Chapter Forty-Two
Austin
Austin stood at the stove with a match and a saucepan.
After the fire caught, he began to simmer the milk he pulled from the fridge.
When returning to the fridge, he instinctually opened the bottom drawer as if to let Snuffles in to pick his portion of meat.
Only there was no flash of black fluff. Austin lurched, stumbling over his own feet, as he turned to search the floor.
A ghoul crept out from behind the door, its massive eyes widening at the feast before them.
It licked its chops before Austin kicked the door shut.
The ghoul shrieked, scampering hand over ass on its long limbs out of the kitchen.
Austin closed the fridge, leaning out to peer at the stairs.
“Snuffles?” Silence answered him. He scowled, stepping toward the hallway. “Snuffles?”
“Not my name but I’ve been called worse,” Melody chortled as she stepped out of Smith’s office down the hall.
Austin chuckled, “No, I thought the little guy would be hungry. Guess he’s still snoozing.”
“Understandable, it is still the middle of the night.” Melody frolicked into the kitchen, Smith slinking in after her.
“Not that time of day means anything to this family,” Smith teased.
Austin turned from the doorway, back to the stove.
He picked up the copper pot of hot cocoa mix that Sebastian kept on hand.
It became a staple in the household for perking someone up.
That, or a serving of Dahlia’s pudding. The moment the Lord and Lady of the house awoke, he was serving up everyone a giant bowl of pudding to celebrate. And apologize.
It was his fault Sebastian was regenerating. And he couldn’t help but feel guilty about upsetting everyone in the house. They’d been so sensitive to his emotions. So worried. Always checking in on him, they made every attempt to help him. What did I do? I went and scared them all to near-undeath.
Which is why he made pudding—among a few other treats—for when they were well rested. A proper ‘I’m sorry I scared you, please forgive me and eat this succulent meal’.
“What cha’ makin’?” Melody plopped her backside onto one of the nearby counters.
“Snack and hot cocoa.” He beamed up at her. “I can make some extra if you two want some.”
“Mmm, post-coital snacks. Superb decision.” Melody shimmied her shoulders at him.
“Melody!” Smith huffed.
“No, she’s right,” Austin laughed. Melody threw up her palm to which Austin high fived.
Much to Smith’s dismay. He shook his head with a loud groan.
While the lich’s assistant worked on stirring up the perfect cup of cocoa to go with the board of crackers, meats, and cheese’s he’d spread out, the other two lingered by his side.
“Everyone in this house is a snack fiend.”
“And Hyacinth would tell you fiends are particularly snackish,” Smith corrected with a finger jabbed in the air.
“Would she?” Melody scoffed, furrowing her brows. “How would she know that.”
“Everyone knows fiends are more inclined to sweet treats.” Smith shrugged.
“I didn’t,” Austin and Melody blurted out at the same time.
“Well…you would—look!” Smith propped his hands up on his hips. “I am comfortable with talking about sex with Melody, but if you wish to wax poetic about coital relations, you’re better off asking Sebastian.”
“Once he wakes up,” Austin murmured. The whole kitchen fell quiet as he blew out the stove’s flame.
For a moment, they were enveloped in darkness until the candles overhead hissed to life.
Austin avoided their gazes as he poured the hot chocolate into the prepared mugs.
He’d drizzled fudge around the rim and had the whipped cream ready to dollop on top.
The distinct feeling they wanted to bring something up occurred to him. Like a tingle up his spine, or the pressure of eyes on the side of his head. He glanced at them, knowing exactly what they wanted to talk about.
“I know I scared you all,” he sighed.
“You both did,” Smith whispered, tucking himself into the crook of the counter. His back to the racks of spices, arms folded over his thin chest, his head turned down as if his eyes were downcast. “Austin, what were you thinking?”
He opened his mouth but only a squeak came out of his throat.
“He was trying to save her,” Melody answered as she prodded Smith with her foot. “Don’t you see, she was in danger. And Austin’s the big, strong defender. He didn’t even blink when it came to taking the pyre for her.”
“Yes, well…” Smith’s teeth clicked together, making a sharp snapping sound.
“Well, nothing,” Melody harrumphed. “Don’t act like you—”
“Don’t act like I don’t know what it’s like to have a person I love give up their life?” Smith snapped so sharply Austin felt the welts form on his back even though the lashing was for Melody.
“Smith,” Melody and Austin whimpered at different levels of hurt.
