When Vaggie and Angel returned to the mansion, Vaggie insisted that he lie down and get some sleep. The frightened look on his face from when he saw that man, worried her. It worried her that all this creepy atmosphere was causing him to snap. She really hoped that rest would help him recover.
Once he had gone up to his room, she went to look for Charlie and found her working on her book in the library.
"Oh good you're back." She greeted. "What did the doctor say?"
"He said it was nothing serious. Nothing a little rest can't fix."
"Was Angel able to remember what happened last night?"
"Sort of. He remembered seeing a man get attacked and then he swore he saw the same man today on the street but he looked like he hadn't been injured."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Any chance he could be telling the truth?"
"Not likely. That hit to the head is no doubt making him spew nonsense. I really hope that by tomorrow morning he'll be back to his half sane self." Vaggie glanced over at the window, watching the rain droplets fall and stick to the glass. "So how did your day out with the host go?"
Charlie blushed before answering and an akward expression crossed her face.
"It was fine. He took me to this beautiful spot where he showed me how to catch crawfish. Then we had a picnic lunch and I fed the birds. Of course we had to come inside as soon as it started raining."
"And nothing bad happend out there, right? You weren't attacked by an alligator or anything, were you?"
"No. I was perfectly safe."
Charlie absentmindly brushed her hair back which revealed a spot on her neck. It looked like a type of brusie.
"What's that?" Vaggie asked.
"What's what?"
"That on your neck? Is that a brusie?"
Charlie blushed even harder. It was a hickey from when she and Alastor kissed. But she didn't want to tell Vaggie that. Vaggie would no doubt lecture her about letting a man she only knew for two days, touch her like that.
"Yeah it's a brusie." She lied. "On the way back, I slipped and fell."
"And your neck was the only place where a mark was left?"
"I know. Weird right?"
But Charlie was a terrible liar. Always had been, always will be, and no one could sniff out a lie from her better than Vaggie. That's thing about living with someone, you learn to pick up littlle cues and quirks that you're roommate has. Like the way Charlie's eyes would move upward whenever she fibbed, and right now those eyes were on the ceiling.
"Well I think I've done enough writing for one day." She said gathering up her manuscript from the desk, trying to get back to her room before Vaggie's suspicious stare forced her to confess the truth. "I'm going to phone my parents now and just let them know how things are going. I'll see you at dinner?"
But Vaggie just followed Charlie right up those stairs.
"Charlie you're lying." Vaggie called out. "Your neck didn't get that way from a fall. What really happened?"
"It's nothing. Nothing of great importance."
"If that was the case then you would have just told me. What's going on? Did somebody do this to you?"
"I really appreciate your concern for me but it's really none of your business."
They entered her bedroom and Charlie found quite the surprise waiting for her. A crystal vase which contained Honey Suckles, Red Carnations, and Tea Roses. They were freshly cut, neatly arranged, and tied together by a silken ribbon.
"Oh these are beautiful." Charlie awed. "And they're all my favorites."
She leaned over to smell them and that's when she discovered the small note next to the vase.
My Dear Charlotte,
Please accept these flowers and my most sincere apologies for what happened this afternoon.
My behavior was not that of a gentleman and I overstepped boundaries, rest assured I shall never touch you again.
I only hope that I have not offended you or have hurt your feelings in any manner.
I beg your forigvness, I would never want to do anything to upset you.
Sincerely Alastor.
Charlie smiled and nearly swooned as she read the note. Truly this was too much, he had done nothing wrong. She was the one who instigated that kiss. She should have been the one trying to apologize to him. Still, she loved the flowers. But she wondered, how did he know what her favorite flowers were?
"He's so sweet." Charlie sighed.
Vaggie looked over Charlie's shoulder and read the note, her blood gradually began to boil.
"Now I see what's going on here." Vaggie concluded.
"What?" Charlie said.
"He did this to you didn't he? He hit you."
"No! No he didn't!"
