Grim Tuesday Read Online Free Page A

since the Grim could only make poor twisted copies of the Architect’s great work.
    The two Grotesques pictured are Tethera and Methera. Tethera is obsequious to all and speaks honeyed words, but his actions are spiteful and vindictive. Methera is silent and cruel, speaks only to wound, and delights in the afflictions of others.
    As with all Grotesques, Tethera and Methera have greater powers than most Denizens, but are lesser beings in all ways than any of the other Days’ Dawn, Noon, and Dusk. Beware their breath and the poison spurs within their thumbs.
    Despite their fearful mangling and botched remaking at Grim Tuesday’s hands, the Grotesques are slavish in their loyalty and love him as dogs love even the cruelest master, their hearts filled with an awful mixture of hate, fear, and infatuation.
    Arthur looked across at the two Grotesques. They had hammered the DUE FOR DEMOLITION sign in and were getting another SOLD sign out. Arthur stared at them, a frown deepening on his forehead and tension building in every muscle.
    How could they buy the houses so quickly? Are they really planning to build a mall, or are they just trying to freak me out?
    The two servants of Grim Tuesday walked over to Arthur’s own front lawn. Arthur stared down at them as they started to hammer in the sign. He couldn’t believe they were doing it, but he couldn’t think of anything he could do to stop them. For a moment he considered throwing something down on their heads, but he dismissed that idea. The Grotesques were superior Denizens of the House and almost certainly couldn’t be harmed by any weapon Arthur could lay his hands on.
    But he had to do something!
    Arthur shut the Atlas and hurriedly stuffed the shrunken book back in his pocket. Then he took off down the stairs at top speed.
    They were not going to demolish his home and build a shopping mall!

Chapter Two
    A s Arthur ran down the stairs, he heard the music stop from the studio and then the front door slam. Bob must have seen the Grotesques as well. Arthur tried to shout a warning but didn’t have enough breath for more than a wheezy whisper.
    “No, Dad! Don’t go outside!”
    Arthur jumped the last five steps and almost fell. Recovering his balance, he raced across and flung the door open, just in time to see his father striding across the front lawn towards the two Grotesques. He looked angrier than Arthur had ever seen him.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” shouted Bob.
    “Dad! Get back!” cried Arthur, but his father didn’t hear him or was too angry to listen.
    Tethera and Methera turned to face Bob. Their mouths opened wide, far too wide for mere speech.
    “Hah!” breathed the Grotesques. Two dense streams of gray fog stormed out of their open mouths, forming a thick cloud that completely enveloped Bob. When it cleared a few seconds later, Arthur’s dad was still standing,but he wasn’t shouting anymore. He scratched his head, then turned and wandered back past Arthur, his eyes dull and glazed.
    “What did you do to him?” shouted Arthur. He wished he still had the First Key, in its sword form. He would stab both the Grotesques through without thinking about it. But he didn’t, and innate caution made him stay near the front door, in case they breathed out the fog again.
    Tethera and Methera gave him the slightest of bows, not much more than a one-inch inclination.
    “Greetings, Arthur, Lord Monday, Master of the Lower House,” said Tethera. His voice was surprisingly melodious and smooth. “You need not fear for your father. That was merely the Gray Breath, the fog of forgetting, and will soon pass. We do not use the Dark Breath, the death-fog…unless we must.”
    “Unless we must,” repeated Methera softly.
    They both smiled as they spoke, but Arthur recognized the threat.
    “Go back to the House,” he said, trying to invest as much authority in his voice as he could. It was a bit difficult because he still couldn’t draw a full breath and