?”
Yelan shook her head. “Nope, but they change height from time to time. I think it’s the Ghost Host.”
At that, Yanfei froze. “The…what?”
“The Ghost Host.” Slowly, Yelan stepped into the shadows of a bookshelf. “Some people say it is the doomed spirit of the owner of this house, others think it is a demon summoned from another world that feasts on lost souls.” Her voice flitted around Yanfei, causing the poor adpetus to turn in a circle. “But I think it’s a mage who made a deal with the worst demon of them all…the Nowhere Demon!”
Hands grabbed Yanfei’s shoulders and she screamed, jumping ten feet into the air before landing promptly in Yelan’s arms. Seeing her wife’s laughing face, Yanfei frowned and smacked her shoulder. “That was mean!”
“Aw, come on love, I was just messing with you.” She kissed Yanfei’s forehead. “It’s just a ghost story. There’s no such thing as a ‘Ghost Host’, this place is simply a run down mansion.”
Crossing her arms and grumbling, Yanfei lowered her feet to the floor, but let Yelan keep her arms around her. “Fine, I believe you. So,” she looked up at Yelan. “What now?”
Humming, Yelan glanced around the empty space and looked down at Yanfei, still smiling. “Well, we have the space all to ourselves, no one is around.” She leaned in, kissing Yanfei’s cheek. “Why don’t we enjoy the quiet?”
“Wh-what are you-” Yanfei gasped at the sensation of Yelan’s teeth nibbling at the soft skin of her neck. “Y-Yelan! What are you doing?!” She tried to push Yelan away, but her arms lacked the strength as a soft moan slipped out from between her lips. “We-we’re in an abandoned house…”
“And?” Yelan licked at a spot she had bitten. “Who is going to see us? Besides,” One of her hands moved down to squeeze Yanfei’s ass cheek. “Isn’t it more thrilling to do it somewhere we shouldn't?” Tugging on Yanfei’s shirt collar, Yelan pressed open-mouth kisses to the soft skin of her shoulder.
Yanfei wanted to stop her wife and tell her that this was a ridiculous idea, but Yelan’s hands and lips were interfering with her words. Her body was quickly betraying her thoughts for the desire and passion burning deep within her belly, fed only stronger by the sweet nothings Yelan was whispering in her ear. Even when Yanfei’s shirt had been completely unbuttoned and she had been backed up against a bookshelf while Yelan kissed her stomach, the adpetus struggled to find a reason why they should stop.
“Come now, Yanfei,” Yelan whispered against her skin, her warm breath sending goosebumps all over Yanfei’s body. “Give in.” Taking the zipper of Yanfei’s pants, Yelan pulled it down. “Don’t you want this?”
“Ye-Yelan,” Yanfei moaned, looking down with half lidded eyes and she rested a hand on Yelan’s head. Smiling at Yanfei’s nod, Yelan leaned in and Yanfei became lost in the sensation of her wife’s lips and tongue driving her into deeper levels of passion. How could a place so dark and abandoned turn them on like this? What even was this mansion’s past? When did that suit of armor move to the middle of the room?
Wait.
Yanfei blinked. When did that suit of armor stand in the middle of the room? Hadn’t the floor been empty when they walked in?
“Y-Yelan. Yelan!” Yanfei pulled on the back of her wife’s head.
“What?” Yelan blinked up at her.
“That…that armor.” Yanfei said, glancing down at Yelan. “The-one of the ones from the front door, it-” She looked back up and froze. The floor was empty.
Frowning, Yelan turned to look where Yanfei was pointing. “Yanfei…I don’t see any armor.” She returned her gaze to Yanfei. “Are you alright? You look a little pale.”
Yanfei swallowed. “We-we should get out of here. Something’s not right.” She quickly zipped up her pants and began to button her shirt, Yelan getting to her feet.
There was confusion and concern in her eyes, but no doubt. She knew her adeptus and if Yanfei was worried about something, she listened. Nodding, Yelan helped Yanfei and took her hand. “Alright, let’s go.”
