Ghost Light

The name vaguely rang a bell.

“But The Piper is only legend,” Ceff said.  “A fiction of the Brothers Grimm.”

“Ah, you know more than most that there is often truth to be found in fairy tales,” Father Michael said.  “Yes, many readers believe this to be only a cautionary tale, but for centuries scholars have found evidence of the true tragedy of Hamelin.”

“Tragedy?” I asked.  That didn’t sound good.

“The story says that the town of Hamelin was overrun with rats,” he said.  “The Pied Piper was hired to rid the town of the vermin.  He used his flute to compel the rats into the river where they drowned.  But when The Pied Piper returned to collect the agreed upon payment, the townspeople refused.”

“A bargain was made,” Ceff said.

“Yes, part of the cautionary tale,” Father Michael said.  “People should always honor their side of a bargain.”

My chest tightened at the mention of bargains.  I’d made my share of bargains with more than one powerful fae.  One day they’d come to collect.

“Before The Pied Piper left Hamelin, he vowed to get his revenge,” Father Michael said.  “Later that night, he returned while the townspeople were asleep in their beds.  Again he played his flute, but this time he led away the city’s children, who were never to be seen again.  At least, that’s how the fairytale goes.”

“What really happened?” I asked.

“Well, that is the matter of much debate,” he said.  “There is evidence that the city of Hamelin truly did lose its children.  A remnant of a document in the town records from the year 1384 states, ‘It has been 100 years since our children left.’  In addition to this document, there was a stained glass window in the Church of Hamelin that told the story, but it was destroyed in 1660.”

“The fae don’t like their secrets told to humans,” I said.

“No, indeed, they do not,” he said.  “As you have guessed, I believe The Piper to be fae.  The haunting, hypnotizing melodies of faerie music are known to hold power over mortals.  Most humans become so overwhelmed that they are compelled to join the endless dance.”

“The endless dance,” I said, shaking my head.  “But I thought the endless dance only took place in faerie rings and around burial mounds.”

“Of course, that’s why he’s taking the children to the graveyards and cemeteries,” Ceff said.  “He doesn’t need a faerie ring.”

“But how is he charming full blooded faeries?”  I asked.

“I believe he made a deal with a demon,” Father Michael said.

Beady eyes gleamed behind his glasses.  The crazy priest was obsessed with demons.  I let out a heavy sigh.

“What kind of deal?” I asked.

“I don’t know the terms, but I can guess what he wanted,” Father Michael said.

He pointed at a figure standing outside the circle of dancers in the Danse Macabre painting.  The demon—for it was definitely a demon with red skin, cloven hooves, pointy tail, and horns—was holding a flute to his lips.

“A flute to force both the living and the dead to dance?” I asked.

“Some scholars say that the Danse Macabre is just an allegory demonstrating the fragility of life,” he said.

“But?” I asked.

“But I believe the Danse Macabre is real,” he said.  “And that this flute can compel anyone, dead or living, mortal or fae, to join the endless dance.”

“Okay, say this obsessed faerie piper makes a deal with a demon for the magic flute,” I said.  “Why would he want to force the faerie children into the dance?  They may be immortal, but they’ll tire eventually.  No one can survive the endless dance.”

“That I don’t know,” he said.  “But I’d venture a guess that the master of the city may know something.”

“The vampire master of the city?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.  “His knowledge of raising the dead is unsurpassed.  Not only do the most powerful vampires infuse the dead with their essence to create ghoul servants, but they also have the experience of their own un-death to draw upon.  Ask the vampire master of the city what would happen if faerie children and the dead were to dance the Danse Macabre together, because if The Pied Piper is using the demon flute to lead the children to the endless dance, then the dead will join the dance.  Perhaps he can divine The Pied Piper’s purpose and have some insight as to how he can be stopped.”

“Okay, I was planning on paying the vamps a visit anyway,” I said.  “I’ll add your questions to the list.”

The priest shifted from one foot to the other.

“I wish that I could tag along, but vampires detest priests, for obvious reasons,” he said.  He gestured to the crosses adorning his stole and the gold cross at his neck.  “If you discover anything, you will tell me, won’t you?  For my research?”

“Sure,” I said.  “We should get going.”

I looked up at the stained glass windows high overhead.  The light filtering through the glass was faint.  Was it dusk already?  I started to reach for my phone to check the time, when a dark shape flit past one of the ruby, red panes of glass.