Chapter 53 Salome
Salome
My eyes flutter open, awakened by rustling in the bed next to me. I reach my hand out, expecting to feel Larkin’s warmth, but there’s nothing. I feel again, just to be sure, but again, my hand meets only empty sheets.
“Larkin!” I call into the dark room, checking to see if there’s a light on under the door to the bathroom. There’s no light, the bathroom door open but no one inside. “Larkin!”
The wind howls outside, rattling the windows, but Larkin doesn’t respond.
I scramble out of bed, turning on the bedside lamp.
I blink, eyes adjusting to the dim light flooding the space.
I’m alone, save for the woman still staring at me from the portrait.
Her dress is still burning, but is the plume of smoke behind her larger now?
It’s impossible, I know it is, but my heart still feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest.
“Larkin!” I scream, rushing to the bedroom door.
As I grip the knob, I hear a sound that makes my stomach bottom out: the clinking of a glass.
I bolt from the room, charging towards the library.
I don’t even have to guess where she is, because I can see her draped across the chair from the hallway. “Larkin, what the fuck are you doing?”
Her head lazily turns towards me, her glassy eyes trying to focus, giving me a lopsided grin. “Salome,” she slurs, resting her head back on the arm of the chair. “She told me you’d come.”
“Who?” I screech, running to her. The crystal distiller is now half empty on the end table, a used glass beside it. Tears fill my eyes, and my voice lowers to a squeak. “Larkin, what have you done?”
“She told me you’d be mad too.” Larkin hiccups, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Please don’t be mad. I didn’t want her to take you from me.”
“You’re not making any sense,” I cry, crouching beside her even as the stench of alcohol gags me. “Who have you been talking to?”
“Her,” Larkin hisses, pointing to the toy train above the fireplace. “She brought me here.”
“No, Larkin,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice calm amidst my increasing anger. “You’re drunk. There’s no one else in here.”
“Oh yes there is,” Larkin laughs, though her eyes are wide with fear. “She’s right behind you.”
The fire pops, and I jump, spinning to look towards the fireplace like someone might really be standing there. I sigh, collapsing to the floor to lean against the chair. “There’s no one there. Let’s get you back to bed, and we can talk about this when you’re sober, okay?”
“Why did you come here?” Larkin scolds, her eyes filling with tears and her voice trembling.
“We’re not going to argue about this now,” I growl, standing to tug on her arms in a useless attempt to get her out of the chair. “Don’t worry. We’re never going to come here again.”
“No,” Larkin whines, shaking her head sloppily. “Why did you come in here? It’s not safe.”
“Why are you here?” I scream, dropping her arms. Rage spreads through my veins like poison, heating my insides with molten wrath. “You just didn’t want me to see you drinking, is that it? Have you been sneaking off for a night cap this whole time?”
“Salome, please,” Larkin pleads, clumsily gripping my hands in hers. “Listen to me.”
“I’m trying, but you’re speaking a bunch of nonsense right now, and we really just need to go back to bed!” Tears roll down my cheeks, and I’m about to just leave her there when there’s a loud crash behind me. We both scream, and I leap onto the chair with Larkin.
The train lies on its side in front of the roaring fire, a tiny light coming from its front, wheels spinning. Embers roll across the wood floor as the fire cracks again, swirling towards the train as a draft whirls through the room. My fingers tingle with the overwhelming urge to pick up the toy.
I lift myself from the chair, Larkin swinging her arms around me and whipping her head back and forth. “No, don’t!” she cries, but I peel her hands off me.
“It’s fine,” I reply, taking cautious steps forward, but I’m not sure I believe my own words. As I stoop to pick up the train, I see the faint reflection of a woman in the metal. I stare into the tiny light, transfixed, as a screaming whistle drowns all the other noise in the room.