The Revenants: Part Two (special preview)

“Do we know who the Revenant is?” Harper asks. He looks at Christabel, who answers him silently.

“No,” Andrew answers audibly. “At this point, there is no way of knowing.” He picks up the bone and places it in a black bag. “I need to take this to the High Priestess,” he says. “Dinner is close to being served, Harper, I insist that you stay. Christabel, come with me to the door and bid me farewell.” He walks away as Christabel stands up.

As Christabel walks by Harper in his chair, her fingers brush suggestively against his neck. She goes with Andrew to the door.

Leaning back just enough, Harper can see around the corner. He can see Andrew push up Christabel’s skirts as he kisses her. Christabel is like stone, letting him paw sloppily at her for his goodbye. Once he is gone, Christabel returns to the parlor where she grabs Harper’s hand.

Harper willingly follows as she takes him into Andrew’s study. “I have longed for this,” she whispers. “Taking you here, where he works.”

“It’s dangerous, Chrissie,” Harper replies.

“Everything is dangerous now,” Christabel snarls. “The Revenant, my father-” she shakes her head. “You know who it is, right?”

“I’ve been waiting on him to return. Why now, I do not know.” Harper watches Christabel’s expression. “It is ok to be afraid,” he tells her. “It is said that the Revenant is tied to blood still living.”

Christabel shakes her head. “I am glad he is here. I hope he kills whomever he wants. It is just that, I do not think he is the only one.” She cups her hand around her cheek. “You remember how I told you that I do not dream?”

Harper nods. “You say it is only shadows.”

“I saw one, in my dreams,” she whispers as her arms tighten around herself. “It didn’t look like the one the elders described when they were here. It was different, and its voice was not like the other’s.” She closes her eyes. “The other one, my father, it came to my window and told me to come out. I know if I did, I would have died, but part of me wishes I had.”

Harper puts his arms around her, hugging her close. Christabel sniffles, hugging onto him with shaking limbs. 

“The elders wanted to kill me,” Christabel sobs.

“Of course they did,” Harper growls. “Easy solution.”

That is when there is a great screaming and turmoil from within the house. It sounds like a storm has been released. Christabel looks to Harper with a terrified expression, what color lingers on cheeks from the excitement before was gone. She surges forward, pushing Harper away from the door. When Christabel opens the door, she is splashed with blood. Hanging on the ceiling is Marleygrin like a morbid pendulum. Her narrow throat is slit and eyes gouged out. Written on the wall in her blood are the same instructions as on the bone.

“Oh my god,” Christabel rasps, rattles and is unable to breathe. Her vision goes blurry and foggy as she looks at the blood soaked on her hands. She turns to Harper unsure how to move or what to do. Her looks look strange, the usual dark brown seems almost amber in color.

“Come to me Christabel.” Harper moves her back, watching as the Revenant comes down the hall, floating in ash and grave dirt. Their neck is elongated with the head hanging at an awkward angle. The belly of this Revenant is swollen.