“Do not ‘Smith’ me!” Smith slapped his arms down by his side. “Austin, you knew the risks of leaving this house. Knew what could happen. What they would do. You of all people knew.”
Austin’s gaze fell to the cocoa, watching the steam dance overtop of it.
He’s right. Of anyone, Austin knew best what those clerics would do.
He knew reasoning with Marquis was a fool’s errand.
And yet he did it anyway, because that’s all he knew how to do.
Austin was good at being strong, at being friendly, at being helpful, and at talking to people.
That’s how Sebastian raised him to be. That’s who he wanted to be at his core, not just the protector of the house but one whose skill is being good with people.
Smith was a lawyer: he knew laws, codes, and rules.
Sebastian was a lich: he knew magic, history, religions, power.
Havershum was a master at hunting. Agatha was a master at sewing, at cleaning, of knowing what to say or make to bring a smile to someone’s face.
What was he?
He was Austin Rosemont. The Lich’s assistant. Muscle and sunshine and hope.
“It was worth risking my life if it meant she might get away. And I’d do it again without question,” Austin confessed with a weary smile on his lips. His tusks poked at his cheeks. “I am sorry, Smith.”
“I know, big guy,” Smith exhaled heavily, hands to his slender hips. “I know.”
“And you don’t have to forgive me—”
“Just,” Smith interjected, stepping up in front of Austin. He wrapped his hand around Austin’s shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t get yourself killed a second time, alright? I don’t ever want to worry about losing you ever again. You got it?”
“Are you making me pinkie promise right now?” Austin raised a brow.
Smith slapped him upside the back of the head.
Austin immediately yowled, “Ow! Melody! He hit me!”
“Boys,” she warned, “play nice.”
“Impossible. Austin cheats.” Smith jabbed a thumb at Austin with a harrumph.
“Do not!” Austin scoffed.
“You bite!” Smith accused.
“Biting’s not cheating when you electrocute everything!” Austin shoved Smith.
“I only fry your eyebrows off when you stab me with those tusks!” Smith pushed back.
Austin roared with laughter as Smith and he proceeded to slap at each other.
Melody was cackling at the counter, holding her stomach with her head knocking back against the cabinets.
Smith had his long tongue pinched between his teeth in concentration as the pair dueled it out cat style. Slap-slap-slap-slap.
“Austin!”
He jerked upright, stopping to stare at the banshee exploding into existence in the kitchen.
Smith snickered as he leapt up and got one last slap upside Austin’s head in.
Austin lurched as if to chase the slender down, but Smith disappeared into a cloud of sparks.
Plus, Agatha jutted in front of him, eyes glowing read and claws out, “Austin!”
“Aggie?!” he yelped, grimacing.
“What have I told you about leaving the faucet running in the tub! You could ruin the carpet and the flooring. And I find you down here rough housing with Smith? Why were you even running the tub to begin with!”
“I…” Austin trailed off. His heart skipped a beat. Eyes wide, the next few words trickled out of him in fear. “I wasn’t taking a bath.”
“Then who was?” Agatha crossed her hands over her chest.
“Hyacinth.” The sound of her name escaped him like the last breath of air in his rotten lungs.
Austin bulldozed through Agatha and down the hall.
His feet thundered against the ground. The whole house shivered as he raced up the steps.
He didn’t even stop to open the door. It flew off the hinges as he skidded through a half inch of water on the bedroom floor.
He slammed into the bathroom doorframe that dented in.
Austin stared at the claw foot tub full of steaming bathwater.
No Hyacinth in it.
His only clue was the open window with water droplets trailing over it.
Time slowed down as he crept toward it, almost hoping to find her in the grass below.
Begging her to be stuck on top of the boulder or trapped in a bundle of vines just outside the window.
But when he leaned over the ledge, he spotted the front gate wide open.
“Austin? Where’s Hyacinth?” Agatha’s trembling voice brought tears to his eyes as he shattered the window frame in his hands.
“Sabine took her,” he growled. Turning on his heel, he charged for the door. “Wake Lord and Lady Rosemont. Sabine means to take her to the tree.”
“She can’t do that!” Smith barked from the bedroom door. “They locked her out. She shouldn’t be able to get in the city. If we hurry, we can catch her.”
“And then we burn that tree.” Austin snatched the matches off the side table as Smith and he charged out the door.
Melody and Agatha rushed to wake the Lord and Lady of the house from their regeneration.
And Austin hoped beyond hope…that he’d find Sabine scratching at the shield of King’s Fall like a dog at the back door.