Grim Holiday (Aisling Grimlock Book 6)

by Amanda M. Lee

  That left the room as it was before … except for the extra hand, of course.

  That’s when Dad and Katherine made their presence known at the door, Dad by barking out a series of curses that would’ve made a sailor on shore leave blush and Katherine making the sign of the cross.

  “Holy Mary, mother of God,” Katherine wailed. “What was that? Is that a … hand?”

  “Oh, well, now the day is complete,” I muttered, dropping the sword on the floor. “I totally ruined my pedicure, too. This day has been really weird.”

  20

  Twenty

  “What was that?” Katherine stormed into the room, disbelief washing across her features. “Seriously! What in the hell was that?”

  “We were playing a game,” Redmond automatically answered. That was our go-to excuse when we were kids. Dad wanted to know why the Ming vase in the foyer was broken. Mom wanted to know why the clothes were thrown on the back lawn. Dad wanted to know why there was blood in the kitchen.

  We were playing a game.

  “We were playing a game,” Braden agreed, holding up his pool cue for emphasis. “It was a marvelous game and the winner got … that fake monster hand.” He swallowed hard as he looked at the disgusting appendage. “Luckily for all of us, Redmond is the winner. It is now his responsibility to take ownership of the hand.”

  Redmond made a horrified face before recovering and scorching Braden with a dark look. “I’m going to put that hand in your bed later.”

  “That would be another game,” Aidan added. “Hide the hand in someone’s bed.”

  “Yes, I’m going to play that game later with Griffin,” I deadpanned. I knew the excuse wasn’t going to work so I was bound and determined to have fun with the situation. “By the way, Jerry, I ruined my pedicure.”

  “I saw it.” Jerry wrinkled his nose. “I’m too flustered to have a steady hand with the nailbrush, so you’ll have to wait until tomorrow for me to fix it.”

  “Okay, but you need to get the polish off because I don’t like how it looks.”

  “Fine.” Jerry heaved out a sigh and led me toward the couch.

  “Why is no one doing anything?” Katherine shouted, her gaze bouncing from face to face as she shuffled closer to the pool table. “There is a hand in the middle of the table and you’re all standing around like idiots.”

  “I’m not standing around,” I pointed out. “I’m sitting like an idiot.”

  “Me too.” Jerry bobbed his head, seemingly over the traumatic experience. “Cillian, I’ll check your hair as soon as I’m done with Bug’s toenails.”

  “Cool, man.” Cillian flashed a thumbs up as he rubbed the top of his head. “I think it’s okay.”

  “He might’ve left mirror monster cooties,” I countered.

  “That’s a concern.” Cillian was largely unflappable in most instances, but he was unbelievably pale. “I think I’m going to sit with Aisling, you know, just to offer her a shoulder to cry on.”

  “I think that’s best. I’ll protect you.” I smirked in delight as Cillian scalded me with a dark look and lowered himself to the couch.

  “This is not a game,” Katherine seethed, her eyes flashing as they pinned Dad. He’d been largely quiet since the hand dropped onto the billiards table, ruining what I was sure just happened to be some very expensive imported felt. “What was that?”

  “It was a game.” Redmond always went full bore when telling a lie. He never admitted the truth. I wanted him on my side should we ever be interrogated by Russian spies.

  “It was a monster,” Griffin corrected, facing down his mother. “They’re not sure what it is. They only know it comes at people through mirrors … and apparently reflective pool table lights.”

  “I didn’t even think of that,” Dad muttered, moving toward the light fixture. “Yup. This is mirrored glass. It needs to come down.”

  “I’m not going near it,” Cillian called out. “I was almost scalped.”

  “I’ll do it when Jerry is done with my toenails,” I offered.

  “You will not,” Griffin ordered, his eyebrows flying up his forehead as he swiveled. “You’re supposed to be resting.”

  “I’m the one who saved the day,” I reminded him. “I’m the one who grabbed the sword and hacked off the monster’s hand. I’m the hero.”

