Page 80 of Love at First Fright

She stared at the floor, scuffing one polished shoe against the dusty floorboards.

“Sorry,” she mumbled eventually, “for biting you.”

Henry bounded forward with more enthusiasm. “Will you play the piano, Bat? Please?”

“Maybe soon,” I promised. “If you behave.”

As we left the piano room, Charlie fell into step beside me. I was still finding the whole feet‑on‑ground thing awkward.

“How many instruments can you play?”

“Guitar and piano mainly. Well, keyboard too, obviously. Dabbled with drums a bit.” I kept my eyes firmly on the hardwood floor to add, “And I was, um, lead vocalist for Bat’s Bats.”

“Lead vocalist, huh?” Charlie said. “Very impressive. I love your shirt.”

He sounded bemused. For a moment I was confused, then I remembered the back of it. Bat’s Bats in faded letters within a giant bat silhouette. Right. I never took the shirt off, so I hadn’t actually seen the back of it in… years. Many, many years.

“And your collar,” Charlie added, his eyes flicking to the leather around my neck. Definitely teasing now.

“Look,” I said. “If I’d known that I’d be stuck wearing it forever more, I might not have put it on the day I died. But here we are.”

“So… how did they die?” Charlie asked. “The twins?”

“Lady Grimthorne says consumption.”

“Are they her children?”

“No, she’s just one of the oldest ghosts here. Bit of a know-it-all.”

Charlie nodded thoughtfully. “Well, aside from the biting, they seem sort of sweet, those twins.”

“Don’t be fooled.”

I led him to what would have been the master bedroom once upon a time but was now just a wreck. Furniture draped in dusty sheets, wallpaper peeling, floorboards warped with damp.

Vivian stood centre stage—because of course she did—writhing dramatically with one hand pressed to her forehead.

Charlie looked around, squinting. “I can’t see anyone.”

I offered him my hand. “May I?”

Wariness flickered across his face, but he slowly extended his palm toward mine.

Ahh. The warmth of his skin against mine was like mainlining sunshine. I had to concentrate not to grip too tightly, not to pull him closer, not to—

Focus, Bat.

Charlie flinched as Vivian came into view. Always quite the sight, with her blonde curls and scarlet lipstick. He caught her in full dramatic death throes, staggering backward with both hands clutching her throat.

“Oh my god!” he shouted, full of excitement. “It’s Vivian! Vivian Starling!”

I chuckled. Vivian’s ego would get a nice little boost from that.

“Is that how she died?” Charlie whispered.

I burst into laughter. I couldn’t help it. “No! That’s Lady Macbeth, Act Five. She’s acting out her starring roles. It’s what she does.”

“Vivian!” I shouted.