Been bouncing back and forth all day if to write this up. It’s not anywhere near as entertaining dramatic as the other two dreams, but it marks a shift in the house dynamics.
The Bastards in the attic got on my Last Nerve last night. I don’t remember clearly what set me off, only that I was concerned for Head In Chest. He’s been looking thinner and thinner each time I see him. Sir Nathaniel had noted there is less “prey” coming through the house now, but I said this house has more than enough holes, portals, and gates that he should have no problem finding a fount to tap into.
The amber jelly-folk drifted through and mentioned the Bastards had been seen harassing HIC during the day while I was absent. I took a look at HIC, then took a good look at what he was trying to hide from me.
I don’t remember what I saw that hit my Rage of Eviscerating Doom button. Just that one of mine was threatened. I’ll take a lot of abuse personally, but don’t touch mine.
Next I know, I’m in the attic. I’m having “fun”, and Horatio is screaming at me from the hallway not to take it too far. After having my fun with whichever Bastard I grab hold of, I throw its nearly dessicated body through the floor to HIC. He snatched up and eagerly gobbled each broken body I threw down to him.
Three of the Bastards escaped me. I caught myself on that thin edge between “Getting the job done” and “Losing myself in my work”. I let them go, for now. I returned to the ground floor to find HIC looking much better, Horatio looking at me in wary cautiousness, Sir Nathaniel scampering back and forth on the wall, and the amber jelly-folk gathering allong with the barely perceptible Regulars.
“Problems? Anyone? This is the time to voice them. I’ve let those bastards slide long enough.” I looked around at the shifting shadows for any answer.
“The general consensus is you have done one and all a favor.” Sir Nathaniel clung to the wall but brought himself down so his “body” was level with my head. “Though you may find the house unsettled for a few days as those corporeal and non-corporeal adjust to the new conditions.”
I had to laugh. My mother makes sure the house is unsettled as a matter of course.
“So that’s what it takes to get you to move, eh? All this time, I thought your problem was fear. It’s not. It’s pride.” Horatio stared at me dead to sights. “Or in your case… lack of it.”
Sir Nathaniel took him to task at once. “How rude, Horatio! As her man-servant…”
Horatio took his top hat and batted the spider’s own. “Oh, shut up about decorum already! She’s not some high-maintenance princess that needs help wiping her ass!”
“Such vulgarity!”
“You fucking coward! You kiss her ass so much, there’s nothing to wipe!”
“I’ll have you know, Sir, when I was alive…”
“YOU’RE DEAD YOU DRIED UP JABBERMOUTH! JUST LIKE ME! DON’T FUCKING START ABOUT WHAT YOU ONCE WERE! YOU CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER YOUR NAME!”
Head In Chest, now visibly fitter, and appearing younger, came to me and grabbed my hand in fear when Horatio started yelling.
I spoke calmly and with strength. “[Horatio]. Enough. To the trinket with you.” He turned and glared at me angrily. But a command is a command. He nodded, bowed at me, and disappeared.
“Such incivility! Why I should…” Sir Nathaniel was adjusting his hat in a rare display of anger.
“{Sir Nathaniel}. Enough. Find some place to retire for the night. Preferably, within Head In Chest’s reach. He will want to know you’re okay. You are dismissed.” Sir Nathaniel removed his top hat, showing me clearly his still fleshed skull that was his ‘spider’ body. Dead eyes stared at me. Green and purple flesh moved wetly to display an emotion his upbringing would never allow him to voice. Black lips parted, and a soft “Yes, Madam.” emanated from them. He replaced his top hat, holding it tightly to his decapitated head with the small tenth pair of legs, and scurried into the back of the house.
I looked at the assembly of Regulars around me. “Any questions?” There were none. I told Head In Chest he could hold my hand tonight if he was bothered, or he could keep Sir Nathaniel company. He held my hand until I reached my room, then released mine and went looking for his friend.
The house back to quiet, I settled down formally myself. It wasn’t a good sleep, though. There were a multitude of little things that I am not comfortable writing about. Sometime after 4:30am, I finally went into deeper sleep and dreamt the other two dreams already written of.
…
Well then. I guess the little interlude was more dramatic than I thought.