The two women hurried back towards the door, keeping their steps quiet while weaving about the bookshelves and stacks of novels. Had some of the stacks grown taller? Shivering, Yanfei tightened her grip in Yelan’s hand and tried to not think about the rumors of a Ghost Host.
“What the hell?”
Yanfei bumped into Yelan. “Yelan?” But there was no response. Her wife was staring in open-mouthed horror at something ahead. Slowly, Yanfei peered around Yelan’s shoulder. Her heart slammed to a halt in her chest.
Propped up against the wall beside the door was a tall suit of purple and black armor that stared at the opposite wall, a naginata held in its hands. Just behind it was the open door and, to Yanfei’s shock, the backyard in full night. Hadn’t it just been midday?
“Yelan…” Yanfei clung to her wife’s arm. “What is happening?”
“It’s okay,” Yelan whispered, tightening her grip on her hand. “It-it’s just an empty suit of armor. It won’t hurt us.”
“You’re lying.”
Wincing, Yelan looked at Yanfei then back to the suit. “If we just run past it-”
The helmet spun to face them and Yelan shot back, pushing Yanfei behind her. “Shit! What-what the fuck?” She watched the door slam shut and the suit of armor turned to face them. “Yanfei, run!” Yelan shot away from the suit of armor, pulling Yanfei behind her and not once daring to look back, focusing only on the path ahead and her wife’s hand in hers.
They ran through the library that was suddenly full of books flying off the shelves, forcing the two to duck and dodge around the sailing novels. Hallways twisted and curved before them, at times becoming winding staircases that seemed to never end, only to bring them back to where they started. Painted portraits that were withered and cracked moaned and whispered as Yelan and Yanfei ran by, reaching out with hands that peeled with old paint. Music floated down through the ceiling in jaunty tunes that only seemed to churn the fear deeper in Yelan and Yanfei’s bellies. And always just behind them, they heard the heartbeat.
A slow, dull beat that echoed in their ears and reverberated in their skulls. Lungs burning for air, Yelan panted and shot a quick glance over her shoulder to try to find the source of the heartbeat, but she only saw darkness. Squeezing Yanfei’s hand, she rounded a corner and saw it ended at a door. A door that swung open and a voice hissed from within, wordless, yet it felt like it was urging her in. Desperate, Yelan surged forward and pulled Yanfei in, just as the heartbeat thundered behind them.
The door slammed shut and they were plunged into darkness, clutching each other as they panted for air.
“Yanfei?”
“Yes, Yelan?”
“I’m sorry, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t been so focused on taking you out on an exciting date-” Yelan felt Yanfei wrap her arms around her in a hug.
“”Don’t blame yourself, Yelan. We’ll find a way out.” Everything was quiet for a moment until Yanfei’s ears twitched. “Yelan?”
“Yes?”
“Why can’t I hear the heartbeat anymore?”
A cold shiver slipped down Yelan’s spine and she pulled Yanfei closer. “I-I don’t know. Where are we, anyway?”
“ Let me assist you with that. ”
Light flared into existence and the women flinched from the flames that suddenly blazed in a large fireplace to their left, illuminating a bedroom. An elegant four-poster bed dominated the majority of the room, along with a desk, chair, and couch that had been placed in front of the fireplace. At the far end of the room was a set of glass double doors that led to a wrought-iron balcony, but when Yelan tried to open them, they did not budge.
“What the fuck is happening?”
“ Hmm, your cadaverous pallor is betraying an aura of foreboding. ”
Yelan spun around and Yanfei screamed, pointing up towards the ceiling. A black, shadowy mass had coalesced in the center of the ceiling, perched on the glowing chandelier like a gargoyle. Glowing red and gold eyes opened amidst the shadows and rotated in the chilling manner of a head turning, following Yanfei as she ran to Yelan.
“ Oh, I didn’t mean to frighten you so…prematurely. The real chills will come later. ”
“Who are you?” Yanfei growled, keeping her back to Yelan. “What do you want with us? We just want to get out! Leave us alone!”