  “You’re also really humble,” Cillian noted. “That’s my favorite thing about you.”

  “Says the guy screaming about the monster pulling his hair,” I shot back.

  “Knock that off,” Dad ordered, wagging a finger. “Redmond, get a screwdriver. This light is coming down right now. It needs to go in the basement.”

  “Along with every other mirror in the house?” Katherine challenged. “I thought you moved the mirrors into the basement because Aisling couldn’t stand to look at her reflection. The swelling made her too upset to look at her hideous features.”

  “Who told you that?” I asked, suspicious.

  “It was one of them.” Katherine planted her hands on her hips and glanced around. “They all look alike sometimes. Except Cillian, of course. He stands out.”

  “Yes, because he cries like a girl,” Braden muttered.

  “It was you.” Katherine pointed at Braden and caused him to shrink back. “You’re the one who told me all of the mirrors were being locked away because Aisling was so hideous.”

  “Thanks so much for that, Braden,” I said dryly.

  “I was trying to cover for you,” Braden shot back.

  “I’m going to kick you in the nuts later to make you pay for it,” I challenged. “Or … Cillian, can you find me one of those ball-eating monsters from the book? I totally want to put that in Braden’s bed.”

  “What’s a ball-eating monster?” Braden asked, unconsciously shifting to protect his crotch with his hands.

  “You don’t want to know,” Griffin replied. “As for the mirrors, they’re in the basement because Aisling has been attacked several times by something that travels by mirror.”

  “Technically I’ve only been attacked twice,” I corrected. “It’s looked at me twice, too. That’s almost as creepy as being attacked. I wasn’t the one attacked today, though. I want to point that out in case someone decides to be overprotective.”

  “I saw how you handled yourself,” Dad conceded. “I have no intention of being overprotective.”

  “I was talking about Griffin.”

  “I’m still going to be overprotective,” Griffin said, pushing my hair from my brow so he could study my face. “Do you feel feverish? Are you tired? Do you think you’re going to pass out?”

  “Oh, you’re not getting out of the sex.” I vehemently shook my head for emphasis. “I will hold you down. I don’t care how much you fight.”

  “If you were a dude you’d be in jail right now,” Aidan pointed out. “No means no.”

  “Yes, well, he’ll survive.”

  Griffin rolled his neck until it cracked, leveling an even gaze on his mother. “I’m sure you have questions.”

  “You’re sure I have questions? You’re sure I have questions?” Katherine grew shriller with each word. “Is that some sort of joke?”

  “We generally open our jokes with something really inappropriate,” Redmond offered, returning with the screwdriver Dad ordered. “For example, a rabbi, a priest and a nun walk into a bar … .”

  “Now is not the time, Redmond,” Dad ordered, taking the tool and attacking the base of the light fixture. “Someone keep the sword ready in case that thing comes back.”

  “I’ve got it.” Griffin bent over and picked up the weapon, twisting it back and forth as he looked at the blade. “Why is the blood so dark?”

  “That’s an interesting question.” Cillian leaned forward. “Maybe because it’s a monster.”

  “Oh, wow. I never would’ve figured that out myself.” Griffin made an exaggerated face. “You said that mirror monsters don’t really exist.”

  “That was before
one pulled my hair.”

  “Did anyone see its head?” I asked. “I’m not convinced it doesn’t have two of them.”

  “That was a make-believe monster,” Cillian snapped. “Stop being a pain.”

  “You’re being a pain.”

  “You’re both being pains,” Braden interjected.

  “Everyone stop picking on your sister,” Dad barked, jerking the light fixture down and covering it with a blanket from the arm of a nearby chair. “No one go near the light.”

  “Oh, it’s like Poltergeist,” Aidan teased, amused. “By the way, Dad, how long is the ‘no picking on Aisling’ rule going to be in effect? I need to plan my schedule for the new year.”

  “Until this is handled and I’m convinced she’s back to full strength,” Dad replied, throwing himself dejectedly in the chair. “Did anyone try to talk to the creature before it grabbed Cillian?”

