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The upper portion of the torso lay ser than rief for the loss of such incredible work I bent to examine the intricacy of the sculpture that remained I’d always been impressed by the statues from the Renaissance and the realism of the draped fabric in elo’s ass I peered at the design on her skirts It was an intricate, twining pattern…
I heard a scrape of noise froe of so hard struckto ed breath, absolutely certain I’d feel a crossbow bolt or a dagger sticking out Nothing there except for a phantoainstfor breath in the welcome crush of relief Just a dream I wasn’t summoned in my sleep
It was still dark outside, but the alarhtstand showed that it was a few minutes before five a
The house ticked with silence as I padded to the kitchen to y hard to go to the gy every other week--just frequently enough forout I needed to do so about the drea else that had been revealed tothesWhat the fuck did any of itout of the hall closet when the front door opened I spun, holding the gyaveto defend yourself with sweaty clothing?" she asked, closing the door behind her
I lowered the bag, abruptly realizing that I had forgotten to takeafter the last tio Okay,out at this point "I thought you were still asleep," I said
The derinned "I have been busy I have a surprise for you!" She darted forward and seizedroom "Close your eyes!" she co her dubiously
She stopped and frowned "Yes You must close your eyes I am quite certain that this is how surprises are revealed"
S weakly, I complied The demon continued to lead me forward
"Now, open them!"
I did so And stared "Wow" I didn’t knohat else to say
The de in excitement "Is it the correct sort of tree?" she asked "Are the decorations appropriate? I perused azines and websites in an effort to determine ould be the best look for this space"
"Eilahn It’s…perfect!" And it was She’d acquired a tree--the most symmetrical and perfect blue spruce I’d ever seen--and decorated it hite and blue lights, tiny gold stars, sparkly balls of dark blue and red, and silver ribbons Pine garlands , with delicate paper snowflakes hanging froly tucked around the door in exquisite swirls, topping the door with a perfect bow On the desk, she’d placed ceraold candles of every shape and size filled thethe pictures already there
And in the corner by the fireplace, stood a brand new Kitty Kondo, with Fuzzykins perched on it as if to say, "Yes, I did all this"
"It’s beautiful," I said "I can’t believe you did all this in one night!"
Her grin was ecstatic "And there’s more!" She tookby the door, and snapped it around , I obeyed and allowed myself to be led outside and down the steps About a dozen steps away from the house she turned me around and announced, "Now, open your eyes!"
It took everything I had to keep fro as I took in what she’d done to s Where the inside decorations had been lovely, tasteful, and utterly beautiful, the outside ell, I had a feeling my house could now be seen frohts, "icicles" of antic Santa--co the house were blow-up snowiant candy canes, and several neon-green trees that flashed in chaotic patterns
Eilahn looked atI’ve ever seen," I said, completely truthfully "I love it," I said, and I evenand was ht back
"Now I need to ask you so of a ing stuff
In an instant she was back to being the serious deuard "Let us return inside You are barefoot, and it is chilly"
Deuard Mom I hid a smile, returned inside, and continued on down the hallway to the kitchen "It’s pretty obvious that whoever’s behind these murders is some sort of arcane practitioner," I said as I pouredthat I was attacked by that graa--"