Once Upon a Time in Monto by B.C. Hollywood

Author:B.C. Hollywood [Hollywood, B.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

MADAM ARNOTT ENTERED the hallway through the door to the back of the house. Seamus towered above the thief, who lay on the floor next to the front door. The man was unconscious and bleeding from a head wound, but Seamus raised the cudgel for another strike.

“That’s enough!” she said, causing the large man to start. “We don’t want him dead… not yet.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Seamus, immediately subservient.

Madam Arnott moved closer to them and saw the girl lying on the floor next to the stairs. I should have known it would be the new girl, she thought. This was not the first trouble the girl had caused in a handful of hours. “Is she dead?” she asked.

Seamus stooped to listen at her mouth. After a minute, he got up, head shaking. “Still breathing, ma’am,” he said.

“Good. I would like her to suffer for the trouble she’s caused.”

A rhythmic pounding on the front door interrupted their conversation. It was quite unlike the usual furtive rapping to gain admittance.

Seamus looked at her questioningly and she tsked. “Don’t stand there. Open it.”

He sprang into action and dragged the thief to one side. Opening the door a crack, he opened his mouth with a quick response formed, but smacked his mouth closed and slammed the door shut again. A look of fear spread upon his face, which the madam found intriguing. She didn’t know of a lot that would phase the man; he hadn’t the imagination for it. “The Sisters,” he said, all colour gone from his face.

That would explain it, thought Madam Arnott. The Sisters were unnerving at the best of times. She could only imagine the fear they instilled in those more… impressionable. “Take him to the cellar,” she said. When Seamus didn’t move, she added an impatient note to her voice. “Quickly now. I’ll deal with the Sisters.”

Seamus took the thief beneath the arms and hoisted him over his shoulder, giving no obvious sign of strain. He hurried through the door she’d entered by moments before. That left her and the unconscious new girl in the hallway.

Before opening the door, the madam hid her emotions. As Seamus had said, the two Sisters stood motionless on the top step, their faces obscured by porcelain and unnerving eyes peering out. “Afternoon, Sister. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Pleasure,” said the one on the right, savouring the word.

“You have something that belongs to us,” said the other.

Both Sisters were identical. Height, build, clothing, and porcelain mask had no variance between the two, to denote seniority or rank, if those concepts existed in their order. Madam Arnott chose the more vociferous Sister to direct her response. “I assure you, if there is anything belonging to the Sisters within my house, it is unintended,” she said. “What is the nature of this thing?”

The Sister on the right cocked her head to one side as though listening. Madam Arnott strained to listen too but could hear nothing above the sounds from the street.

“She is close,” the right-hand Sister whispered.

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