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“Then leave. I can protect the inn. I have done so for centuries. Flee, and I shall reward you generously. Find another place elsewhere,” Benedict spoke softly.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Alone and able to do as you wish. No, this is my inn, and I’m staying! I’m sick to death of people trying to make me leave and making me feel unwanted!” Mariah replied, whipping around and facing him. Today she could see his features more clearly, and he was as handsome as his portrait, although purple. His eyes narrowed in frustration.
“Mariah, a great evil resides here. I am its keeper. Every day you remain here, you risk waking it up and releasing it upon innocents. Can you live with their deaths?” Benedict demanded.
Oh, low blow! Mariah thought.
“No, I couldn’t. So do your job and don’t let it escape. Even better, find a way to vanquish it!” Mariah snapped.
Benedict would not guilt her out of the inn.
“Your death will be the first should it awaken!” Benedict warned.
“Then I’ll haunt alongside you!” Mariah retorted.
Benedict looked horrified as Mariah walked off to get her breakfast.
Chapter Five.
Mariah.
How on earth did this happen? Mariah wondered as she looked down at herself.
Benedict! That was how!
She’d come outside to do some gardening and had been wheeling a barrow full of weeds to the composter when she stepped into a hole and sunk knee-deep. Unaware of what would transpire, Mariah struggled to get free and was now stuck up to her waist. That rat fink! He’d somehow made the ground soft, and she was sinking slowly.
She’d kill his lifeless ass if he weren’t already dead. According to the Rakehell Six, there was a way to possibly return them to life. Then Mariah would murder him once again. She heard a chuckle and twisted her head. He was watching her, that… that… argh! Mariah peered around for something to grab and pull herself out. Yup, there was another deep giggle. Mariah stretched for a dry piece of grass and squealed as she sank lower. The mud clamped onto her legs, and she winced at the feel of it. It was cold and clammy and had her well and truly trapped.
She started grinning and stayed still as Benedict appeared, sporting a purple shirt, yellow waistcoat, and orange pants. He looked like a canary, and despite her predicament, she began to laugh. She noticed his skin was slightly lighter, but the colourful outfit he was wearing more than made up for it.
“Are you gonna get me out?” Mariah demanded.
“Are you going to leave?” Benedict countered.
“Nope!”
“Then no, try not to struggle too much,” Benedict responded and disappeared.
“Seriously!” Mariah exclaimed and hit the mud with her hand. That annoying despot!
Mariah craned her neck, looking for a way out. To her horror, Fluffers trotted close and patted the sludge with his paw.
“Fluffers, no!” Mariah shrieked. Fluffers tilted his head and meowed at her. “Stay there!” Mariah cried, panic in her voice. Instead, her cat placed two paws in the muck and yowled as they sunk in. Mariah did not think but shoved forward with her upper body and tried to get him.
Fluffers was just out of reach, and as he strove to pull himself free, he sank in deeper. Mariah let out a strangled cry as she struggled to pull herself that one inch forward. The mud was up to her chest, but she didn’t care as her panicked cat fought to get loose. Ignoring the sucking at her body, Mariah took a deep breath and kicked her feet against the sludge as if she was swimming.
She moved! Hope rose as Fluffers was now up to his collar, and Mariah kicked with everything she had, and her fingertips grasped his neck. Mariah hauled the irate and distraught cat out and threw him onto solid ground. The movement brought her closer to the edge of the pit, and reaching out, Mariah managed to grab the grass. Laying her cheek down on the grass, Mariah sighed as Fluffers wound himself around her head. Slowly, she dragged herself out inch by inch, and when she was done, she was furious.
“My clever boy,” Mariah said, picking up the muddy cat and gripping him. “You knew I’d give everything to rescue you.”
Fluffers purred in her arms as he looked down at his fur in distaste. Mariah glowered at the apartment, where she saw Benedict hovering. If this is how Benedict wished to play it, so be it.
???
Mariah drove into the village, deliberately searching for three women. Not seeing them out and about, Mariah parked and walked into Rose-Marie’s café. There she found the old ladies. Rose-Marie looked up, startled, as Mariah headed towards their booth with purpose in her steps. Mariah saw Rose-Marie whisper to the woman serving with her before she came around the counter and sat down next to Mariah.
“There’s something you missed from your story. Tell me what!” Mariah demanded.
