The Ornament

**December 25th.**

The sun shone brightly on the Aurelian Estate. The storm had broken, leaving the mountains pristine and white.

In the Golden Hall, the guests were drinking mimosas. The pit was closed. The floor was polished.

In the corner of the room, on a marble plinth, stood a new statue.

It was a masterpiece. A man, crawling on his elbows, one hand reaching out in a gesture of desperate defiance, his face contorted in a silent scream of agony. The gold was flawless, catching the morning light.

Sebastian Vane walked over to the statue. He was wearing a festive red sweater.

"A fine addition," the Baroness said, admiring the work. "So... lifelike."

"The artist really captured the hunger," Sebastian agreed.

He reached into a box of decorations. He pulled out a wreath made of holly and red berries.

He hung the wreath around the statue's neck.

"Merry Christmas, Detective," Sebastian whispered, patting the cold, golden cheek of the statue.

Inside the gold, deep in the dark, silent calcification of his own body, Elias Thorne was still screaming. He would be screaming for a very long time.

Sebastian turned back to his guests. "Shall we open presents?"

The laughter of the rich echoed through the hall, drowning out the silence of the damned.