Page 50 of How to Seduce a Slender

Melody blinked. “Wait, you believe me?”

“About the bathroom? Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?” Dahlia cocked her head to the side, her blond tresses falling down around her shoulders like a heavy curtain.

“Well because it all sounds…sort of…mad? I guess.”

“You’re in for a world of surprise, but I deal with madness every day. Doesn’t mean it’s not real or it wasn’t real in the moment. Haunting images and nightmares are a lot more real than people give them credit for. Trust me, I watched my mother’s corpse crawl out of a bathtub and try to choke me. It didn’t mean that I wasn’t terrified or hurt at that moment. She wasn’t real—it was an eldritch abomination ripping up my brain—but that didn’t change the fact that I was scared and alone. But you don’t have to be. I’m here, all of us are here. Smith’s definitely on your side. It doesn’t sound mad, it sounds terrifying.” Dahlia patted her hands, climbing to her feet. “Now, do you think you can make it down to Smith’s office? Or the library? I still want to hear about what it looked like, but a change of scenery is always helpful.”

Melody found her thighs strong enough to lift her. She clutched Dahlia’s hand with a vice grip. “I don’t think I can tell you…but I can show you.”

Dahlia led the rattled werewolf down the stairs, steadily taking the steps like Melody were a freshly born fawn. Then the two sat in Smith’s office as she pulled out her sketch book and began. It started with the floor, then the tub, then the girl. Dahlia sat beside Melody on the couch, watching every line as Melody sucked the image from her mind and pasted it onto the paper.

After a long time, she had an edge-to-edge image of her point of view. Dahlia studied it, lips pursed into a flat line. Agatha returned with tea and biscuits. And the three looked over the image.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Agatha breathed, running her pointed fingers down the page. “But anything predating the city would have been lost. There’s not a lot of records from before the dragon. If this girl is from before the city was created, there’s no way to tell who she is.”

Dahlia peeked up at Melody. “May I have this?”

“Of course!” Melody rushed to gently release it from the binding. Dahlia took it and stood up from the fainting couch.

“I’ll be back.” Dahlia tossed back her teacup before leaving the room. Melody watched her for a moment before directing her confusion to Agatha. The ghost shrugged.

“That was kind of ominous,” Melody blurted out.

“Welcome to Rosemont Manor, Ms. Melody,” Agatha teased with a grin. “Now, let’s lighten the mood, eh? You’ve had your two full meals, drank enough water to drown a sea serpent, and taken a relatively successful bath. What’s next?”

Melody snorted, “Well, I could always paint Moonpie now that I got all these supplies.”

“Oooh! I’ll go fetch the feline now. They’re wonderful about sitting put. And it’ll be a nice thing for Lady Rosemont to return to.” Agatha clapped, floating away from the room. Melody took her teacup with her, using her strong arm to hoist the canvas up onto the wooden tripod. In between sips of sweet and creamy tea, she set up the canvas to the side of Smith’s desk. She organized her paints along the wall so they wouldn’t be a tripping hazard but easily accessible.

“What I wouldn’t give for my own space,” she sighed, debating the best way to work without collapsing. Her legs were strong enough to stand and move about, but exhaustion would take her fast without question.

“Is that something you’d like?”

Melody yelped, spinning to face the masked Lich in the doorway, the pointy end of her paintbrush aimed at him. When she realized it was Sebastian, she let out a wheezy laugh. “Oh, sorry, sir. I didn’t realize it was you.”

She sheepishly tucked the brush away. Sebastian, always dressed from head to toe, crept into the room. His expressionless mask left Melody on pins and needles, unsure of where he was looking or what we was feeling. Until he sat a cushioned stool near her and offered an apron to her. His voice was jovial, teasing almost. “Not to worry, Ms. Deathless. I’ve been threatened with much sharper utensils.”

“Yeah, Dahlia is pretty stabby, I’ve been told,” Melody laughed while taking the apron. It was a cream-colored muslin fabric with thick leather cord. She tossed the loop over her head and tied the straps behind her back. “Thanks.”

“My beloved is feisty, that’s how I like her.” Sebastian bowed his head, the long, silky green tendrils of hair falling around him. As he stood, he motioned for her to take a seat. Melody slid her thick nightgown under her and sank onto the stool. The Lich sat back against the desk, hands folded in front of him. “But I hear you’re giving Smith a run for his money, so to speak.”

“Oh, I mean, I…might be…” Melody flushed, immediately grabbing up her pencil and avoiding the lenses of his mask. “I’m kind of a bit much, like an orange cat with far too much catnip, you know?”

Sebastian snickered, “Good, he could use a little loosening up. His tie is always a bit too tight, like a noose, that one. He’s not had the delight of a guiltless chase in some time, if ever.”

“Sir?” Melody choked on her own tongue, peeking around the massive canvas. Sebastian flattened his gloved hands against his pants. His beak was pointed down, but his voice bounced around the room.

“Slender, they’re hunter assassins by nature. Singular prey focused. They tend to get their sights set and obsess about the one goal until it’s done. But Smith, he’s grown quite fond of humanity over the years he’s been here. He’s grown as a person; no longer sees mortals as just food, but as companions, friends, people. And due to this, he’s not been feeding. Not hunting. Which is good for his conscience, but not good for his body.” Sebastian’s beak rose to meet her, lenses flashing at her.

Melody flipped the pencil back and forth in her fingers for a while, trying to untangle the puzzle in front of her. She wasn’t good at this part—figuring out people’s intentions, digging into their words.Why can’t more people just be straight forward?She grimaced. “I’m so sorry, sir, you’re gonna have to break this down for me. What are you saying exactly?”

“That you’re healthy for him and I don’t want you to be afraid. Smith’s the most careful person I know, and he would never hurt you. No matter his fears, I trust that man with my very being. He’s never once needed my help, but I offer it just to soften his fears.” Sebastian’s back straightened. He kicked one foot over the other as he set his hands back down into his lap.

Melody smiled. “I wouldn’t worry. I’m not scared of Smith.”

“You’re not?”

“No, if anything, he makes me feel safe.” She flashed him a toothy grin before cocking her head. “Why do you ask?”

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