The shadow chuckled, the deep husky voice almost hypnotic in their ears. “ Why, I am your host, your Ghost Host. As for letting you out, I’m afraid I cannot do that, my dear adeptus. ”
Yanfei stiffened and behind her, Yelan grabbed her hand.
“Yanfei?”
“It…” Yanfei swallowed. “It’s…telling the truth.”
“ Of course I am. Why would I ever lie? ”
Yelan glared up at the Ghost Host. “What do you want with us? If this is because of what I said…”
“ I’ll admit, hearing someone call me a rumor was quite entertaining. Kuni and I have worked quite hard to make sure only a select few come here to help us with our little curse. Alas, we have not yet been successful and have realized that in order to break free, we need help from some who know how to…‘look alive’ as they say. ”
Sharing a look, Yelan and Yanfei looked at the Ghost Host. “You mean…we’re stuck here? There’s no way out?”
Slowly, sharp white teeth appeared beneath the glowing eyes, curving up in a wide smile. Chuckling, the mass of shadows dropped to the floor and Yanfei and Yelan watched as a creature rose up. A towering body rippled like black flames along broad shoulders and long arms that ended in hands that grew thin, talon-like fingers. Sharp horns curved up and out of the creature’s head, almost scraping the ceiling as it loomed over the trapped pair. Grinning, the Ghost Host’s chuckle rolled out its throat like thunder.
“ That is a dismaying observation indeed, to find a way out. But of course, ” the grin widened. “ There’s always MY way. ”
Suddenly, the door opened and Yelan and Yanfei screamed, clinging to each other as two figures ran in.
“I thought I heard something…wait…Yanfei?”
Yanfei blinked as the figures approached and her mouth dropped open. “Ying? Ayaka?”
Ying and Ayaka ran to the pair, easily darting around the Ghost Host, and hugging Yelan and Yanfei.
“What are you two doing here?” Ayaka looked at them in disbelief. “Why are you here?”
Yelan cleared her throat. “I could ask the same about you two.”
“Yelan thought it would make for a ‘thrilling birthday present’.” Yanfei muttered, making air quotes.
“Oh!’ Ying and Ayaka said at the same time, hugging Yanfei. “Happy birthday!”
Yanfei blushed. “Thank you…so, how did you two end up here?”
“Well…” Ying blushed, glancing away. “I…um…I kinda thought this would be a…well…” her eyes drifted to Ayaka, a shy longing in her gaze.
Catching on, Yelan grinned. “Did you ask?”
Ying turned bright red and shook her head. The Ghost Host chuckled and Yanfei slowly turned to look at Yelan, who had suddenly found something interesting on the ceiling to look at.
“What is it with you two and finding the worst places for romance?”
“Anyways!” Ayaka yelped, her face bright pink. “We’re here because there’s this…curse on the house. There are people here who have been trapped for hundreds of years and turned into demons because of the dark magic that’s cursed this place. Ghost Host,” she nodded to the towering shadow. “Is like the caretaker of this place and we’re helping them solve the mystery to free everyone. The sooner the curse can be broken, the sooner we can all be free”
Yanfei shot a look at Yelan. If there was one thing neither of them could turn down, it was helping their friends. “What can we do to help?”
“Really?” Ying smiled. “Thank you!”
“ Splendid. ” Mused the Ghost Host. “ Shall we begin the tour? ”
Yelan raised an eyebrow and looked at Ying. “‘Tour’?”
“Just…go with it.” Ying muttered. She looked at Yanfei and gave her another hug. “Happy birthday again Yanfei…sorry you had to get stuck here.”
Chuckling, Yanfei rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s okay…not exactly what I had in mind.” She shot an annoyed look at Yelan who winked. “But hey, I’m not one to turn down a mystery. Let’s go break a curse!”
With that, Yelan and Yanfei followed Ying and Ayaka into the hallway, all four trailing the shadowy form of the Ghost Host as it led them further into the haunted mansion, and to adventures beyond.