Chapter 60 Komal
Mamma: We’re collecting your father from the hospital, then we’ll be head over to the festival.
He thought seriously about what you said, about becoming a vampire like you, but he says all the eternity in the world isn’t worth it if he can’t eat pakoras.
And I have to agree. We love you, and we’re so proud of you.
“IT ALL LOOKS WONDERFUL, KOMAL.” Winnie beams as she gazes around the Historically Inaccurate Heritage Festival.
It does, which is a miracle. During Reggie’s first council meeting as mayor, he axed everyone and replaced the councillors with animals.
I’ve been demoted to assistant tourism chair, underneath the squirrel named Rob.
I grin back. I may not be mayor, but I managed to get Rob to agree to my festival.
And it’s going amazingly. The whole village has arrived.
The vampires have embraced the theme with abandon.
At one stall, Arabella offers guests the opportunity to try on her resplendent gowns from various eras and pose for a picture with Gideon.
At another, Eleanor and Luminita teach courtly dances.
Dante has joined forces with Lilac to run the bar, and has gathered a crowd to watch him do flashy mixology tricks, aided by a little vampire magic.
The Naughty Knitting Club are doing a roaring trade at their codpiece stall.
Reginald dishes out hot chocolate to a crowd of admirers, only this time he’s doing it in a Tudor ruff.
Alaric teaches a group of enthusiastic children proper sword-fighting techniques.
My family is teaching Hannah their favourite Bollywood dances while Mamma and Papa sing karaoke.
Our new mayor wanders between the stalls in a chicken costume with Winston Churchquill, the hedgehog, on his shoulder.
The hedgehog also has a Tudor ruff. That’s how we roll in Argleton.
After the floods, the village needed to celebrate. And we are celebrating hard.
All around, I see people using their phones to scan the QR codes at the stalls. As I hoped, the Argleton app is helping support local businesses.
And best of all, Mamma wheels Papa in his chair between the stalls.
His eyes grow wide with wonder as he takes in all of it.
I did this for him as much as I did for the village.
I wipe away a sneaky little tear as he accepts a cup of hot chocolate from Reginald and makes Mamma spin him in circles on the dance floor.
“I can’t believe you did all the work and that bloody squirrel gets the credit.
” Beth frowns at Rob sitting proudly on Reggie’s other shoulder, gnawing on an acorn.
He was supposed to have a ruff, but when Reggie tried to fit it, he nearly bit his finger clear off.
Smart squirrel. “Listen, I wanted to apologise again for how I acted about Augustin. I never had a family, and the Nevermore Coven is it for me. I’m so happy that Winnie and Arabella found their happily-ever-afters, and then with the husker still being on the loose, I get scared sometimes that I’m going to lose you all… and you and I have this bond, and I…”
“Beth, it’s really okay.” I squeeze her.
“I understand. Sometimes, when we’re afraid of losing someone, we hold on too tight.
It’s much harder to accept that the fear is really all the love we wish we could give that person, all the hundreds of tiny ways we haven’t yet told them that they’re our sun and stars.
You and I… we’re not very good at being vulnerable, but it’s the only way we can cut through the nonsense.
You’re a terrible cook, but I love you.”
“Good. Me too.” Beth links arms with me, her smile radiant.
As we wander across the green to watch Isis compete in the Historically Inaccurate Joust, my eye catches a dark shadow pushing through the crowd – a tall man wearing an impeccably-tailored grey suit, the flickering flames of the bonfire reflecting off the face of his fancy watch.
Augustin arrives at my side, sliding his arm through mine, making us a trio.
“You pulled it off, as I knew you would. It’s the perfect way to send you off on the search-and-rescue course, although Hannah and I are going to miss you greatly for those eight long weeks.
She has some ideas for that house that, with your permission, I might—”
Whatever he’s about to say is cut off as a woman screams.
“Help! There’s been another murder!”