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“I’ll be along soon. Would you mind calling the others? We should pool our knowledge,” Melisandre spoke.
“See you at Waverley,” Emile said and kissed the two women goodbye. She glanced towards her husband and Nicholas, who still laughed as they followed her to their car. Children! They were such children at times.
Benedict
Benedict wandered into his bedroom hours later. He’d visited the prisoner, ensuring that his emotional outburst hadn’t disturbed him, and then read in an unused parlour for a while. Anything to stay away from the annoying human invading his peace. He dropped his outer clothes on the floor and walked into the far smaller bathroom to run a bath. Wandering back, he shucked his boots and stripped off the rest of his clothing before pulling his robe from the closet. So lost in thoughts he was, he didn’t note the garish colour.
Sinking into the hot water, Benedict groaned. His body ached, his head was pained, and he was absorbed in a confusion of thoughts. The Rakehell Six had been murdered, yet with the angel’s blessings; they’d returned. He wondered if his destiny was to return and shook his head. There had been worthier knights than him. If the angels required heroes, they had plenty far better than Benedict.
He laid out in the bath, glad this was an oversized one, as he allowed the hot water to soothe him. Of the Rakehell Six, Emile and Lavinia had been the two Benedict could tolerate. The men were boorish and bloated with their own self-importance. Then Benedict offered a self-deprecating smirk. Similar comments could have been said concerning his brothers and CeeCee. The Nortons had the arrogance and confidence that followed being born into nobility.
Benedict would never own a title, but he remained the son of an earl. His right to the title Honourable was undeniable. Benedict’s own son, while descended from an earl, would become a Mr. But noble blood would run through those veins, should they ever have existed. Benedict felt a sharp pang. He had been denied a family, but his sense of duty overrode it. It was not meant to be.
With an uneasy growl, Benedict submerged himself under the water and lay there. His eyes blinked as he stayed under for a few minutes before rinsing and washing. There was no faintness in the discolouration on his skin yet, and his mouth set. Mariah was stubborn, and bellowing at the girl did nothing. It was time for desperate measures. He was a seasoned soldier against evil. How much trouble could one young girl cause?
Benedict swore loudly as he stared at his once red-coloured robe. It was now a garish purple to match his skin. Mariah! He stormed to his wardrobe and winced at the colours. Half his clothes were a bright canary yellow, and the rest were purple. How dare she! He searched frantically for something remaining of his usual darker colours and found nothing. He spun on the spot to grab his dirty clothes from today and noticed they were gone. No! Mariah had snuck in and stolen them!
Benedict teleported to the kitchen, where he saw the machine that washed clothing going around. The water was a suspicious orange colour that looked terrible.
No! he howled silently. He needed new attire! He stared at his clothes, turning around and round in the machine as he thought of how to get payback. She was not winning this war!
Mariah
She peeked cautiously out of her bedroom door, looking for any sign of a purple ghost. On seeing Fluffers trot happily past, Mariah made her way downstairs, the whole time on guard. She had just made scrambled eggs on toast when a bell jingled to say someone was needed at the inn's front entrance.
Mariah glanced at her plate and sighed before leaving it.
“What do you want?” Mariah demanded on seeing Klaus Anderson smiling slimily at her.
“I came to see if you’ve reconsidered my offer?” Klaus asked as he peered past her into the inn.
“The answer remains no!” Mariah answered, folding her arms.
“Have you met the vengeful fellow yet? I can’t imagine living with a ghost is very comfortable. Look, I was hasty before. How about I offer you twice the asking price?” Klaus smiled and rubbed his forefinger and thumb together.
“Is that how it is in your life? Can’t bribe your way, so you attempt bullying and then try to make ridiculous offers?” Mariah asked.
Anger flashed across Klaus’s face as he stepped into her personal space. Mariah instantly stepped back, and Klaus entered the inn. His gaze took in the clean area and the work Mariah had been doing.
“Take the offer. Out here, there is no one to hear you scream,” Klaus said, an obvious threat.
Mariah’s mouth dropped open as she absorbed his words.
“Are you seriously threatening me?” she demanded, her voice rising.
“You’re a pretty girl. Be a shame to see you hurt. And alone? Nobody will hear you. It would be such a tragedy should something happen to you out here, lonely, scared, haunted.”
“Get out!” Mariah yelled, sounding like Benedict!
“Take the offer!” Klaus repeated, closing the distance between them.
“I’ll never sell the Black Cat to the likes of you!” Mariah shrieked as she moved backwards, away from the threatening presence of Klaus.
“Louder, I don’t think he can hear you. Where is the ghost?” Klaus demanded, laughing.
“Right here!” Benedict said, and Klaus flew as Benedict grabbed hold of him and dragged him out. Without another word, Benedict kicked Klaus up his uptight backside and slammed the door after him. Through a window, Mariah watched as Klaus went flying and landed on his front. Klaus leapt to his feet and sent the inn such a look of malevolence Mariah shuddered.
“He means the inn harm and me,” Mariah whispered.
