Page 108 of Goldilocks

He said instead, “There’s a corpse in the attic.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Sam stared blankly at Jasper. “What?”

Before Jasper could say anything else, around the corner came Eric, guided between Fionn and Laurence as Ivan hovered nearby. There was coherence in his gaze now, and he seemed to actually take in his surroundings. A body-deep tremble shook Eric when he laid eyes on the ghoul.

After a deathly silent appraisal, Eric moved his gaze to Sam. “You’re burning,” he said.

Sam blinked. “You’re already burned,” he said back.

“Let’s go to the shade in the garden,” Fionn suggested.

Sam didn’t budge. He looked at Roan lying on the ground.

“Jasper and I will help move him,” Fionn said. Sam had missed Fionn being introduced to Jasper, be it from zoning out or it happening in the house. It wasn’t until a hand enclosed his shoulder and lifted Sam to his feet that he registered they wanted him to move. Sam took one step and staggered, and Ivan, at his side with one arm in a sling, caught him awkwardly.

His ankle throbbed, and his knee protested any weight. Even muscles in his hip spasmed, and Sam didn’t remember anything touching him there.

“Put your arm around my shoulder,” Ivan said. He already had his good arm wrapped around Sam’s lower back. Wordlessly, Sam did as asked, limping with him to the garden. Ivan lowered him onto the bench. “Easy does it,” Ivan said soothingly. The house blocked some sunlight, and trees shaded the rest. It was a relief to be out of the sunshine. Eric sat next to Sam. And an effort of snarls and curses later – the snarls belonging to Roan, the curses Fionn, and the effort Jasper – Roan was propped upright against the trunk of the apple tree nearest Sam. His tail shone against the earthy soil and yellow sun-baked weeds.

Sam’s fingers opened and closed around a hot cup, and he blinked back into focus as Fionn said, “Tea is good in every situation.”

“He’s been half-cooked in the sun, and he’s sweating. He needs something to cool him down,” Ivan argued back.

“It’s adrenaline,” Fionn replied smartly. “He’s coming down now, and he’s going to be shivering and freezing in five minutes. Who else wants a cup?”

“I’ll have one,” Eric said from Sam’s side. Laurence said, “Me too.” And Ivan, standing in front of the bench splitting his attention between peering at Eric then peering at Sam, cursed before saying, “And me.”

“Hah,” Fionn said as he re-entered the house through the kitchen door.

Sam looked down at the tea and saw that on his ankle was Roan’s hand. Resting there, unobtrusive. Sam raised the tea and sipped an overly sweet monstrosity. He choked on it. “Jesus, Fionn,” he cursed, his voice like grit, as Fionn re-emerged with three more cups in hand. “Did you dump the sugar bowl into this?”

“Near as,” Fionn said. “Drink up.” He offered cups to everyone, and Sam forced himself to drink. He had, as Fionn predicted, begun to shiver. But with the shivers came awareness, not just of his body but of his surroundings. Except for Jasper, everyone was scattered around the garden, sipping tea, and licking wounds.

Fionn and Laurence were sat next to each other on two chairs pilfered from the kitchen. Ivan had stopped hovering and sat on the other side of Eric, who was murmuring an answer to a question whilst not taking his eyes off Sam. Sam didn’t turn his head toward him, that muscle down his neck too stiff and promising pain if he tried.

Given that everyone was just sitting around waiting, Sam guessed that meant a certain gifted merman was on the way. “You got a hold of Connor?” Sam asked Laurence.

Laurence nodded. “They’ll be here soon. Eric is top of the list, then you, then Goldilocks.”

“Roan is hurt worse than me,” Sam said.

“I don’t know about that,” Fionn replied. “You’re a little out of it.”

“I’m feeling better. A bit morehere.”

The kitchen door opened, and Jasper limped out. His sword and dagger were sheathed. In his hands were two phones, and Sam recognised the painted back of his own. “These were upstairs,” Jasper explained.

It texted Eric. It texted Eric and lured him here.The horror at the thing’s abilities caused another shiver to race through Sam, and he clutched his teacup tighter.

Fionn was closest to Jasper and peered at the phones. “That one’s Sam’s, this one is…” He took the other device from Jasper. He touched the button on the side, and Laurence leaned against him to look at the screen.

“That’s Austin,” Laurence said.

Sam’s heart gave a dull, pained throb. “Austin’s upstairs?”

“What? No, no way.” Laurence piped up. “Austin was just at the bar, and Jasper said the body up there is…not so fresh.” His voice lost volume as he spoke.