Horror

Further and further we fall.

Happy reading.

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The deserted cobblestone road was haunting without Emilia by her side.

The wind whistled around corners, the shop signs creaking as they swung.

Shadows danced in the light of the streetlamps, leaves and trees whispering warnings.

Dark clouds brushed the tops of the rows of shops.

It smelled like the promise of snow.

Enid is shivering by the time she sees the store's oak door.

It looks as closed down as it had the day Emilia had brought her.

The white letters on the sign that spell out Mister Harold's Grocer seem to look down at her as she steps beneath them.

Pausing for a moment, she wonders whether she should knock.

Before she can decide, the door swings slowly open toward her.

The entranceway empty.

She folds her nervous hands into her coat pockets and steps inside.

No one is in the front of the shop, so she studies the strange jars and bottles that line the shelves.

Newt Eyes. Nightshade. Bat Wool.

"Quite an odd collection, isn't it?" A smokey voice says from behind her.

Twirling around, she nearly knocks over a bottle of blue swirling liquid.

The man is wearing a long trench coat, a brimmed hat casting his face in shadow.

"Are you who texted me?" Enid squints to try to make out his features.

"That would be me." His head tilts back and she can see a flash of sharp, white teeth.

Fear prickles down her spine.

"And who are you exactly?" She asks, closely watching his movements.

The man gives an amused sigh before reaching up to remove his hat.

She recognizes him.

The dull fluorescent light is stark on the scar that divides up his dark features.

It ripples as he gives her a carnivorous smile.

"I hope I left a lasting enough impression the last time we met." He smirks.

Armad Almalfi.

The man who had stopped to talk to them that night at the steakhouse.

His black curls are longer now, brushing against his shoulders.

Falling in front of his dark, inky eyes.

"Nice to see you again." Enid says hesitantly.

His focus narrows on her like prey.

"I'm sorry it isn't under better circumstances, Enid." His response reminds her why she is there.

Straightening her posture, she studies him.

The conversation she had observed between him and the immortals tugs at her mind.

His lecherous grin, his chapped lips on the flesh of her hand.

Flynt will be so happy to hear I saw you all...

Enid takes an immediate step back.

"You work for Flynt." The statement is painted as an accusation.

The man snorts and shakes his head.

"I prefer the term work with. I am his equal." Almalfi quips snobbishly.

Anxiety tickles the back of her neck.

Any friend or partner of Flynt's was no friend of hers.

This man was clearly dangerous.

And she'd had quite enough of danger recently.

"I'm going to go..." She says, shifting sideways to start to inch around his wide frame.

"Ah, ah. Didn't you come here to learn that which you have been dying to know?" His lips curl, his body shifting to stand between her and the door.

Eyeing him warily, Enid frowns.

"I don't mean to be rude, but why would I trust a single thing you tell me?" Her voice shakes.

Almalfi stares down at her and she doesn't like the glint in his eyes.

"Because I'm simply providing you a map to that which you seek. That way you can see it with your own eyes. No trust required." He winks.

He takes a step toward her and she backs away, pressing into the shelves behind her.

The wood sharp against her shoulder blades.

"Where is Mister Harold?" The question stops his movement.

The bottles behind her seem to hum.

"He... agreed to let me have the shop for an hour." Almalfi responds.

She thinks of the crotchety old man who had barely even let her and Emilia into the shop.

One of his eyes always watching them from behind his large spectacles.

Allowing someone free reign to his business didn't seem like something he would do.

"Did you hurt him?" She glares at the man.

His dark chuckle chills the air around them.

"Easy, kitten. No need to pull out your claws. He did in fact agree to let me have the area for an hour. It took quite a bit of monetary incentive, but I'm one of his most loyal clients..." He puts his hands up in a sign of mock defense.

She studies him, unsure whether to believe him.

"He hasn't been harmed. You have my word." Almalfi swears.

"And what good is your word?" She can't help but ask.

Another laugh escapes him.

"My, you are such a delight. It really is too bad that the immortals found you first..." His tone is dark and wistful.

An uncomfortable knot is throbbing in her throat.

"Tell me what you came to tell me or I'm leaving." Her demand is steadier than she expected.

He eyes her for another moment, before nodding in disappointment.

"Right, back to business. There is a filing cabinet in Easton's office. The code is your birthday. All the answers you have been craving can be found there." He speaks and she thinks of the sleek silver filing cabinet she had seen behind Theodore's desk.

She bites her lip, wary.

"How do you know that?" Enid questions, a weight pressing on her chest.

"Flynt wasn't the only uninvited guest at the estate on Halloween." Almalfi boasts.

Goosebumps bloom on her arms.

Her feeling of safety in the estate was lessening with each passing day.

Nausea burns in her stomach as she imagines them invading the place she now knew as home.

She has to clamp down the urge to cry.

"What do you want? Why are you telling me all of this?" The questions fly from her mouth.

She is overwhelmed.

Past overwhelmed.

She was promised answers and all she has is more questions.

And a path to the truth.

If she can get there.

Her soul feels heavy in the face of all that is to come.

"You deserve the truth." His voice is patronizing.

"You don't care about the truth." She glares at him.

He pulls the hat back onto his head.

"I do about this." His hands pull the collar of his coat up.

She feels the oak against her spine, listens to the buzzing of the lights above them.

Sucking in a deep breath, she straightens.

When she moves toward the door this time, he doesn't stop her.

"Tell Flynt I said hello." Enid's voice is bitter, shaken.

Almalfi's responding smile is positively Machiavellian.

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A familiar, scarred face.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the bravery and snark that has been growing in Enid.

Comments fill my heart with joy.

All my love, Sappho ✢