The Corpse Maiden

Chapter 7

Back at the Nikos' residence, they, along with Mr and Mrs Arc were in the living room enjoying some tea while they waited for Jaune to return. Pyrrha was looking out the window anxiously.

"Pyrrha come sit over here, dear," her mother said.

Pyrrha sighed but went and sat down between her parents.

"I wouldn't worry. Jaune will be back soon," Mrs. Arc assured the bride-to-be.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the living room door.

"I'll bet that's him now," said Mr. Arc.

But it wasn't Jaune who walked in but rather Red Stilts.

"Ah, Mr. Stilts," Mr. Nikos said, "how are you enjoying your accommodations?"

"They are simply wonderful, you are a most gracious host sir," Red said with a slight bow.

Crossing the room he added, "but I am afraid that I am not here with good news."

He snapped his fingers and the town crier, who was in charge of announcing all of the news in Argus, walked in.

"Repeat tonight's headlines. If you please." Red said.

The town crier nodded, "LISTEN! LISTEN! JAUNE ARC WAS JUST SEEN ON THE BRIDGE IN THE ARMS OF A MYSTERIOUS WOMAN!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, "MISTER ARC AND THE DARK HAIRED BEAUTY THEN VANISHED INTO THE NIGHT!"

He took a deep breath, "IN OTHER NEWS-"

"That's enough!" Red said, "I believe we all got the picture."

The town crier nodded and hastily left the living room.

"A mysterious woman?" Mrs. Arc asked, "that has to be one of our daughters. Maybe one of them took him on a walk to quell his nerves."

Red looked over at her, "are any of them 'dark haired beauties?'"

The woman blanched, "w-well they're all blondes. So...no.."

The red headed man smirked, "I rest my case. Well I'm headed off to bed now. Mr and Mrs Nikos, do call for me if you need my assistance with anything."

He turned his smirk toward Pyrrha, "and I do mean anything."

With that, he closed the doors to the living room leaving the five adults alone once more.

"What?!" Mr. Nikos yelled as he stood from his chair.

"Oh don't worry dear I'm sure the crier just needed a good news story," Mrs. Nikos soothed, "it's like the Arcs said, they have seven daughters I'm sure it was one of them who Jaune was with."

Mr. Nikos growled, "it doesn't matter who he's with! We can't have a wedding if there's nobody for Pyrrha to wed!"

"We'll go look for him I promise!" Mrs. Arc said as her husband was already grabbing their coats, "can you please give us until morning to bring him back?!"

Mr. Nikos looked like he wanted to argue some more but his wife gave him a look.

"Fine," he sighed, exasperated, "you have until dawn."