“Of course,” Pierce said. “Itisan old mansion, after all.”
“What if they have rabies or something?”
Pierce gave me a look. “Benji, I promise none of them have rabies.” He put a hand on his chest. “I swear on my mother.”
I narrowed my eyes, wondering how he could sound so damn sure of it, but found myself wanting to believe him anyway. “Okay, fine. As long as they don’t nest in my hair or anything.”
Pierce laughed genuinely, like I’d said something really funny. “I’ll tell them not to.”
The front foyer was beautiful, but badly lit. I constantly felt like I was going to trip over something in the darkness. Blinking my eyes a few times to adjust, I saw the mixture of different patterns on the wallpaper as well as the runner rug beneath my feet. An antique chandelier hung from the ceiling, and I saw why the light source was so poor. Instead of bulbs, it had candles. Candles also lined the walls.
“Must be a pain to put those out every night,” I commented.
Pierce led me down the hall as he spoke. “It’s not so bad. When my brothers and I don’t feel up to it, we have helpers.”
“Like servants?” I asked. That didn’t surprise me, considering how rich they all seemed.
“Something like that, yes.”
I didn’t have time to mull over his dodgy reply because he opened the door to a huge dining hall, and the breath caught in my throat.
“Whoa.”
To say it was extravagant would be an understatement. The ceilings, which must have been ten feet high, were carved with intricate patterns. I squinted past the dim light to see that the patterned wallpaper was a luxurious shade of deep purple. Oil paintings in golden frames hung on the walls, illuminated by the candlelight that flickered and danced everywhere.
In the center of the hall stood a table that stretched from door to door. A snow-white tablecloth sat primly on its surface, with more candles in fancy iron candleholders and spotless dining ware.
A grandfather clock ticked in the corner of the hall. It felt like I’d been picked up and transported hundreds of years in the past.
“This is… a lot,” I said.
“Someone has set the table already,” Pierce murmured to himself. “Odd. I wonder if - ”
Pierce didn’t have time to finish his sentence because the door behind us flew open.
“PIERCE!”
And somebody crashed into me, knocking me to the floor.
4
Pierce
“Benji! Are you all right?” I asked.
The poor human groaned.
I shot a glare at Theo, the culprit, who had already scrambled upright and backed off.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Theo cried. Instantly, his eyes widened and he stared at Benji. He mouthed to me,Is that a human?
I mouthed angrily back,Yes, can’t you smell the living blood?
Benji shook his head and muttered, “How many times have I almost been knocked out today now?”
“I apologize for my brother’s behavior,” I said, helping Benji to his feet. “He can be a bit… enthusiastic.”
“That’s okay,” Benji said. He raised a hand to indicate he was fine standing on his own. “I’ve got a younger brother, remember? I’m Benji.”
