The body hit the floor, revealing a swollen and purple face. It was unrecognizable.

With a grin, Herbert grabbed my hair and shoved me toward it. "Bark like a dog and apologize to Ella. I might let you off. Otherwise, your mom will be the castle's first real ghost."

My scalp burned, but the absurdity of the whole thing made me laugh.

I slapped his hand away. "You're the expert at barking. Why don't you and Ella give me a duet?"

"How dare you talk back?" he growled, stomping on the corpse's head with a sickening crunch.

I was unperturbed. "What if that's not my mom, but yours?"

...

He threw his head back and cackled. "You're out of your damn mind. My mom is chilling on a beach abroad. Your trash-digging mom versus mine? No contest."

Ella, clutching her blackened hand, glared. "Herbert, don't waste your breath. She's bad-mouthing your mom. Chop her dead mom up already!"

Herbert's eyes glinted with coldness. He grabbed an axe from the wall and started hacking at the body.

"That's right," he said. "These arms and legs are perfect for the haunted castle? Gonna scare the pants off our guests."

I listened to the chopping sound and laughed. This guy was dumber than a bag of hammers.

I couldn't wait to see his shock when he realized he was mutilating his own mother.

He gloated. "You like that? Your mom is the star of our show. Apologize to Ella and cut off the hand that hurt her. I'll let you collect her scraps."

He reached for me, but I grabbed an iron pot from the table and smashed it into his face. He staggered back, blood gushing from his nose.

Everyone was taken aback.

Ella pointed at me, barking, "You hit Herbert? Get her and chop her limbs off!"

Before his goons could move, Herbert wobbled to his feet, his eyes burning. "This is just great! I've spoiled you so much you've forgotten your place!"

He grabbed the corpse's head and dragged it to the backyard, where a hulking industrial shredder loomed.

His goons hauled me along, their grips bruising.

"Caroline, watch your mom turn to dust!" he spat, flipping the switch.

The machine roared to life. He tossed the mangled body in, the blood spraying everywhere.

Drenched in gore, Herbert laughed, arms spread wide. "See that? Cross me, and this is what you get. No ashes to cry over."

He turned, his eyes locked on me. "Your turn."

He charged with the axe, but the gate crashed open.

Oscar Walton stormed in, striking Herbert with his cane. "Your mom was dying, and you stopped Caroline from saving her? You monster! Where is her body?"