Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chris shot up from his chair so fast it nearly toppled over.

"No way! You just got out of the hospital, and since you got back from Mountain City you haven't even stopped to catch your breath. Your body can't take this."

He waved Rupert off. "Go home, seriously. I swapped shifts with someone for tonight—I'll keep watch for you. Besides, don't you have your own people on this, lurking in the background?"

He gave Rupert's arm a nudge.

Rupert rubbed his temples, sighed, and without another word, turned and left the office.

Late that night.

Rupert sat alone in his study, hands resting on the worn leather armrests. A cigarette smoldered between his fingers, the rising smoke veiling his face in shifting shadows.

On the desk, his phone was playing a recording he'd gotten from Freya, looping over and over.

"...So you really wanted to marry Mr. Rupert in secret! And have a little family! So, would you rather have a boy or a girl?"

"A girl."

"A girl..."

"Gi..."

The first time Rupert heard that recording, it felt like someone stabbed him right in the chest.

many times he listened, the pain didn't

in

dreamt. Yet suddenly he found himself standing in front of a house-strange, but somehow

garden. He chased after her, but even though she was only a few steps away, he could never quite catch up.

called out, "Who

me." The girl appeared abruptly in front of him, walking slowly toward the porch. "Do you really dislike me that much? Why

you?"

painfully into his palm. But he wanted-needed to see her

the girl paused beneath the

died, can't

do you hate us so

trembling with

a step forward just as she spun

you

"No-!"

reaching for her, but his hand felt seared,

girl and the beautiful house

"No!"

"Mr. Rupert? Mr. Rupert-!"

him out of the

He glanced

water into

a sip, brow furrowing. "Find me a photo