Sweet Tooth and Claw
Page 15
"Let it approach a few more feet and then make your move. I don't want it to have a chance to escape." Haugrsson said in a guttural screech. Hedy saw Bren nod but he said nothing. His hands were raised before him at shoulder height. He took a step down from the porch, and then another.
If the creature felt threatened, there was no sign of it. Its claw feet scraped against the snowy walk, leaving gouges in its wake. It was maybe ten feet from the porch now.
"Aldebrand!" The Director yelled and Bren's hands began to glow, a bright orangish red, the color of molten steel. The fire erupted from them in a flood, cascading before him in writhing, flickering bands. The Lich gave a piercing scream as the fire lit the rags it wore aflame.
Hedy barely saw Haugrsson move. One moment he was on the porch and the next he was there standing by the Lich. The creature seemed unaware of his presence, as it stormed toward Bren, who was now only a few feet from it. The scent of burning garbage filtered through the fog.
"Hurry!" Hedy yelled before she could stop herself. The creature was moments from grabbing Bren with its burning claw hands.
In the dim and foggy light, Hedy could bare see what Haugrsson was doing. He reached into the rags neared the Lich's neck and finally drew the creature's attention. With the other claw, it swung at Haugrsson, who ducked just as the claw would have made contact with his head. In his hand, he had a pouch on a torn leather strap.
"I have it. Keep it occupied." Haugrsson shouted as he bolted again from the creature. Somehow he was back on the porch, moving faster than Hedy could even see. The creature wailed and screeched, clawing at the air where Haugrsson had been.
Haugrsson ripped open pouch and removed an ampule of dark red liquid. He broke the wax seal from the top and poured the contents into his mouth. With a groan, he seemed to be swishing the liquid in his mouth, as his body shuddered. He convulsed for a moment and then spat the liquid onto the wooden porch slats.
The creature, moments ago, writhing and screeching, was gone. The burning rags lay in a heap at the base of the stairs, along with a pile of gray bones. The skull lay on top, with only empty sockets where the glowing yellow eyes had been.
"It's gone?" Hedy asked, though it was less of a question than a statement. The fog and the stench were now gone as well, leaving the snowy yard bathed in filtered moonlight.
"Yes, it is. Constant had used his blood as the agent for the soul shard. I extracted what was required to destroy it. I wasn't about to consume the blood. My apologies for staining your porch." The Director had turned from the pile and gestured toward the house. "Let's get inside. We can deal with the mess in the daylight."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Not to seem ungrateful, but it didn't take very long to destroy it." Hedy said as she closed the door behind them. Haugrsson let out a ragged laugh.
"Says the one who didn't have to consume that man's soul," he remarked. "Without a Draugr to make short work of the creature, I dare say it would have gone on much longer."
"Of course, my apologies. I'm just stunned really that everything is over. Finally." She led them all to the bakery and without asking, began pouring three glasses of whiskey.
"Is it over? What stops the necromancer from conjuring another Lich to go after Louis?" Bren said, sitting heavily in a chair. He looked exhausted.
"Very astute, Mr. Aldebrand. In theory, nothing. Monsieur Constant would have known the moment the soul shard was consumed that the creature was gone. He could have begun work on raising another right then and there. But I have a feeling he won't." The Director accepted the glass with a curt nod of his head.
"Why? What will stop him?" Bren asked, taking his own glass.
"Because right about now, he is receiving a visit from some very persuasive members of the Concierge. Let's just say that when we have someone who is causing havoc with our members, these are the people who convince them to cease and desist. I have every confidence that Monsieur Constant will decide enough of a blood debt has been paid."
“I’ve been wondering about that cat, the one that came back from its grave. Did the Lich do that?”
“No, a Lich has no powers to conjure. That was likely Monsieur Constant testing his powers so he would be ready for the Lich.”
Hedy took her own glass and sat across from Bren. The Director remained standing, sipping from his glass.
"So it is over? Really? Louis is safe?" She couldn't believe what had seemed impossible only an hour ago was now behind them. She'd have to run up and tell Delphine and Louis. She'd have to call Mel and Ana and Helen. She just needed a moment to process it all.