"Charlie I've seen it all before. You have a brusie and you lie about how you got it, then someone gives you flowers and a note apologizing about touching you."
"Vaggie it's not what you think. Believe me."
But she was out the door before Charlie could explain and making her way back downstairs to look for Alastor. She spotted him coming out from the study and she just attacked.
"You son of a bitch!" She threw a fist but Alastor quickly caught it with impressive reflexes.
"I beg your pardon Miss Gonzales, but what is the meaning of this assualt?" He asked calmly.
"Don't play dumb with me! I know what you did! I saw the brusie! If you think for one minute I'm going to let you turn her into your battered mistress-"
"Now wait just a minute." His smile remained but his tone was firm and defensive. "First off, I'll have you know that I have never once raised a hand to a woman and never will! I'd sooner cut off both hands. Second, would you kindly elaborate to what on earth has upset you so much, that you feel the need to do me harm?"
"I can explain!" Charlie cried arriving on the scene. "Vaggie he didn't hit me, that's not a brusie on my neck. It's A...a...It's a hickey."
Vaggie's arms fell and she looked at Charlie humiliated.
"Could you please excuse us, Alastor?" Charlie asked.
"Of course, provided that Miss Gonzales first apologize to me for her ridiculous accusastions and unjustified attack."
If looks could kill, Vaggie's would have sent Alastor right to the grave. But she wasn't so prideful, she could admit when she was wrong and apolgize for her mistakes.
"I'm sorry."
"And let me say this Miss Gonzales, I've been very polite and patient with you. I've behaved only as a gentleman toward you and I have given you no reason to have any ire with me. Yet from the moment we met, you seem to have automatically decided that you do not like me. Now that is perfectly fine but while you're staying in my household, I insist you keep that dislike to yourself. I'm a patient man Miss Gonzales, but I have my limits and it would be in your best interest not to push me to those limits."
"Is that a threat?" Vaggie asked.
"No. It's good advice. I suggest you take it."
Charlie quickly ushered Vaggie upstairs to her room so they could talk privately. Alastor smirked and walked away.
"That broad has got more balls than most men." Husk commented.
"Yes, she's proving to be quite the sharp thorn in my side." Alastor replied. "I'm trying to keep my hands clean but something may have to be done about her."
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about I assure you, and remember, I only dirty my hands if it's unavoidable." Alastor then changed the subject. "Were you able to get the flowers into Charlotte's room?"
"Yes and Rosie arranged them."
"And you purchased the right flowers?"
"Purchased? You didn't say anything about purchasing flowers. You just told us to get them."
"Oh no, tell me you didn't steal them from the floral shop?"
"Well we didn't exactly get them from a shop."
"Then where did you get them?"
Before Husk could answer, they heard a scream come from outside. They followed the scream and it led them to Niffty, sitting in the middle of the house garden, her face in sheer terror as she discovered that a large number of blossoms had been cut and plucked from their roots.
"My garden!" She shrieked. "My beautiful garden! It's been pilfered! Pilfered!"
"You cut them from Niffty's garden?" Alastor said.
"Well it's not like nobody told me not to do it." Husk said.
Niffty slowly stood up and faced Husk with a face that almost scared Alastor.
"You cut my flowers?" Her eye twitched. "You invaded my precious Eden and cut the very few things in this world that keeps me sane?!"
"Now Niffty, it was an honest mistake." Husk said backing away from her real slow like. "I didn't know your flowers were off limits. Nobody ever told me, and Al ordered me to get flowers."
"Oh no, don't you turn this on me. Even a child would know that when a man tells you to get flowers he means buy them, not steal them from someone else's garden." Alastor said.
"Sir would you mind, leaving me to have a little chat with Husk?" Niffty asked Alastor in her usual sweet tone. "I need to explain to him how important my flora is to me."
"I don't mind at all." Alastor said.
"Al don't leave me alone with her!" Husk begged.
"I'll pray for you Husker." Alastor spoke as he exited the garden and left Husk to the mercy of Niffty.