The Black Carnival by Harlequin Grim

Author:Harlequin Grim [Grim, Harlequin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quill & Crow Publishing House

22

ATHERTON

JUNE 4, 1886

The Graves children were always fond of dirt. Delma’s knees and dress were perpetually stained from crawling around in her mother’s garden. Atherton found her there in the afternoon, whispering over her collection of stuffed dolls. Her expression twisted with each personality.

“And what drama do we have on display here?” he asked, crouching down.

“I found Rupert, so we’re fixing him up again,” she said, showing Atherton the severed head of the doll, one of his button eyes dangling from a pink thread.

“Goodness, you’ve been looking for him for ages. I remember him. He was my favorite, too. You know, I used to play with him when you were just a babe.”

“Well, he’s mine now. And he came back on ’is own. And I’m not a baby anymore,” she said.

“No, no, you are not,” he sighed. Atherton inspected the doll with a perplexed look before handing it back. His own childhood had been brutish and short. As soon as he was ten, toys were replaced with cadavers. “So, how are you fixing him?”

“With this,” she said, grinning devilishly, producing a needle injector from its hiding spot beneath her dress.

“Hey! Did you take this from the embalming room?”

“Father said I could.”

“You’re lying, and that’s mine!”

“I only need it just this once, Athie,” she said. “Please, please, for Rupert.”

“A’right. Fine, have it your way. Just make sure you clean it after you’re done.”

“Oh, what’s it matter? The dead don’t care.”

“I care. Do you even know what that’s for?”

“You close their mouths with it. Father showed me.” Delma placed the head in the center of her six other dolls, assembled in a circle. “I’ll fix him for good once we find his other parts,” she said.

“Maybe it’d be better if we find you another Rupert. I don’t even think the needle injector could bring him back. He’s got an arm off.”

“But I love Rupert. Besides, I won’t be out here for long. Mother said she doesn’t want me playing outside after morning,” Delma mumbled.

“And for good reason, Del.”

Delma lifted a cup of tea, nestled into the soil of a flower pot, to her lips. “Is it because Mr. Cross is coming? The one who hit you?”

“Yes. Precisely that.”

“Mother told me to hide if he comes here. Will you hide?”

“I can’t hide.”

“Why not?”

“Hiding will only make matters worse.”

“I don’t want him to come.” And after a pause, “I’m afraid. And I also don’t want to be inside!” Delma threw down Rupert’s head, which bounced a single, sad bounce. “Will he hit you again?”

“More than likely.” He ran his hands through Delma’s tangled, blonde hair. “But listen, I will never let that man hurt you. You have nothing to be afraid of. He’s only here for me. Do you understand? You have no reason to fear. If he so much as tries to lay a hand on you, I’ll…well, I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”

Delma looked at him and asked, “Do you promise?”

Meeting his sister’s doubtful, gray eyes, he nodded. “I promise.”

Atherton spotted the peaks of two constables’ hats bobbing above the garden’s hedges.

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