The Book of Masks (Vol. 5)

The Professor's New Assistant

Previously: "Blackwell Shows Another Face" 

(Written by imaj)

You need to get close to Blackwell and figure what he's up to, so you rush back to the elementary school and mix up some sealant to apply to the new mask. By noon you're sitting in the basement in the body of Melody Weiss.

Melody's body, and it is Melody - never Mel, is something of a disappointment. She's about you height but is very gangly and a bit flat chested. Her hair is dull and drab, her nose a little too pointed, her eyes a little too intense. From her memories you find that she is from out of state and staying in one of the dorms on campus at Keyserling. Apparently she came here to escape being ostracised by her peers back home. Instead she found a new set of peers to be ostracised by. Melody does have one redeeming feature though, she is ferociously intelligent and right now, you are using her brain to plan your next moves.

The real Melody, you realise, hates Blackwell just as much as you. She'd never apply to be his assistant. However, with her excellent scores in his class, she's almost certainly exactly the student he wants working for him. You have about three hours to pick up a new wardrobe for 'Melody' before you need to get to Blackwell's office. With your savings already raided to buy the materials to make the first couple of masks that only leaves the option of using one of the thrift stores in town. Luckily that's not going to be a problem as her memories tell you this is exactly the sort of place Melody shops anyway to stretch her meagre scholarship as far as it can go.

*****

You find yourself, or rather Melody's self, outside of Blackwell's office wearing some low heels, faded jeans and a tatty green sweater. It's a pretty ugly get up but it cost less than twenty dollars and is pretty much the sort of thing she wears normally anyway.

You relax for a second and slip into character, knocking hesitantly on the door, just as Melody would.

'Come!' booms Blackwell's voice from inside.

You open the door and shuffle inside, eyes fixed firmly on the floor with Melody-nervousness. You sit on the chair opposite Blackwell, hands clasped firmly between your knees. The trick here, you think, is to let Blackwell make the running in this conversation.

'Ah Melody, my star student, indeed,' he begins. 'I was hoping you'd be interested in this position. You have come about my little assistants job haven't you?'

'Yes,' you say quietly, letting the Melody persona guide you.

'Well I can't think of anyone in the class better qualified than you. I'd say its pretty much yours if you want it. One night a week, lets say the Wednesday. A hundred dollars for the night, in hand of course, haha.'

'That would be good,' you reply evenly.

'Simple work, simple. Cataloguing my library, doing some odd translation work. I'm in the process of trying to acquire a most exciting work right now,' he says, scribbling his address onto a piece of paper then handing it to you. 'Shall I see you on the Wednesday at say 8:00pm?'

'Yes, I'm looking forward to it,' you lie.

*****

That went a lot easier than you had expected. After that, it's simple enough to head back to the elementary school, ditch the mask and clothes and be back home in time for dinner. Your mother believes the story you make up about working late after school with Caleb. Your father seems a little bit calmer about the situation at his work ' Hank Wilson, his boss, didn't show up today it seems.

You're able to slip out the house again after dinner and head back down to the elementary school basement. You use the Melody mask to unlock the next page of the book, then slip it on to help you think about what to do next.

Translating the spell as Melody is easy but it looks like there's a new set of problems. Firstly the spell requires 400 pounds of earth, from a graveyard no less. That's a tall order, but at least the earth will be free. The second component is a variety of fuels which need to be burned. You think that they will cost over two hundred dollars. Melody's memories suggest that she has enough money in her bank account to cover that, but you realise that taking it would leave her hard up for cash.

Then there's the problem of the fake Lucy Vredenburg to worry about. You don't know who Blackwell's instructed her, it, to kidnap. The most obvious guess would be Cindy Vredenburg. If Blackwell impersonates Cindy, he's only one step away from stealing your memories. The safest option would simply be to lay low as someone else. Unfortunately the only complete mask you have is for Melody. It would be easy enough to become her, but what would you do with the real Melody, and what would your family do if you went missing?

Next: "Making the Most of Melody's Mask" 

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"Table of Contents (Vol. 5)" 
"The Book of Masks (Vol. 5)"