Page 96 of Dance With Death

I vocally objected as a child, wishing to model the home based on books I’d read about other supernatural residences until Ethan pulled me to one side for ‘a word’. The Reznik vampires filled the house with darkness and death, and by swathing the home in beautiful, bright colors, Eloise is claiming the home and erasing that past.

No wonder people have the false impression that she’s as warm and welcoming as her home. How could the woman who bordered the hallways with flowers be anything like the violent men that she tamed and lives with?

Oh, Eloise can be. Very much so.

Dorian refused Eloise’s attempts to colorize his personal space. He keeps a couple of rooms with their original dreary, black gothic appearance for when he deigns to meet people here. Dorian Blackwood in a brightly lit room accented in sunny yellows and floral cushions wouldn’t give the impression he’d like.

Our home contains a dozen bedrooms spread throughout the building, but Holly insists she shares my room, and I’d rather keep an eye on her, too. We deposit our belongings in my bedroom, a familiar and comforting space decorated with old spell books and magical items, a few of which Holly poked and said ‘I won't ask’.

Then she set a small, bean-filled pink pig beside a jar of tiny bones. I seal my lips at the aberration. At least she hasn’t changed her mind about staying in this apparent house of horrors.

The afternoon grows later and darkens quicker in this part of the world, but I have a task before dinner. Holly eagerly follows me out of the house with the duckling in her pocket, the girl wrapped up in a mint-green padded coat against the biting wind. She chatters as we pass through the starker environment, and, for once, I don’t protest.

“Didn’t you get lonely living here and rarely leaving?” she asks as we trudge along the stony track towards my personal part of the estate.

“No.”

“I would’ve.”

“You’re not me.”

Holly smiles. “No. Definitely not.”

“We haven’t spoken alone yet,” I say, and she drops her gaze to the ground. “I feel we should discuss your abduction.”

“There isn't much more to say,” she replies quietly, her face paining.

I pause, causing Holly to stop too. “I understand if you wish to sever your friendship with me once we remove the spell from your mind.”

“What? Why?” Her brown eyes go wide.

“Because your connection to me caused this injury, and you remain in danger for as long as you’re in my life.”

Holly continues to stare. “But aren’t you going to catch and stop these people?”

I purse my lips and look to the nearby Highlands swathed in purple heather. “Many others in our world hate my father too. The person responsible for your situation isn’t the only danger to your life.”

“Right.” She’s quiet, stroking the duckling’s head, but the bird focuses its attention on me. “Can we stay in touch even though I’m leaving Thornwood?”

“What?” I ask sharply. “No. You have to stay. I can room elsewhere in the academy.”

“My parents are removing me. I can't stay if they don’t pay the fees. The academy never told them I was missing! Dad completely lost his mind when he discovered that.”

“Dorian will ensure you remain. He’ll want you to stay too. For safety.” Holly chews her lip and avoids my eyes. “You don’t want to.”

“I don't know, Violet.” She pats the duckling. “Are you sure I can’t keep your get well soon gift?”

“The zombie duck?” I ask sarcastically. “No. He’s joining my other… animal friends. And don't change the subject.”

“Ah yes, Disney Princess Violet and her menagerie. I bet they’ll be pleased to see you.” She snickers and links an arm through mine.

I allow her. This time. “Mmm.”

We reach the edge of the pine trees that thin to reveal the stream and small clearing. I piled stones into a makeshift seat years ago, the gray rocks now covered in moss. Several tree trunks bear the scorch marks from my childhood fire spells; others are carved with practice runes.

My place of solace—and where I hid if I annoyed my father.

A brown rabbit appears from the briars, followed by several more, and sparrows land on the branches above the stones. I take a deep breath and ready myself for Holly’s amusement as the animals I reanimated over the years gather to welcome me.

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