d not st

nd. Hot wax spilled onto h

ed thin in the dusty corridor. "Did m

. He stood beyond the chai

N

who is

y from it

was worse than she had thought. The artist had not just

o arch prettily. Even the small scar at her left temple,

e," she whispered. "

hen you w

s made after

wing locked be

his wet coat anymore. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves pus

Close enough that she coul

e sheet

N

la

e who s

hing. Then he reached past her and took the edge of the dust sheet

nor Vale," he said. "My

t the brass pl

ty years befor

es

looked

es

you have t

he flicker, the painted w

s where she held the candle.

cold,"

e in a corridor you

tered a

not to do m

le. The scar through his

y, as if touching something that might bite, he pulled the sheet ba

he sai

ridor was suddenly too dark with

r passage where the wallpaper had been stripped to plaster. At the end wa

tacked on every surface, some open, some face down.

the door b

her arms. "Am

uest who doe

rried a

ried a

w it and looked awa

that in this house," he said quietly

e same

en. All named Cla

m felt

the Vales had with

Includi

are the o

er and stirred the

r twenty-first birthday. All in t

. The ledger on the desk was open to a page

Eleanor Vale -

Eleanor Vale -

ara Eleanor

fresh ink that had

ara Elea

s blank aft

began t

o reason to protect my family," she sa

no one will mourn you pr

ked up

n she could not name. Not pity. Not l

nightgown on my p

that," he said

d. "I want

r rain. You saw the guests in the woods.

are t

r brides.

frighten her. She wanted him

study walls. A faint, high no

went ve

r music?" C

indow and pulled the heavy curtain sh

id, pointing to a small g

ha

, Cl

st the mirror. Her own reflection disapp

study. Then a second note. Then a simple, terrible lullaby that Clara knew t

lew out

only light, he knelt in front of

do not open the door. Do not answer if it calls you by nam

were sha

ne the music

ngeline is the one

someone knocked three

et. Familiar. "Come try on your whit

p tightened

" he breathed a

n, closer this time,

ale. Come back t