Necromancer For Hire- Arc 4

Arc 4, Chapter 3

The Calm

The journey back to his house was possibly the most awkward venture Umbra had even embarked on. Matthew stood beside him the entire time, refusing to speak. Umbra knew he was angry, but Matthew wasn't a man of senseless wrath. He kept his frustrations quiet and composed, which was arguably more frightening than just yelling. He hadn't even spoken after Umbra's and Aunora's outburst, besides some kindly words to Elise. It was very eerie, as Umbra was used to the man talking his ear off every second he could.

Victor and Esper seemed to be the only ones not sulking, as the boy was holding the nature spirit's hand and telling him about the spell he had just preformed in short, choppy sentences. Esper, realizing that the rest of Silver Moon was in too foul of a mood to fully experience Victor's rare moment of confidence, lent a listening ear. The boy loved his attentiveness, cheerfully whispering in his raspy stammer.

Umbra moved immediately into the kitchen when the portal spat them at his suburban house, weary of the fact Matthew was directly behind them. He absentmindly opened the fridge, trying to avoid eye contact with Matthew. Regret and shame churned in his stomach, making him feel like his lactose intolerance was acting up. He didn't wish to engender any conflict with Matthew, but he felt it was inevitable.

Unfazed by Matthew's silent indignation, Aunora tossed herself onto the couch, picking at the dirt under her nails. The woman had been infuriately unaffected by the previous events, almost like she felt no penitence for her disgusting behavior. This made Umbra's skin crawl. Why can't she feel the same agony he was experiencing?

"Ah, Umbra," Matthew murmured, making Umbra flinch. "Can you help me make dinner? I decided chicken noodle soup would be good to have today."

That's all? Umbra thought, frowning. He was sure Matthew was about to start his lecture.

Matthew moved to the fridge, withdrawing the chicken he had left to thaw. He placed it very softly on the counter, pulling out a butcher knife from the knifeblock. Without speaking, Matthew began to separate the wings, legs, and breast into small piles.

With each sharp crunch of the knife splitting through bone, Umbra cringed. Umbra wasn't sure whether Matthew was trying to put him on edge, but if he was, it was working like a charm. He felt as if he was the chicken on the cutting block, the object of Matthew's tranquil fury.

"Can you get a pot for the chicken stock?" Matthew asked, breaking the silence that had loomed over the room.

Umbra complied with a quick nod, filling a large saucepan with water and setting it on the oventop to boil. Matthew dropped the chicken into the water, adding several herbs to give the stock flavor.

Umbra let his shoulders relax. Maybe he's not going to say anything?

Almost on cue, Matthew turned around, arms behind his back.

"Now that dinner's started," he announced, "we can discuss what happened earlier. I have a lot to say, so I would like you and Aunora to come sit with me, please."

Author's Note: you know those people that you KNOW are completely and utterly pissed off but they refuse to show it???? like you expect them to explode any second but they don't. they just sit there and stare at you and its terrifying like are you a psychopath or????