Page 80 of Stalk the Dark
“Criminals,” he said. “We had a few left from…before.”
“What?” I looked from Ordell to Hemlock, then back to Matthew. “You have humans in your dungeons?”
“Not anymore,” Matthew said with a wince.
“Calm the fuck down,” Hemlock snapped at me. “He has to feed, so what did you expect?”
“For him not to kill.”
“He was poisoned,” Ordell pointed out. “Obviously not himself and needing the blood to purge the toxin from his?—”
“You sound like you’re defending him.”
Ordell slow-blinked, and for a moment, I was sure his pupils contracted to slits, but it had to be a trick of the light. “Last night was unexpected and unfortunate. We must move on.” Then to Matthew, “Did you know a polymorph lured Orina into danger using your face, Matthew?”
Matthew gaped up at him. “What?” He pressed his hand to his chest. “Something has my face?”
“It’s all right,” Hemlock said. “I doubt he’ll use it on a day-to-day basis.”
I wasn’t sure if that was an insult or a reassurance, and from the expression on Matthew’s face, neither was he.
We continued down the corridor with rooms on either side, doors opened to air them. “The Singers are to take these rooms.” Matthew pointed to the first twodoors on the left. “And Miss Lighthart…” He hurried down the rapidly darkening corridor to a rosewood door at the end. He pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked it before pushing it open with a flourish. “Master had this one prepared for you.” He handed me the key, and I pocketed it, stepping into the room chosen for me.
It was twice the size of my quarters at the chapter house with a vaulted window and a set of glass doors leading onto a balcony. The bed was a double, with a thick mattress set on a sturdy rosewood frame and fitted with deep purple sheets. The armoire, dresser, and desk were all made of the same wood, but the floor was carpeted. There was another door between the dresser and the armoire.
“What’s through there?”
“Washroom,” Matthew said.
It smelled clean in here, like lemon polish and flowers. “Who prepared the room?” I turned to him with a frown. “You said there was no one else here.”
Matthew shifted from foot to foot. “I don’t know. Honestly.” His gaze darted to the doorway, and I followed it in time to see a shadow move.
“Hey! If someone is out there, then show yourself!” I stalked over to the threshold and poked my head out to find the corridor silent and empty.
Ordell pressed a hand to my shoulder. “There’s no one there.”
“Ghosts,” Matthew blurted out. “I think it’s ghosts.There, I said it. Itisthe rising year, and you know what they say about the ghosts during the rising.”
Oh yes, Merry had mentioned that. “In that case, get me some salt. I’m not having any ghost snooping around in my room.”
Ordell arched a brow. “You know how to ward off ghosts?”
He looked impressed, and I couldn’t help but puff up a little at that. “’Course I do.”
Hemlock snorted. “The others probably told her.”
I shot him a glare. “I am perfectly capable, thank you.”
“So theydidn’ttell you.”
I so badly wanted to lie, but honesty was an ingrained thing. “Fine, Merry may have mentioned it.”
I itched to smack the smug smile off his face.
“I’ll leave you all to get settled in,” Matthew said. “Food should arrive at sunset. Although I’m not sure how.” He headed for the door, probably eager to get away from the spooky second floor and back to his safe ground-floor quarters.
“Hey…” I hurried after him. “Don’t forget to get me that salt.”