  Redmond shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “To be honest, none of us noticed it until Aisling screamed to move.”

  “You did notice it,” Griffin observed, shifting to face me. “You saw it.”

  “I saw movement in the little glass pieces,” I corrected, swinging my feet out in front of me and wiggling my newly cleaned toenails. “They looked better when they were purple.”

  “I’ll fix them tomorrow, Bug,” Jerry offered. “I’m too worked up now.”

  “You’re not worked up.”

  “No, but I’m in the mood to get drunk.”

  “That’s sounds good.” I brightened considerably. “Let’s do that.”

  “You’re still on medication. The doctor said no alcohol.” Griffin clearly wasn’t messing around because he used his “I’m not playing games” voice. That rarely went well for me unless I was naked.

  “You’re such a spoilsport,” I complained.

  “Yes, well, love and constant danger do that to a man.” Griffin handed the sword to Dad before shoving Cillian to the side and wedging himself between us on the couch. He pressed the back of his hand to my forehead and offered me a wan smile. “Are you sure you feel okay?”

  “I said I feel fine. Stop fussing. Focus on your mother.”

  Katherine tilted her head to the side, resembling a chicken about to go clucking nuts on her only son. “Yes, that sounds like a splendid idea, Griffin. Why don’t you focus on your mother? Hmm? How does that sound?”

  “Don’t fall for that,” Jerry said, adopting a stage whisper. “She’s trying to sound reasonable, but she’s really close to the edge. She might try to castrate you or something if you’re not careful.”

  “What makes you say that?” Griffin asked, curious. “Why would she want to castrate me?”

  “It happened on that Netflix show we were watching yesterday, Bug. You remember, right?”

  “Everything we watched runs together because I’m so bored.” I patted Griffin’s hand in a show of solidarity. “You probably need to tell her everything at this point. She won’t rest until you do. If you’re worried about the castration, I’m sure my brothers have some extra athletic cups around here. Whatever happens, you need to protect the goods. You are having sex with me tonight. I don’t care what happens. You’re not getting out of it.”

  “My sweet little baby, ladies and gentlemen.” Dad covered his eyes with his hand. “Where did I go wrong?”

  “Start explaining right now!” Katherine bellowed.

  Griffin did just that … with a little help from the Grimlock family that Katherine could’ve easily done without. When we were done, Katherine was understandably flabbergasted.

  “You’re grim reapers?”

  “Pretty much.” I leaned back on the couch and rested my hand on top of Griffin’s. I expected him to be distracted with his mother and her potential meltdown, but he slid a lovey-dovey look in my direction and flipped his hand over so we could link fingers. “It’s not nearly as glamorous as it sounds. Perhaps I told my part of the story wrong.”

  “It sounds terrible,” Katherine muttered, chewing on her bottom lip.

  “Oh, well, then I told it right. Good for me.”

  Dad shot me a quelling look as he cleared his throat and drew Katherine’s attention to him. “We weren’t sure if we should tell you. I understand you’ve been under the mistaken impression that we’re a little … off.”

  “Not so mistaken,” Cillian and Braden said in unison.

  Dad ignored them. “I know you were worried the other night that Braden and Aisling were drunks, but they were really fighting off the mirror man. Almost everything that’s happened has been a huge misunderstanding.”

  “They got drunk before the thing in the mirror attacked,” Katherine pointed out.

  “She’s not wrong,” I offered.

  “Shut up, Aisling.” Dad wagged a finger. “Do you want the sundae bar I arranged for dessert tonight? It has sprinkles, gummy worms, little multicolored chocolate chips, hot fudge and warm butterscotch.”

  I mimed zipping my lips as my mouth watered.

  “That’s better,” Dad muttered. “As for the rest … I will not pretend that my children are well-behaved. I won’t lie and say they’re always good people and never make mistakes. I won’t insult your intelligence and say they’re good liars.”

  “They’re none of those things,” Katherine agreed.

