He shook his head. “You call it that now, but its true name is Innsmouth. Remember, young one, that words have power. None more so than names. Innsmouth is a center of great power and purpose more ancient than one as simple as you could imagine. Truly, it is fitting that I should meet my foil in Innsmouth.”

“…Oh.”

“If I may continue? I came to Innsmouth in order to hunt you, to watch you. I stalked you as the p’cp’ynt’ri stalks the m’gn’thp, to learn your secrets and discover your powers and likewise your points of weakness. Thereby I could but hope to be equipped to defeat you when the time came that you would stand before me as my nemesis.”

I really did not like the sound of that. Me, Riley’s nemesis? No, a thousand times no!

“But I don’t have any powers!” I disputed. “I’m just a girl, you know? How could I possibly prevent you from doing anything you wished? By asking pretty please?”

There came that strange chuckle-choke sound again. I imagined that if I could see him, he’d be wearing his half-smile.

“It is no matter. Regardless of whatever powers you possess, lurking untapped within your body or spirit… I feel that my destiny—irrefutable, inescapable—has been refuted. Escaped. How can I explain to your tiny mind the sudden change within me? With the sum of my being, I yearn to call, to bring ultimate undoing to this mortal plane. With all of my being… except my heart. Because you belong to this mortal plane, little one. And now, for that reason alone, I shall instead protect it.”

“…Riley, I don’t understand any of this.”

“Yes… I know. Let us depart this place and seek further illumination in the light of day.” With that, his footfalls began to move in the direction we’d come from. I did my best to follow blindly. Soon the dank, dim light of Riley’s home began to creep back into my awareness, the strange shapes and twisted angles reiterating themselves. Yet somehow it was all no longer vile and horrifying, but instead imbued with subtle, abstract beauty. We arrived back at my stone chair, still encircled in the loops of rope. Which reminded me…

“Um, Riley?” I said, holding up my still-bound hands even as they continued to clutch the statuette. “Do you think you could undo this?”

Again, that indecipherable half-smile. “Oh, yes. Of course.” The ebony blade reappeared. “But first you must do something for me. Please get on your knees.”

“Um… okay, I guess.” I carefully lowered myself, the strange rock harsh as gravel against the bare skin of my unbearably boney knees. He stepped close before me and again placed the flat of the blade against my upturned forehead.