Madness in a Cadenza

[Thunderer]

The ceiling arabesques were looming through the feeble light like nightmares.

An apparatus of five metallic fingers, each of them with flawless precision, was hopping over harpsichord keys like a spider towards its prey. A very cold spider without soul or sensation, every one except vengeance. A figure was graciously swaying on the seat in the rhythm of the tune. Its posture had the pride of a victor -- one about to enjoy the spoils.

The tune's cadenza pulled Hall out of the chloroform reverie. He was laying on his divan. His body was spread in the form of a crucifix, with his extremities tied to the divan legs. The figure made a barely noticeable grin when it saw Hall trying to free himself in the reflection on the harpsichord lacquer.

"Loyola... Loyola, is that you? Loyola! Stop this madness!"

The figure met his pleads with perfectly indifferent silence and continued to play.

"You know I'm too old to make a good host!"

The figure seemed captivated by the tune's cadenza and its swaying seemed to show pleasure as its victim started to show signs of helplessness.

"Or is that you, Miss Vyu?... I'll hurry, I promise I will! Just give me a bit more time! Rome wasn't built in a day!"

Completely unaffected by Hall's rant for an explanation and mercy, the metallic spider kept calculating over the keys. It was nearing the final result. Hall was aware that only a few people in the universe knew how to play a whole piece as old as that one.

"Canary..." The seemingly harmless word struck his face pale. "George is safe. If you've heard any rumours, they are lies. The idiot is so innocent that doesn't even know I'm his father!"

The last tone echoed after "lies". The figure rose slowly, like a storm. Its face, covered with a black hood and a black scarf, looked down on Hall dominantly. His anxious gaze followed the figure as it went round him like a vulture.

"Who are you!?"

Silence. The slender figure with a black hood has come to take the toll from the crucified sinner.