  “They are, however, my children, and I love them more than anything,” Dad continued. “They try hard to do the right thing when they can. They have good hearts and help those in need. They sometimes drink too much, they always talk too much and every single one of them likes to torture me for amusement. Other than the fact that they collect souls for a living, I think they’re fairly normal.”

  Katherine blinked several times as she looked at Dad, exhaling loudly and squaring her shoulders as she came to terms with the reality her son and daughter were now living in. “I don’t think your children are terrible,” she started.

  “Just give it time,” Dad countered “They’ve been on their best behavior, if you can believe that.”

  Katherine waved off the statement. “I think they’re family, and the way they get along with one another is normal,” she said. “I think they love each other and are loyal despite how much they enjoy messing with one another. It’s actually heartwarming to see the way Aisling’s brothers have gone out of their way to spend time with her since her injury.”

  “It’s only heartwarming when they sneak alcohol into my room.” I was going for levity, but the suspicious look Griffin darted in Braden’s direction wasn’t lost on me. “I made that up.”

  “I’m going to start frisking anyone who enters that room,” Griffin snapped.

  “I think your family has done an admirable job given everything that’s happened, and they clearly deal with the unexpected regularly,” Katherine said. “The explanation eradicates many of the more troublesome questions I had, like why Aisling said she almost died the first day I saw her, and why she saved a child and no one asked for more details.”

  “To be fair, we waited until you were out of the room to ask for more details,” Cillian supplied.

  Katherine pretended she didn’t hear him. “I like your family. I know my children love being with all of you. They think you’re magical – which I guess you are – and they think you’re fun.”

  “Well, thank you.” Dad bowed his head.

  “That wasn’t really a compliment,” Katherine said. “I think your family is fine … for you. It is not fine for the members of my family. I love my children too much to let them get caught up in this.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Cillian asked, alert. “Are you going to try to make Maya break up with me?”

  “Maya is working a double shift, but when she hears about this she’s not going to like it,” Griffin interjected. “She’s probably going to be furious because she missed the big reveal. She knew it would happen eventually. We had a bet when it would be. She had sooner rather than later, so I owe her money.”
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  “You don’t seem bothered by this at all,” Katherine noted, focusing on her son. “Why is that?”

  “Because I made my peace with this a long time ago,” Griffin replied. “I knew what Aisling was – what she did for a living – almost from the very beginning. Finding out the truth didn’t change anything, just like you finding out the truth won’t change anything going forward.”

  “I don’t want you to be a part of this life, Griffin.” Katherine’s voice was firm. “I want you to have a normal life.”

  “Well, that’s too bad.” Griffin was oddly blasé. “I want Aisling. She’s all I want. I don’t want anything normal. I want her. I don’t care how mouthy she is. I don’t care how mean her brothers get when they’re tired. I don’t care how many times her father threatens to cut off my hands because he thinks I’m getting fresh.

  “I had a chance to walk away at the beginning and I knew it was already too late,” he continued. “I want Aisling more than I’ve ever wanted anything. She’s my present and future. You can’t change that. Don’t even try.”

  “But … .”

  “No.” Griffin offered up a firm headshake. “She’s mine and I’m never letting her go. There’s nothing you can do. You can make me want to spend less time with you, though. You might want to consider that before you speak further.”

  Griffin took me by surprise as he slipped an arm under my legs and swung me up to cradle against his chest. “You need to rest for an hour before dinner. I don’t want to hear a whisper of argument, missy.”

  I risked a glance at Katherine and found her staring into space. She wisely kept her mouth shut, but she seemed beaten down and confused. The smile I graced Griffin with when I turned back was warm and serene. “I’m totally going to strip you down tonight.”

  Griffin barked out a laugh as he walked toward the door. “You know what? I might just let you.”

  “Close your door if you’re doing something I want to pretend never happens,” Dad called to our backs. “As for your mother, Griffin … um … we’ll see how much liquor we can pour into her. That might loosen her up.”