Chapter 55 Augustin #2
“I hope you’ll be comfortable here.” Etta kneels beside Hannah as she settles into one of the chairs.
“If you need anything, please ask the staff and they’ll provide it.
You can read any of the books, and there are some games in the cabinet over there, although they might be a bit complicated.
I don’t…” She hisses out a breath. “I don’t know what children need. ”
“The room is pretty!” Hannah says. “Can I have some garlic pizza bread?”
Etta blinks. “That’s right. Your father said you can eat human food. We don’t have much in our kitchens, but I’ll see what I can do. I hope you’ll tell us how it tastes.”
“She will,” Komal says. “She’ll give a full Michelin review.”
Etta stands and addresses me. “The three of you may move freely between this chamber and the rest of court. It’s only Hannah who can’t pass through the door.
Trying to mess with the threshold sigils will result in immediate execution.
I hope you have your answer soon. I…” She looks back at Hannah, who has picked up a book and is happily reading and kicking her feet.
Etta clears her throat. “This is big. A vampire child. If it means anything, I think she is a wonder, not a curse. But I don’t know if I can convince the others. This is for you. From Irene.”
She hands me a note with the Empress of the Archive’s seal, and disappears then, leaving the three of us awkwardly standing around. Hannah puts down the book and regards Dante.
“You’re my father,” she says, her voice tilting with interest.
Hearing her use that word for him makes my undead blood boil.
“You have my blood in your veins,” Dante says, sinking into the seat opposite her.
“But Augustin is your real father. I should have been involved in your life, but I was a coward. I’m trying to fix that.
Do you want to talk to me, ask me questions?
I’d like to get to know you, but I understand if you don’t want that. ”
“It’s your choice,” Komal says. “If you say no, Augie will make me a new propeller blade out of Dante’s pelvic bone.”
“Will you really?” Hannah’s eyes widen.
“Yes,” I say. “And I’ll take great pleasure in doing it.”
Dante looks panicked. “I don’t know what your father has told you about me—”
“Nothing,” Hannah says. “But I can infer that he was once in love with you, but now he thinks you’re a turd.”
“Oh, really?” Dante presses his lips together. “You can infer all that?”
“I’m very clever.”
“I’ve no doubt.” Dante stares at his bespoke brogues, the leather ruined from saltwater.
“Because of my cowardice, I missed out on getting to know you these last ten years. That’s a mistake I’ll regret for the rest of my life.
I know it’s too little too late, and I have no intention of taking you away from Augie, but I wondered if you might like to hang out sometimes?
If you’ve inherited some of my magical power, I can teach you about it. ”
Hannah considers this for a moment. “Maybe. But wouldn’t that mean I have to stay at court? I don’t like it here. No offence, but the hospitality is somewhat lacking. I’d much rather a shopping mall than a castle of creepy monster statues.”
“Fair. This place could definitely do with a decor update.” Dante grins.
“I wouldn’t make you stay here. I actually thought I’d come and live in Argleton for a while.
The village and its strange and delightful inhabitants have endeared themselves to me.
” Dante turns to Komal. “Hopefully, we might even see the first vampire–human wedding. I’d love for you to save a dance for me. ”
“Okay.”
Dante leans towards Komal, opening his hands a little, as if going in for an embrace. He catches my eye and must see the fury there, because he stands quickly and pretends to be smoothing out the cuffs of his suit. “I look forward to it.”
Komal looks at me. “Should we give them some time alone?”
No.
I sigh. “Fine. But remember—”
“If I hurt her, you will turn my ribcage into a lovely carry basket for Sunita’s rambunctious canine,” Dante says. “I got it.”
“You need some time alone, too,” Hannah says brightly. “It will give you time to figure out what to do.”
“What to do about what?” I ask.
“About the fact that you’re rivals who spent the night in a helicopter huddled together for warmth,” Hannah says solemnly. “You were kissing. I can tell because your ears are red.”
“We were not kissing!” I touch my ears, and they do feel a tad warm. Komal snorts with laughter. Hannah beams.
“Don’t look at me.” Komal laughs. “I’m not going to lie to a child.”
I let out a sigh. “Hannah, stop. I know you wish things could end in a happily-ever-after, but this is a complicated situation. Right now, Komal and I are more concerned with you and the fallout of Kael’s murder—”
Hannah grins. “Is that adult for ‘we’re being ridiculous but also kissing a lot’?”
“Hannah!”
I hate stepping over the threshold and leaving Hannah with that vampire, but Komal’s reassuring half-smile – and the fact that I’m alone in the hallway with her – makes me feel a little better.
“He did well.” Komal squeezes my shoulder, her touch like fire. “And so did you.”
“I want to kill him.”
“I know, but you didn’t, which is a good sign. He is family, after all.”
Family. I don’t like using that word for Dante, but I guess it’s true. The love between me and Dante has soured, but perhaps, if he can keep his promises to Hannah, we can be civil.
We can be family.
Komal and I fall in step beside each other. She gazes around at the towering statues and the strange symbols on the walls, worrying her lip with her teeth. Seeing court through her eyes, I understand that it’s an unsettling place. It’s always just been a home to me.
At least, it was home. But it doesn’t feel that way anymore. Cleaning my sires’ blood from between the stones and fleeing in the night with a baby I was supposed to kill can really ruin the vibes of a place.
But there is still one site I’d like to see again.
“Would you walk in my mother’s garden with me?” I ask.