Page 99 of Bianca and the Monsters

“Yes, I can feel him. His presence is powerful, which shouldn’t be a surprise to any of us. And now that he’s home, he’s super pushy. Hereallywants Nico to be okay. It seems like Pennie can’t fully accept the changes in his life, unless we’re all okay.”

Nico, ignoring his own suffering, holds my trembling hand as I continue. “Bastien and I have songs inside us that relate to how we feel about you, but now, with Pennie, and with you, Nico, we can also reach out and connect with your songs. I knew you were fighting to get back to us because your song was intense, and Pennie, right now, is a freaking marching band withzeromusical discipline.”

Archie lips purse and push into his tusks. “When did that begin?”

I look to Bastien, both of us searching through our disturbing memories for that one bright spot.

Bastien rubs my shoulder. “With Pennie, since just after he gave his life—his form—to save us.”

I nod, tears lining up. “With Nico, I think I first heard his song after we were stabbed in the heart.”

Archie’s expression is difficult to read, and for not the first time, I seek his song in us. But the only Archie-themed song is the one that comes from us, from our love for him, for how safe he makes us feel, how cherished. I desperately wish we could share our song with him, so he’d know just how much we love and need him.

“Pennie feels my song,” I say. “Can you hear it, Nico?”

His anguish radiates through him and yet he smiles at me. “I didn’t know what it was at first, but yes, I can hear your song. I can feel you. I love you.”

Oof, Pennie found a tuba. “We need to get you in the pool before Pennie starts trying to remove the paint from my soul with the cacophony he’s brewing. If he finds a cymbal or a pipe organ, I’m throwing his gem in the moat and letting him get swallowed by a crocodile.”

Nico chuckles weakly. “We all loved that movie, especially the happy ending.”

I smile—I love that ending. Then I can’t restrain a laugh. “I’m pretty sure Pennie could come up with some naughtier ways toromanceastone, but thankfully, he’s focused on you. Can you move? We’ll help.”

Nico begins to force himself to rise, but Archie is instantly there, helping him over the edge into the liquid. I stand and move toward the steps, retrieving Pennie and setting his shiny self just outside the pool. Bastien joins me as we enter the liquid and sit on the ledge with Nico, one of us on each side of him. Archie remains near, seated just outside the pool.

I watch Nico’s face, my hope blurring my vision, creating a hallucination that he’s completely healed in an instant. But he’s not. Worse, he’s desperately struggling to conceal the truth from us, but it’s so bad he can’t. He grimaces, the touch of the liquid just as painful as the sheet or any touch, even mine.

My heart pounds. My hope screams. My tears prepare to invade the pool.

After a few minutes, Nico’s voice is ragged, “I can’t handle it… I need to get out.”

I grab Pennie and hold him to my heart, still above the liquid. “Wait, Pennie’s trying to tell me something… with a freaking accordion.” I give the gem a raised eyebrow, shaking it in my hand. “Pennie, I can’t interpret the accordion… or interpretive dance for that matter. Try again.Please.”

Pennie feels my terror that Nico’s entire future will be defined by his past, when what I wish for all of us—as unrealistic as it might be—is a fresh start. A new beginning, where we see the world and our place in it with the extraordinary knowledge that we’re loved and we absolutely belong.

Inside me, a strikingly familiar, not even slightly subtle, song intro begins to play.

I turn to Bastien. “Is he really communicating using one of my favorite brilliantly bitter and also incredibly life-affirming songs?”

Grinning but still nervous, Bastien nods. “He knows you love that song and the band—we have all their music on vinyl, even the rare stuff.”

“Of course, you do.” To Nico and Archie, I say, “It’s a song about going for a swim in the ocean. I’m pretty sure he’s not referring to its darker themes.” I look at Nico’s loving trust, Archie’s urgent hope, Bastien’s true belief, and I know exactly what Pennie wants us to do.

I kiss Pennie’s teal gem and lower it beneath the liquid’s surface. It practically explodes as the hard jewel becomes liquid, illuminating the pool so brightly I have to squint. The liquid warms and then becomes a bubbling hot tub.

At first, I fear that Nico will be burned by the heat or damaged by the bubbles. But his tight expression immediately relaxes and he sighs his relief. Then he reaches for me and pulls me onto his lap, his massive arms surrounding me as I rest my head against him and exhale.

“I’m so sorry,” Nico croons to me, “for all the worry I caused you… for all the pain. I wish I could take it all back and bear it alone.”

I rest my hand on his furless chest. “Love’s not like that, Nico. What happens to you happens to me, to all of us.” I tilt my head to look up at him. “You really feel better?”

I sense that he wishes he could lie, but that he won’t.

“Not better, my love, but numb in a most pleasing way.”

“That’s a start.” I kiss his neck. “Could we have lunch in the pool?” I ask Archie. “And could you deal with everyone upstairs so that we can just stay here for as long as it takes?”

Archie leans and kisses my head. “Of course, my Lady. I’ll be back soon.”

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