Page 104 of How to Seduce a Slender

“I’m sure it’s magnificent, Austin, but you’re supposed to be manning the ballroom, correct?” Smith cocked his head.

“I had Kevin watch the door for me while I snuck it in here. He also wanted me to hide his present too,” Austin wiggled his shoulders suggestively.

“If it’s another rubber chicken, I will beat him to death with it.”

Melody ripped back and forth, watching the siblings bicker as Austin and Smith slapped at each other. Austin cackled the whole way out in his new garb. He wore matching slacks with Smith, that were black satin with deep crimson embellishments along the side, a sleek suit jacket, and a bowtie with a rose at the center. Melody stepped up before him and brushed the crushed velvet of the lapels affectionately. “You guys remind me of Giovanni and I, but better.”

“What do you mean?” Smith chuckled.

“I imagine when we got older and more mature, we’d bicker more like y’all do. It’s nice to see.” She shrugged. “Sometimes I miss him. No, I always miss him. But today more than normal because he would love this. All of it. He was a mini fashionista, loved gothic colors. Would have flipped to see everyone in their best clothes. Then probably beat me up for being all princessy. You know? But they still kinda treat me like the new sister-in-law.”

“Well, as the newest of the member of the family, I would count your days,” Smith closed the door behind him with his shoe. Melody eyed him suspiciously as he stalked forward, closing the distance between them. His long arms wrapped around her and scooped her up into his chest. “Soon you and Kevin will wage war against Havershum and I, and I’ll have to spank you senseless for putting wet paint on my chair seat. Count your days, Ms. Deathless.”

“Count my days? You planning to chop me up and sacrifice me? You witch,” she hissed fauxly as he kissed her cheek. Melody hummed happily, looping her arms around his shoulders. “We’ve got an entire manor full of people waiting to see you, is right now the right time to seduce me?”

“The best time to seduce someone is the worst possible time,” he snickered against her ear, tugging on her ear.

Knuckles on the door was all the warning they got before Dahlia opened the door and chucked a wrapped box at his head. “Hey! Look, I get it, she’s very pretty right now, but Aravis Blightwood is here and if I have to talk to him, he’s gonna molt. You’re the birthday boy, go mingle!”

Melody tossed her head back, cackling as Smith grumbled under his breath, sliding out into the hall past Dahlia. The lady of the manor snickered before handing Melody another present. “Everyone invited has showed up.”

“No surprise guests?” Melody sighed, almost disappointed. “I was hoping she’d show her mug before cake. I really wanted him to unwrap Austin’s gift.”

“It did look magnificent before he wrapped it up. I can’t wait for Smith to see it.”

“Dang it.” Melody followed Dahlia out into the main hall. The whole manor was brimming with life. Agatha waltzed down the air between the stairs as she brought an empty tray back to the kitchen, Havershum bringing a full one of champagne flutes back up to the ballroom. Melody glanced down at the dress Agatha crafted. She did truly create a masterpiece. It was a deep ruby satin beneath thick black lace made of roses and thorny vines. It draped off her shoulders with a heart-shaped top. It was the first time she wore a corset in her life. The lace choker with a ruby dripping from the middle of it made her feel like royalty.

“You look beautiful,” Dahlia breathed, nudging her with an arm. Melody glanced up, finding everyone was already in the ballroom again. The soft music was muffled as it bounced off the walls. Dahlia glowed in the dancing candlelight and the sunlight coming through the windowpanes in the house.

“Thanks, I really…” Melody trailed off as she heard a headthud.Hard knuckles rocked against the front door. She jerked to face it, her heart skipping a beat.

“I’ll get Smith,” Dahlia’s warbled words didn’t reach her ears as Melody stumbled toward the door. It drew her in.Thud. Thud. Thud. Like someone were practically punching it with every knock.

“Melody.”No that can’t be. That voice, it can’t be!

Her heart skipped a beat as she lurched forward.Giovanni. Hands shaking, she nearly ripped the door off as she tugged it open. His voice was so real.He looked so real.Her heart hammered against her chest as she stared at her brother on the porch. He loomed over her in the doorway, hands pressed against the doorframe. With the usual goofy bravado, he tossed his fluffy, chestnut curls back and grinned at her. The same lopsided smirk that was more cheese than attitude. Shooting her with finger guns, he chuckled. “There you are, Mel, what took you so long to open the door? Your paws too tangled up in all that lace?”

“Giovanni?” The word felt wrong tumbling out of her mouth. Her stomach clenched.It’s wrong.But a five-foot eight person who looked exactly how she always imagined him to look…just stared back at her. His cheeks were golden with a tint of rosy life. His big green eyes scanned her from crown to toe. Mop of hair full of loose curls, bushy brows, strong nose, everything she imagined he’d be…dressed in a classic leather jacket over a black button down and acid washed jeans. The kind he saw cool kids in school wear that he always wanted. He raised a brow as Melody stumbled forward into the doorway.He’s wrong.

“Is that you?” The very air in her lungs weighed down like a ton of bricks. Her palm hovered an inch from his cheek. She could feel the warmth radiating off him. “That’s impossible.”

“What? Impossible to look this good?” He chuckled, popping the edges of his jacket. Giovanni danced away from her in that swagger he used to mimic from the older kids. It gave her flashes of Deja vu to see him spin on his boot covered toes away from her.Wrong.

“Giovanni,” she whimpered, stepping out onto the porch before something snatched her by the spine. Something thin like thread attached to her very spinal column. It snapped tightly and she could feel it tug against the muscles of her body.Wrong.

“Come on, Mel! Let’s blow this place!” He motioned for her with his arm.

Wrong. Wrong.What was she doing?Wrong.How did he get back?Stop it!Where had he been all this time?Wrong. Wrong.Why was she here?No! Stop!What was she doing?Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Melody shook her head, leaning back toward the house. “Giovanni, what are you doing here?”

“Well, first, I came to get my sister back.”

Her heart ached to go with him.

Scraaaatch. Wrong.

Melody stepped back further, seeing a rift in her reality. Just like when she was torn between reality and the Endless Woods with Smith…she stood on the metal piece that connected the porch to the house. Her eyes glanced down, seeing the drastic color difference. The house behind her was dark, void, empty of life. As her stomach lurched in fear, three massive red eyes flashed open.

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