Brick Dust and Bones by M.R. Fournet

Author:M.R. Fournet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

It took several wrong turns into unknown neighborhoods and some creative grave hopping to make it to the Habada-Chérie. The blood loss made him clumsy, and he landed in his home cemetery a few times. Of course, the fact that it started raining did not help matters.

To get to the store, Marius had to grave hop into the St. Francis de Sales cemetery. Normally, it was a pleasant enough place to go. There was a huge mausoleum that was climate controlled and everything. Compared to his little home, it was a mansion.

The problem was a hurricane had ripped through the area months ago, knocking out the giant skylight. It still was not fixed, and rain poured down through the open hole in the ceiling. Moonlight illuminated the spot where the rainwater pooled on the mausoleum’s floor. The sight looked holy, like there was something sacred about rain falling among the dead.

Marius saw no ghosts, and sensed nothing sacred at all. He was wet and tired. When he passed through the moonlight, he just felt like a drowned rat.

By the time Marius opened the door to the Habada-Chérie, he was barely standing. His clothes were soaked, and he was covered in grave dust. Madame Boudreaux laid eyes on him and immediately stuck out her tongue in disgust.

“What fresh hell chewed you up? You look like yesterday’s cat barf.”

Marius did not respond. He merely pushed past her and headed for Papa Harold’s room.

“Hey, gross boy! You can’t go tracking that mess in here!” she called after him.

All of Marius’s attention was directed ahead of him. He focused on getting to the back room, getting paid, and going home. The sooner he finished his business, the sooner he would be floating in his little boat, listening to Rhiannon sing him a lullaby. Even the marrow in his bones felt tired.

As luck would have it, Papa Harold was seated in the back room. He was reading some book with odd pictures on the front, which he quickly shut and stowed away when Marius approached. He gaped down at Marius, taking him in.

“What in blue blazes happened to you?” he asked.

“It wasn’t a candy lady,” Marius said flatly.

Papa Harold stared at him for a minute. He took in the state Marius was in and gestured for him to sit down. Marius did so without a word.

“Let me get you a towel,” Papa Harold said slowly.

The tall man disappeared and came back with a towel. Marius was not sure how long it took. Time moved so strangely when he was this tired. All he knew was that it was long enough to soak the cushion beneath him.

Papa Harold draped the towel around him carefully, and Marius pulled it tight around his shoulders. The air-conditioning on his wet skin made him shiver.

“What do you mean it was not a candy lady?” Papa Harold asked.

“I mean what I said. Here, see for yourself,” he said, plopping the book on the table with a loud thunk.

It still jumped a little and vibrated when his hand moved closer.

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