Free Eldritch Manor by Kim Thompson Page A

grocery list and rushed about “parent-proofing” the house. She hid away the weird, supernatural knick-knacks. She was extra sweet to Mab before shutting her away in her dollhouse. She begged Tengu not to challenge her dad to any manner of combat, suggesting that remarks about the weather might be a better icebreaker. She elicited solemn promises from Belle and Horace to behave themselves and not throw things at each other. She enticed Robert to stay in his room for the evening with a bucket of fried chicken. And she made Baz promise again that she would serve actual, real food. When the doorbell finally rang that evening, delicious smells were issuing from the kitchen. Belle, Horace, and Tengu sat prim and proper in the parlour, and Willa was beginning to think this evening might go very well indeed.
    On the way to the door her eye caught Fadiyah in her cage in the corner. Her presence might cause difficulties. Willa’s dad was an avid bird watcher. One look at this glittering, exotic creature and he’d be all keen to identify it, and who knew where that might lead. Willa decided it would be safest to put her out of sight. She asked Horace to take Fadi upstairs and went to let her parents in.
    They were bearing gifts. Dad had a bottle of Scotch and Mom had brought some homemade cookies and a catnip toy.
    â€œYou told me there was a cat,” she explained when Willa looked blankly at the toy.
    â€œOh ... yeah ... right.” Willa mumbled her way through the introductions.
    Tengu bowed and shook her dad’s hand vigorously. “A pleasure, really a pleasure, I have to say. How’s the latest weather system been treating you, sir?”
    Belle sat sullenly in the corner. She grunted in greeting and stared rather rudely at Willa’s mom, who looked distinctly uncomfortable. Luckily, Horace rejoined them just in time to carry the small talk, and Willa hurried into the kitchen to check on Baz.
    Everything seemed to be under control. The duck was almost done and everything smelled absolutely amazing.
    â€œYou can leave that here.” Baz nodded toward the cat toy in Willa’s hand.
    In the parlour Tengu was wolfing down cookies. Well, at least that will keep him from saying anything too weird , thought Willa. Horace and Dad were chatting about gardening like they were old friends. Mom and Belle eyed each other silently from across the room. Willa was just trying to think of something to say when there was a loud stomping from upstairs. Her heart sank. Robert!
    Horace leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have put the bird in his room.”
    â€œIs there someone else here?” asked Mom, looking up at the ceiling.
    Willa fidgeted nervously in her chair. “Uh, yeah, that’s Robert. He’s ... sick in bed. The flu. Highly contagious. Didn’t want to infect everybody.”
    Her dad smiled sympathetically. “Poor guy, that’s tough.” There was another hoof stomp from upstairs. The chandelier rattled.
    â€œMaybe you should look in on him, dear,” suggested her mother, but at that moment there was another crash, from the kitchen this time.
    Willa jumped to her feet. “I’d better check on Baz first,” she said as calmly as she could, then turned and fled into the kitchen.
    The oven door was open. The roasting pan was upended on the floor. A greasy trail led to Baz, also on the floor, smiling blissfully with the duck in her lap. She was picking from the carcass and shoving the bits into her full mouth. Her eyes were mere slits and her head lolled drunkenly. Her free hand clutched the catnip toy.
    Willa leaned against the counter, taking in the scene. It was all very simple, actually, once she put the pieces together. She frowned at Baz.
    â€œSo you’re the cat!”
    Baz stopped licking her fingers and grinned for a moment before answering in her most velvety voice. “Meow.”
    After a full minute of panic