After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Nelson Chereta
was absolutely vital. Even Hera and Enver had no idea what she was about. The only other person who knew her plans was Gwendolyn, and being a ghost, her daughter was unlikely to share her secrets.
Well, not unless she got too bored.
The task complete Lilith headed downstairs to go to breakfast.
XXX
In the grand dining hall was a single extended table. There were forty chairs, all evenly spaced along both sides. Only four of them had place settings; one lay at the very head of the table, one to the immediate right, and two to the left. The space to the right would remain empty, the plate, goblet, utensils, and napkins would be left untouched until the servants cleared them away.
In the first seat to the left was a zombie in tattered black robes. There was no plate or goblet or utensils in front of it, merely a silver tray. It fidgeted, and the clawed fingertips of its right hand drummed on the table. As Lilith strode across the hall, its milky white eyes locked on and followed her.
In the second seat was a young woman with a hideous nose. She wore a cream colored blouse and skirt made of silk, with embroidery in gold thread. The girl was leaned back with her hands folded on her lap.
“I hope I did not keep you waiting too long.” Lilith motioned to the servants as she took her place at the head of the table. They bowed in acknowledgement and hurried into the kitchen to fetch the food that was already prepared.
“Not at all,” her apprentice Hera said. Her son Walter, the zombie, gave a grunt. Hera sent him a sharp look but said nothing.
Lilith pretended not to notice. She had spent an hour last night reattaching one of Walter’s arms following his “introduction” to Hera. He had demanded over and over again that Hera be punished for attacking him.
“I want her dead! I want her dead!” he’d shrilled like some spoiled child.
Lilith had answered him with a single sentence. “If you kill her I will not punish you.”
That had finally silenced him.
The servants brought out bowls and trays filled with fresh bread, fruit, wheat cakes, eggs, and slices of meat. One of them served a chicken, not pieces or a whole cooked chicken. The bird had only recently been strangled and was still whole, it had not even been plucked. The servant placed the fowl down on the tray in front of Walter.
Grabbing the bird with both hands, Walter brought the meal up to its mouth. Short pointed teeth tore into its neck and ripped the head clean off, spattering blood and causing it to drip down onto the table and floor. Walter noisily began chewing the head, feathers, beak and all.
Hera was just beginning to spread some butter on her bread as she was forced to watch the vile display. “Must you do that?”
Swallowing what was in his mouth, Walter grinned at her. There was a bit of blood dribbling down his chin a couple feathers stuck in his teeth. “If it bothers you don’t look.” Walter leaned forward and tore off another chunk of the bird, squeezing as he did so, deliberately causing more blood to squirt.
“Disgusting!” Hera said. “My father has pigs that are better mannered than you!”
“I’ll bet they’re prettier, too.”
Hera’s hands turned into fists, and her shoulders hunched. Her right hand went beneath table, obviously reaching for a wand hidden in a fold of her clothes.
Lilith rapped the table with a sharp knock and drew their attention. “There will be none of that in my presence. I will not have you using your wand or casting magic in my company without permission.”
Hera swiftly put her hand back on the table and bowed her head. “Yes, Aunt Lilith.”
Walter had a wide smile. “That should teach you your place.”
“Of course,” Lilith continued. “What you do outside of my presence does not concern me.”
Walter sent his mother a betrayed look.
Hera was suddenly the one
Well, not unless she got too bored.
The task complete Lilith headed downstairs to go to breakfast.
XXX
In the grand dining hall was a single extended table. There were forty chairs, all evenly spaced along both sides. Only four of them had place settings; one lay at the very head of the table, one to the immediate right, and two to the left. The space to the right would remain empty, the plate, goblet, utensils, and napkins would be left untouched until the servants cleared them away.
In the first seat to the left was a zombie in tattered black robes. There was no plate or goblet or utensils in front of it, merely a silver tray. It fidgeted, and the clawed fingertips of its right hand drummed on the table. As Lilith strode across the hall, its milky white eyes locked on and followed her.
In the second seat was a young woman with a hideous nose. She wore a cream colored blouse and skirt made of silk, with embroidery in gold thread. The girl was leaned back with her hands folded on her lap.
“I hope I did not keep you waiting too long.” Lilith motioned to the servants as she took her place at the head of the table. They bowed in acknowledgement and hurried into the kitchen to fetch the food that was already prepared.
“Not at all,” her apprentice Hera said. Her son Walter, the zombie, gave a grunt. Hera sent him a sharp look but said nothing.
Lilith pretended not to notice. She had spent an hour last night reattaching one of Walter’s arms following his “introduction” to Hera. He had demanded over and over again that Hera be punished for attacking him.
“I want her dead! I want her dead!” he’d shrilled like some spoiled child.
Lilith had answered him with a single sentence. “If you kill her I will not punish you.”
That had finally silenced him.
The servants brought out bowls and trays filled with fresh bread, fruit, wheat cakes, eggs, and slices of meat. One of them served a chicken, not pieces or a whole cooked chicken. The bird had only recently been strangled and was still whole, it had not even been plucked. The servant placed the fowl down on the tray in front of Walter.
Grabbing the bird with both hands, Walter brought the meal up to its mouth. Short pointed teeth tore into its neck and ripped the head clean off, spattering blood and causing it to drip down onto the table and floor. Walter noisily began chewing the head, feathers, beak and all.
Hera was just beginning to spread some butter on her bread as she was forced to watch the vile display. “Must you do that?”
Swallowing what was in his mouth, Walter grinned at her. There was a bit of blood dribbling down his chin a couple feathers stuck in his teeth. “If it bothers you don’t look.” Walter leaned forward and tore off another chunk of the bird, squeezing as he did so, deliberately causing more blood to squirt.
“Disgusting!” Hera said. “My father has pigs that are better mannered than you!”
“I’ll bet they’re prettier, too.”
Hera’s hands turned into fists, and her shoulders hunched. Her right hand went beneath table, obviously reaching for a wand hidden in a fold of her clothes.
Lilith rapped the table with a sharp knock and drew their attention. “There will be none of that in my presence. I will not have you using your wand or casting magic in my company without permission.”
Hera swiftly put her hand back on the table and bowed her head. “Yes, Aunt Lilith.”
Walter had a wide smile. “That should teach you your place.”
“Of course,” Lilith continued. “What you do outside of my presence does not concern me.”
Walter sent his mother a betrayed look.
Hera was suddenly the one
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