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"Blankets and some Blessed Chamomile," Rheia answered. Sebastian gave a quick nod then practically ran from the room.
Kendrick bent down and gently pulled Nigel to his feet. One arm wrapped around Neil, the other Nigel as he steered them to a sofa. He sat down with one twin on either side. "You're safe boys. No one and nothing can harm you here." Avery moved to sit on Neil's other side, and Meryn got up to sit on the other side of Nigel.
Ellie scrunched up her nose. "I don't suppose your magic can take care of that mess will it?" she asked pointing to where Nigel had gotten ill.
Law stepped forward. "I'll take care of it." Moments later, the air was fresher, and the sweet sick smell was dissipating.
Nigel opened and closed his mouth. "Minty fresh. Thank you," he said weakly.
Kendrick looked from one twin to the other. "What happened?"
Neil's eyes were still huge. "B-b-b-b," he stuttered.
Avery rubbed his back. "Take a deep breath," he suggested.
Nigel turned to Kendrick. "We were taking care of the refuse tube like you asked when..." he swallowed hard looking green again. "We were dredging it with our magic when we found something." He covered his mouth with his hand and swallowed again. "It was a body. Or what's left of one, it's been bloating and rotting in sewage and refuse for a while."
"Gods!" Declan exclaimed looking a bit sick himself.
"Another victim?" Adriel thought out loud.
Neil just shook his head back and forth still unable to speak. Nigel looked at Kendrick. "It's Augustus Pettier." His words fell flat in the room.
"That is impossible," Gavriel started.
Nigel gave him a tired look. "Neil and I have been studying his picture to watch out for him in the camera footage for Meryn. Chunks are missing from the corpse, but it's definitely him."
"B-b-b-b," Neil stuttered. Kendrick pulled his head onto his shoulder and whispered a spell softly. Neil's face relaxed. "Warm," he said blissfully.
Sebastian and Ryuu rushed in. Sebastian was holding a thick blanket while Ryuu carried a large tray with tea. Kendrick stood and scooted the twins together before wrapping the blanket around them. He sat in the chair next to the sofa. Meryn patted their blanket awkwardly.
"How could this happen?" Beth asked.
Meryn frowned. "His murder or the refuse tube?"
"Both," Beth replied.
Meryn pursed her lips. "Rheia or Ellie will have to confirm it, but if I had to guess I would say that Augustus Pettier has been dead this whole time. From what I understand of the process, the reason why the refuse tube backed up was because it was detecting vampire cells breaking down slowly. It recognized them as living matt
er and wouldn't empty."
Rheia turned to Ellie. "I am not doing an autopsy on a corpse that has been rotting in shit. No way, no how."
Ellie shuddered. "Ditto."
An extremely loud alarm sounded. "What now?" Kari demanded looking flustered.
Kendrick turned to Adriel and Aiden. "That's the alarm I set for the lab." Both men left the antechamber running, Declan and Colton right behind him.
Broderick came from Magnus' bedroom looking spooked. "What was that?"
Beth looked up at her father. "Someone has broken into the lab."
He frowned furiously. "Again?"
Meryn snorted then covered her mouth to hide her giggle. Vivi had to admit, though it was a dire situation, Broderick's reaction was comical. Broderick smiled at Meryn and sat down next to his daughter. She leaned in, and in a low voice explained what was going on with Nigel and Neil.
Ryuu handed first Nigel, then Neil a cup of tea. He stood and looked around the room. Beth followed by Kari got the next cups. Vivi thought Beth looked like she was two seconds from completely unraveling.
