Page 56 of Magpie
I strain my ears for the slightest noise, the barest hint that one of Alister’s creations is close. I thought that the moment my feet touched the first floorboard Alister would pounce on me, digging his claws in to never let me go again. Instead, I am left standing alone in the cold, dark room. Clenching and unclenching my hands, I bounce on the balls of my feet, trying and failing miserably to quell the fear and anxiety gripping my throat.
The luna key has stopped thrumming, and I’m trying not to take that as a bad omen. Even the light of the guiding moth cannot penetrate this place.
The quiet remains uninterrupted, no distant shouts of fear or peals of nervous laughter wafting to me from the hallway or down the stairs. But I know the House will be full of unsuspecting souls, and I know he will be gorging on them. He must be starving without me, denied his unlimited access to life.
“You’re done feasting, Alister,” I whisper into the House. It is the loudest I can make my voice go, and even so, the soft tone sounds like a scream in the grave silence.
Determined to not feed him a single morsel of fear, I let out a shaky breath and push my nerves aside. If Alister isn’t going to come for me, then I’m going to find him. Grabbing the banister, I’m ready to climb the stairs when a voice calls out my name.
“Maggie.”
I stop dead in my tracks, one foot raised to step onto the first stair.
“Maggie,” he says again, his voice exactly as I remember it.
“No. This isn’t real,” I tell myself, closing my eyes, wishing I could close my ears as well.
“Maggie,” he calls again, stressing my name long and low.
I know it is a trick. I know he cannot be here. But I am unable to stop myself as I turn and follow his voice, if only for the flickering hope of a chance to see him.
Leaving the staircase behind, I follow the gentle song-like call of my name down the hallway. The layout of the House is the same, but even if it had changed a hundred times, I know my feet would lead me down this path. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of the open bedroom door. My chest tightens around that breath, holding it in as if it is my last.
He is standing in front of me, looking down at a book, flipping through it idly as he has so many times before.
“Sean.”
He looks up, an easy, crooked smile spreading across his face. I am moving before I think, catching myself halfway across theroom and coming to a trembling stop. It’s with a great effort that I keep myself from running into his arms.
“You came back. I knew you wouldn’t leave me forever.” His voice is soft, if a little too bright. Too happy. There is none of the cocky bravado or sincere gentleness that I am used to.
“I…yes,” I end lamely, not sure what else to say. “Are you…are you really you?” I ask, reaching a hand out to him. Maybe Alister brought him back. Maybe it is a peace offering of sorts, a reminder that he can reward just as he can punish.
Sean smiles broadly at me, closing the book he is holding and opening his arms wide to receive me. “I’m so happy you’re back,” he says, and that tells me everything I need to know.
I don’t move. Neither does he. The smile stays plastered across his face, his eyes unblinking. I look at him then—really look. His face is too stretched, his eyes just a little too vibrant, and his smile looks more like Alister’s sneer than the sweet, crooked smile I fell in love with.
“Sean would never be happy to see me back here,” I say, watching his arms drop to his sides, his smile fading. His face goes slack, the joy leaving his eyes. He might as well be a statue.
Silence creeps between us as my words ring in the air. Shaking my head, I take a step back from him, and he stays perfectly still, not an ounce of life to be found in him.
“This isn’t you. You’re gone.” My voice sounds dead in my own ears. “Goodbye, Sean,” I say, more to myself than to the specter in front of me, as I turn my back on the only man I ever truly loved and walk away.
Rushing down the hallway, my breath coming in great heaves and gulps, I stumble over my feet and lean against the wall. Allowing myself one moment to feel, one brief second of grief, as I clutch my chest, my heart aching. Letting out a final sigh, I straighten, gathering my strength and shutting the door on my wounded heart. I’m determined to not be distracted by anothertrick of the House. I set my shoulders and head back to the stairs.
Alister turned me into death, and I intend to live up to that one more time.
With new resolve, I grip the banister and take the stairs two at a time. No other voices call out to me, and I suspect it is because the House knows I will not follow them. I’m a woman possessed, and nothing is going to steer me off track.
Navigating the twisting and winding halls, I find myself standing before the attic stairs all too soon.
Gripping the string, I gave it one swift tug, jumping back as the accordion stairs tumble down in front of me. Fear grips my throat, my heart beating out of my chest. I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do, how I’m going to ensure that an endless being actually dies. Butshegave me the luna key for a reason, and I grip it underneath my shirt to reassure myself.
There is no promise that he won’t pull me under his spell again, trapping me forever as his trained pet, doling out death on his whim.
But I have to try.
Planting my foot on the first stair, I swallow my fear, and I hoist myself up.
