The Inmost Light

The Inmost Light, one of Arthur Machen's most disturbing stories, involves a doctor's scientific experiments into occultism, and the vampiric force instigated by his unrelenting curiosity regarding the unseen elements. A large and glorious gem-stone is the vampiric mediator; soaking up the soul of the doctor's wife; in the place of her spirit a demonic energy too-terrible-to-believe enters, transmuting her brain into that of something "not human”. Whilst the stone is the spirit appropriator, it is the process of scientific exploration into dark waters, perhaps those considered taboo, which brings about this horrific energy exchange. Dr. Black steals his wife's soul; his own energy is then gradually sucked by the stone too. In attempting to enter the forbidden and dark zone of the "other world” for never-before-glimpsed-knowledge, he sacrifices his most valuable attribute in this world. And the sacrifice persists...