Free The Dark Magical World of Alamptria by Richard A. Valicek

watched the artist at work for some time until it became clear they were distracting her and she was getting annoyed.
    “Caprius, why don’t we look at the paintings,” said Calista, taking Caprius’s arm in hers. They inched their way around the room whispering to one another about the art. After gazing at innumerable paintings, Caprius began to get bored. Luckily, Enlora set her brush down not long after that, sat back, and examined her work.
    “Mr. Bradshaw, I do believe it’s finished. Would you care to have a look?” asked Enlora.
    Bradshaw got off his seat and came around to admire the painting. “It’s a perfect likeness,” he said reverentially.
    “Of course it is. It will need one week to dry, so please do come back to pick it up then.” He kissed her hand, exclaiming platitudes, and left. The artist began cleaning her brushes in a sink. Caprius and Calista came to her. “That’s a very good painting, Mrs. Renfield.”
    She stared at him sharply. “Yes, it is. And it is Ms. Renfield. But you may call me Enlora.”
    “Enlora, my name is Caprius Seaton, and this is Calista Genesis. We are with his majesty’s assault force on investigation.”
    “Assault force,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Am I to be your target?”
    Calista laughed. “We would just like to ask you a few questions,” she said.
    “What makes you think I have the answers?” asked Enlora, patting her brushes on a towel.
    “We are aware that you have knowledge of the dark cult and know the marking on pocket watches. A source told us that this pocket watch”—Caprius pulled the watch out of his pocket—“has markings you are familiar with.” Caprius showed the timepiece to her.
    She observed the markings closely. “This is Telusion, markings of the underworld,” said Enlora. “The small inscription here is the language of the undead.” She handed it back to Caprius.
    “Who wrote this?” asked Calista.
    “The dark lord Makoor,” she said, a small smile flickering over her lips.
    “And what of the marking of the two stars with a knife? That’s what it looks like to me,” said Caprius, turning the watch over.
    “That is exactly what it is. It symbolizes Makoor’s two faithful right hands: Lydia the sorceress and Titanis Clore. The star underneath the two with a burning heart symbolizes Orphius Clore, Makoor’s devoted henchman, who betrayed him. All of Makoor’s followers, thousands upon thousands of them, carry pocket watches exactly like this.”
    “I am told that these pocket watches are made here in Jethro. Is this true?” asked Caprius.
    Enlora stared at Caprius, narrowing her eyes.
    “Enlora, is this true?” Calista echoed.
    “Yes. It is true,” said Enlora.
    “Do you know the address to this place?” asked Calista.
    Enlora now began to quickly put her painting supplies away. “I know the place, and I have the address. But I don’t have it with me. It is written down at my home.”
    She paused, then smiled slowly. “Mr. Seaton, why not come tomorrow to my home so I can give you that information? And, while you’re there, it would be my honor to do a portrait of the two of you. Shall we say 8:00 p.m.?”
    “Miss Enlora, thank you for the offer, but we have had to wait two additional days already. Two of our agents have been killed. We are losing precious time. Is there any way we can come to you tonight?”
    Enlora paused, staring at Caprius. There was something mysterious and intriguing about her. She smiled, showing perfect white teeth. “Very well, tonight, then,” she said. She wrote her address down on a piece of paper and gave it to Caprius, letting her hand linger against his as he took it.
    As Caprius and Calista walked away, Enlora stared at their departing backs as if she were a leopard waiting to strike.
    When night fell, Caprius and Calista set out on foot to Enlora’s house. She lived outside of the village, and as they walked away from the center, the homes grew larger and the