“Except Ray and I know this place’s history better than almost anyone, and we’re still allowed to spend the nights off-land,” Nora said. “You spent one long season working here and the curse locked onto you. It doesn’t make sense sometimes.”
Andrew shrugged, indicating he didn’t have an answer either.
“I can’t sleep away from the house.” Margot ran her thumb across the mug’s lip, feeling steam condense against her skin. “So…what should I do?”
“It might be easiest to go over everything in three parts,” Kant said. “Before the bells. After the bells. And once they’re in the house.”
“The dead ones don’t work on any kind of schedule,” Andrew said. He’d been clean-shaven when Margot first met him, but now stubble darkened his tawny jaw. Hints of dark shadows lingered under his eyes. “They might come quickly. Or they might take a long time and not show themselves until it’s close to dawn. Or they might not turn up at all. We’re hoping for that last option.”
“It can’t stay this bad for long,” Nora said. “It’ll burn out. It has to.”
Ray dipped his head in a nod. “That’s what we’re hoping at least. That last night was the end of it. But…it might not be. So it’s best to prepare before the dark fully sets in.”
“You’ll feel like you should lock the doors,” Kant said. “And you can do some of that. Whatever it takes to give your mind some peace. But you should know that locked doors won’t stop them.”
“And don’t lock too many,” Nora added, her hand darting out to touch Margot’s gently. “They get angry when everything’s locked up tight. It’s better to leave some doors open, even if that goes against what feels like common sense.”
“That’s a rumor,” Kant said, “but, yes, it seems to be the case. A few padlocks are fine. About what you’d expect in a normal house. Not too many more.”
Her fingernails ached from how hard she was digging them into the wood. “The house already has a lot of locks. For the attic. And in my room.”
“Yes,” Kant said. “Human nature. Everyone tries the locks. The dead still get inside. But it’s a hard instinct to repress.”
“If you’ve opened any curtains, you should close them.” Andrew, standing near the archway, held his mug in both hands. Traces of steam condensed on the edges of his glasses. “It’s best if they can’t see into the house. Or see you.”
“The biggest thing you can do to prepare is going to sound silly.” Nora’s smile was hesitant. “It’s to feel calm. And I know—how can anyone feel calm about this? But it’s how you’ll get through the night.”