The Giggler Learns to Dance - Shortlisted - Open Novella Contest 2020

Chapter Twelve - The Bells of Hell

Chapter Twelve 

A Riotous Good Time

The silence seemed to stretch on for years. The sense of waiting was nearly unbearable for Alice, who knew what they needed to happen next. The Mance seemed to swell, fattening on his own fury as the silence broke with the beginning of a single note. 

It was a song that Alice was unfamiliar with, the type of which echoed of a time long gone by. Perhaps a time of jazz and dancing in poorly lit rooms that smelled strongly of cigar smoke and whiskey. It was a song of murder and death.  This fact sent chills up Alice's arms. 

The Bells of Hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling,

For you but not for me:

For me the angels sing-a-ling-a-ling, 

They've got the goods for me.

The Giggler's milky eyes met hers and he smiled one of his signature sad smiles. Alice understood that this was the song that had been playing when Jeremy Bloom had attempted to kill his brother for the audacity of being a man. The Giggler had never had the chance to choose his name as a man after he had fled the scene of his would-be murderer and escaped Dublin, living unhappily once again as Ruth in hiding. Upon his brother's death and interment in Glasnevin Cemetry, the Giggler had returned to Dublin. It had taken quite a lot of time for the Giggler to tell them the name of the song.

A song to trigger a weakening, a loss of control that they would need to end the Mance, once and for all.

Yet as the music registered with the two brothers, one of fury and one of utter gentility, Alice saw the biggest difference between them. The Mance had returned on Halloween night, a spirit set to haunt a land he had ruled through terror, bound by the power of a top hat. The Giggler had survived through an ability he was born with. A physical manifestation of his kindness. 

How did he try to kill you?

Alice had asked the Giggler, knowing that it might be the hardest question for him to ask. A bolt of dark magic to the heart, along with a slit throat. Topher hadn't heard that part of the answer and Alice was glad. 

"Cottontail!" The Mance's roar shook the lanterns as his outrage was directed at Alice. A whip of dark magic shot for her, hitting her hard in the chest. Alice was flung backward several feet. She landed on the cobbles, rolling several times, tearing the skin of her legs open with each movement. Topher screamed but was silenced by a single shriek of displeasure from the Mance. 

Alice dragged herself to her knees in time to see Rebecca tearing across the Square and catching her brother in a tight hold, tugging him backward. 

All the while, as Alice groaned and pulled herself to her feet, the music continued to play. 

Oh! Death, where is thy sting-a-ling-a-ling? 

Oh! Grave, thy victory? 

The Bells of Hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling

For you but not for me.

A hot light hit Alice's hold body, giving her strength as her muscles healed and relaxed. Alice wished that the Giggler could feel the undeniable love she pushed in his direction as she stood and marched irresolutely back toward the centre of the Square, eyes meeting the Mance's. 

"Is that all you have, Jeremy?" She called, her voice as loud as she could make it. "The ghost of murder and your magic back for one night?" 

She goaded him, thankful for the strength the Giggler lent her bones, holding her upright. 

The Mance's eyes narrowed infinitesimally at this as he watched her approach the bottom step of the bandstand, her smudged and dirty school shoes clashing horribly with his perfectly laced, polished suit shoes.