Page 50 of The House of Whispers

Our gazes locked onto one another as my mouth opened. “The Ripper.”

“It wasn’t her fault. You can try to find blame in every corner of the world, but there isn’t any.” I snapped, wrapping my thick winter shawl around my shivering frame. My wings glistened in the night as I hovered above the fog covered pavement. Nathair struggled to keep up. “I made the choice to stay.”

Nathair huffed, sprinting to remain at my side. “I hear you, my love, but—”

“But nothing!” I stopped, turning to face him. “Nathair, this has to stop!” His emerald eyes almost glowed in the night. “I understand you wish to protect me, but she is my sister. She has protected me long before you.” The truth hit its mark as he almost flinched at the sound of it.

I turned, my wings buzzing as I continued down the street. Nathair quickly raced back to my side. “There’s nothing safe in regards to being chained to someone, locked away in a house, working until you die. I do not doubt that she has kept you safe in the past, but, Min,” he reached for my arms pulling me back to him, “Min, there’s something strange happening in that house. Something dark.”

“That house has always been cast in dark shadows.” I rolled my eyes.

“No. This is something far worse. Something evil is haunting that house, and I fear Casper has become entangled in the dark web of it.” I tried to fly away, but Nathair held me. “Okay, look, I’ll make you a deal.” He released me.

A heavy sigh drifted from my lungs. “What kind of deal?” I crossed my arms.

“If Casper’s plan fails and The Ripper isn’t stopped, you come home with me and never return.”

“You ask for the impossible.” I turned, my stomach sour. “Madame Chepi will never let me go.”

“Alright! Then we run.” I stopped, hovering above the pavement. “We can run away and create a new life together.”

Turning, I glanced at Nathair. “She’ll find us.” He rushed to my side. “There is no escaping Madame Chepi.”

“She can’t find us if we flee to another world.” Nathair was desperate to be with me. “My love,” he gently placed his hands around my hips, lowering me to the pavement as my wings fell down my back, “let’s run away and start anew. Just the two of us.”

“You would free me from this prison?” My eyes began to water, tears flowing from them as he held me.

“I would doanythingto protect you. All I want is your happiness. Please, let’s leave this wretched place.”

I nestled my head into his chest, breathing in his scent as he hugged me. “If Casper’s plan fails, I will go with you.” Nathair’s hold tightened as he kissed my head. “All I ask,” I pulled back, staring up at his beautiful dark face, “is that you treat her as you did before. No more anger, no more animosity. Even if you must fake it, please, pretend to be as before. For me?” Nathair kissed me, our lips meeting as the world faded away and all that remained was us.

He slowly removed his lips from mine, staying close to my face. “You have my word.”

Chesmu had pulled away, processing the truth that had spilled from my mouth. I had told him everything. He now knew the truth of Jakkal, The Ripper, Dr. Reynard, the drugs, the murders that kept haunting this house, everything.

“Chesmu,” I reached for him, “please, don’t let this change things between us.”

He stopped as my hand touched his arm. “Change things? Casper,” his hand grabbed mine, “the only thing changing is that I refuse to let this murderer have you. I will do whatever I possibly can to protect you and rid this land of him.” He kissed me with such passion, pushing us together before he gently pulled away. “We are in this nightmaretogether.”

Chesmu had taken my hand and led me up the stairs back into the hallway near the back door of the house. He kissed me once more before returning to the bar. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms and watched as he walked away. My smile and happy mood quickly melted away as Madame Chepi approached me. She had a thick, navy blue shawl wrapped around her arms over her black dress. Her scarf remained tight around her neck as her hair remained tucked neatly behind her ears. She was barefoot, as always, quickly settling against the wall next to me.

She looked me up and down, smiling as she followed my gaze to Chesmu behind the bar. Her inked hand raised, playing with my hair as her nails lightly scratched my scalp. I struggled to hold back my groans from the freshly sewn wound as her fingers twirled strands of my hair, pulling the wound. “Poor Casper,” her voice made me uneasy, “always wanting things you can’t have.”

Oh, but I can give you everything you want. Jakkal’s faint voice played through my mind.

She smiled, stepping closer, our eyes almost level as she grabbed my chin, her nails digging into my skin. “Remember who you serve.” The smile remained sprawled across her face as she released my jaw. A small strand of blood dripped down my head from the freshly sewn wound. Madame Chepi ran her finger across the droplet. “There are no third chances in my house.” She moved her hand to her mouth, licking my blood from her fingertip. Her voice faded as she grinned harder, stepping into the overflowing crowd of Whisps and Johns in the parlor.

And I,Jakkal’s voice returned,do not give second chances.

My head throbbed from Madame Chepi tugging at my hair. Hearing Jakkal’s voice only reassured me that my head wound must’ve been far more extensive than I had imagined.

Tick-tock, Casper. You’ve had more than enough time to finish our little game. What is it you have really been up to?

I rolled my neck, trying to silence his words to no avail.

It seems I must raise the stakes to motivate you to be more proactive.

No, I snapped back. My balance wavered lightly as people walked by.

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