"Yes, the danger is passed. Mr. Magnon and his cousin are safe to return home. I too, can now return home. I must burn these clothes. The stench will never come out of them." Haugrsson pulled at the neck of his sweater and gave a sniff. Hedy understood now why he had changed his clothes earlier.
"And the waystation?" Hedy asked, knowing she had to face the question now. The Director finished his whiskey and set the glass down gently on the table.
"Open for guests," he said, as he turned and headed up the stairs.
✽✽✽
The morning light came sooner than Hedy wanted. She was curled up in the bed next to the sleeping Delphine, who had snored lightly throughout the night. Somehow, Hedy had managed to sleep through the sound but she still wished for more time in the covers, away from the chores of the day. She was bone weary, exhausted to the core. Exhausted but exhilarated at the same time. The waystation was out of danger and so was everyone she cared about. She could get her energy back, knowing everything was going to be alright. At least for now.
She slipped into her robe and crept out of the room, careful not to wake Delphine. To her surprise, Haugrsson was there, coming down the stairs with his small bag.
"You were going to leave without saying goodbye?"
"I am not one for such niceties. I would have left you a note." He said, continuing down the stairs and waiting for her to join him in the entry.
"Director Haugrsson, how can we thank you? We owe you a tremendous debt." Hedy said, offering her hand to the Draugr. He shook it briskly.
"I would say it was my pleasure, but that would not be truthful. It was, however, necessary and I am glad I was able to be of service. I am also glad to say that I think the guests who come here are in capable hands. I have no fears for their safety. Do not prove me wrong." He walked toward the front door and with a small wave, he was out in the brisk morning air, where the black town car was waiting by the curb.
"He's gone then?" Bren had joined her in the entry, looking better than he had last night.
"Yes, he's gone. All's right with the world this morning, it seems. Except for the pile of lich debris in the yard." Hedy chuckled.
"I'll take care of it. Hedy, I want to talk about things, about us. I know the timing probably isn't the best, but if you are heartbroken over Michael and his betrayal, I want you to know that I won't pressure you. If you don't feel the way that I feel, I will understand and I will go." Bren took her hands in his. There wasn't a trace of the fire that had come from them just last night. They were soft and warm.
"Bren. I don't want you to go. I see very clearly what I want. And that's you. Please, stay here and let's decide where things go from here." Hedy leaned forward and gave the Salamander a soft kiss on the lips. She stepped back and he released her hands with a squeeze.
"I've been waiting to hear you say that, Miss Leckermaul. And now that I have, I'll get to those bones before Darro comes by and dies of fright." Bren stepped out onto the porch and headed toward the garage. Hedy closed the door behind him.
It would be so strange having Bren in the house, no longer as a guest but as something more. She'd been on her own for so long, she wasn't sure she knew how to be any other way. But she dearly wanted to try. Whatever the future held for them, she knew she could trust Bren. She spotted the old glass bottle that Michael had given her just days before. She picked up the darkened wo
od box and carefully closed the lid on it. She would send this back to him today. It would make it clear that things were over. His betrayal of Louis was something she could never forgive.
Today was the day that all the past hurts would be put behind them. They would bury Alice and soon Delphine and Louis would be headed on their way home. In the quiet, she and Bren would figure out where the future lay for them, just as Ana and Mel would. Spring was just around the corner.
✽✽✽
Down across the street, a figure in a coat and hat watched Bren as he scraped up the pile with a shovel. The figure had been standing there for almost an hour, since before dawn, watching the dark house. It seemed everyone had survived the night. He pulled his gloved hands from his pockets and turned up the collar on his coat before turning to walk down the street. Now that he knew, Michael could start making his own plans, with Mary's cunning help. He'd make sure they understood what a mistake they had made.
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Watch for the continuing adventures of Hedy and the waystation network in new stories coming in 2020.
Biography
K. A. Miltimore is a writer living in the Pacific Northwest who has followed the advice of her 5th grade teacher, Miss Hammond, and become a writer. She loves mid-century fashion, 80s music and nachos (not necessarily in that order). With her husband and son, she loves exploring quirky local towns, and dreams of dragging them both to Iceland for a tour someday. Her tombstone will likely read "Always Creating". In addition to writing, she enjoys making jewel spiders, looking for great Washington red wines, and re-watching the movies that she has forgotten over the years.