Underhill's Short Story: The Haunted House

Underhill listened carefully as Malvinē served dinner to Clement in the kitchen. She had called him once and no more. He had refrained from making any more contact with her, due to his injury. Though vampire blood calmed an angry werewolf, it did not work in vice-versa. His nerves were frayed, the slightest noise in the house sent him on edge. He decided to stay in his office and avoid any unnecessary injury’s with Malvinē. Yet despite this effort, Malvinē could not put aside her caring effort. It wasn’t long before her feet shuffled close to his office door. She knocked. “Doctor? Are you well enough to eat?” Underhill rose from his desk slowly and opened the door, enough to see her. She carried a small tray of food and a glass of blood. …show more content…

You may set it on my desk.” Opening the door, he bid her to enter. His office was immaculate. The walls of the room were composed of bookcases and nothing else. Amazing volumes of knowledge, maps, and documents filled the shelves in a perfectly organized fashion. His desk was shaped as a letter U, to which he sat in the center. “You have quite the office.” She mused, placing the tray on his designated area. “Thank you. It would be wise to see to Clement and Jenna now. I have an errand to run tonight and will be out late.” Her arms folded quickly over her waist, “Tonight? You are injured…what if another one of those beasts comes back?” “You proved today that you are more than capable of handling a werewolf.” Underhill advised and ushered her out of the room. “Jenna will sleep through the night and most of tomorrow. Yet Clement will be hard to convince I am out. Keep him occupied.” He shut the door. Malvinē stood in the hallway for a moment before returning to Clement. “Was he hungry?” “Yes,” she smiled, “Though he asks not to be disturbed for the rest of the night. He is agitated and wants to focus on papers.” Clement nodded and continued to eat his food that wasn’t raw. “How much longer will Jenna be out …show more content…

I’m almost done. Aren’t you going to eat?” She held up her hands in protest, “No. After my encounter today, I would like to stay away from any meat.” “Underhill was always so…sensitive when Victoria was around. Now that she’s gone and you’re here, he is more open. I like it.” Malvinē scoffed, “I can assure you, it’s only a temporary agreement.” She then retrieved her coat from the door, and readied to go outside. The knife was in her coat pocket, though she didn’t remember putting it there. She headed to the stables and lit the lanterns that hung throughout the building. The horses acknowledged her presence with a few whinnies. The large mare did not. Her back faced the stall door to reveal a twitching tail. Her ears were pinned back firmly against her head. Occasionally her massive hoof stomped to the ground. Malvinē checked on her own mare first and greeted her warmly with an apple. Clement joined her in the stable and greeted his mare. Trouvaille was eager to see him and stretched her head far over the door to reach him. “Hey girl. Are you being nice to our new addition?” “She doesn’t seem happy in the least.” Malvinē noticed and approached the