Page 49 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

“Is it different from a normal ship?”

“Oh, yes,” she laughs. “They look out for their own, and only their own. Don’t trust a single one of them. And follow their rules. They’re very serious about their agreed-upon laws.”

Noted. “Where are we going, exactly?”

“Tempest hasn’t shared that.”

It’s strange how I actually feel better having spoken to Cypress. If I didn’t have context for what’s out there haunting me, I honestly would be fleeing during this escape. It’s simply entirely too uncomfortable to consider all these people working toprotectme. If it was just for my own life, I’d see it as an absolute waste of theirs.

But not with what Cypress said. If I die, then it makes it all worse, somehow. So I have to live, and I very well can’t protect myself,bymyself.

There has to be a way I can reduce the deaths while somehow avoiding getting caught…

I wince in silence as Donna isrough, because I do agree that I’ll want this hair out of my eyes, and it’ll be a lot harder for someone to yank on, like with Shade—the pain subsides as Donna is finally working on the free braid, wrapping up her task quite quickly before she says, “There, all done. Functional and fierce. Now get your boots on.”

As I stand, I touch the top of my lightly aching head; the braid is so foreign, yet relieving. It’s a skill I never really learned myself, always keeping my hair short and with bangs as a kid. Then, in Coalfell, it didn’t matter.

I near my boots, sitting back down to slide them over wool socks. “So, is everyone expecting me to have a plan?”

Glancing up at her, she leans over, an elbow on each knee, giving me the faintest smile. “Well, since no one can get close enough to chat with you, rumors do spread. I think quite a few are under the impression you know what to do. At least, that your father does.”

My fingers are quick with the laces, tightening the boot. “Doyouthink he does?”

“I think this god wants you dead, am I wrong in that?”

There’s a hesitancy in her voice, and I can tell that my fishing for information may be too obvious. “Well, he definitely can’t do what he needs with me if I’m alive,” I half-lie, standing when both of my boots are secured.

“If killing you brings about something devastating, then it’s clear we just need to keep you alive and safe while a plan is made. He’s getting greedy, which is scary as shit for us, but it also means therewillbe an opening. I imagine fighting a godrequiresanotherone… which is why Cypress is so relevant… I don’t know. Maybe the ocean god can do something?” She glances my way. “Areyouworried?”

It’s funny because I’ve been asking everyone that exact question, and this is one of the first times someone is askingme. Then again, Soren doesn’tneedto ask questions when it concerns my heart. “I’m worried for the people who will die.”

“That’s not your responsibility,” Donna reassures, and I cross my arms as I watch her stand before she stretches her body. “It’s the fault of this asshole, Misery, and also Blackwell for being a dingleberry and going along with this.”

“Adingleberry?” I ask with a quiver of my lips.

She tilts her head. “It’s a word my family used growing up. Mostly when speaking to the children. Although Blackwell is such an idiot, he might as well only have the smarts of a kid. Eventhatmight be too generous.”

This time, I let a laugh out; the moment of peace rather appreciated. We’re in the room that’s been assigned to me, one that no longer has any signs of Soren. “So seriously, what does he gain in all of this? Blackwell, I mean? It’s still mind-boggling that he would risk everything for a god who he has to know doesn’t give a shit about him.”

She shrugs. “In his eyes, he gains all of Skull’s Row. But he’s a twat for thinking that’s worth anything. If he so much as farts in the wrong direction when Misery is reigning, he’ll kill him without hesitation. It’s just like you said. Which is why he’s a fucking dingleberry.”

My laugh escapes me again, and this time Donna joins, too. She even nods to the door, and I know it’s time to follow her out of here.I hate leaving the sanctuaries Soren makes in these rooms…“We’re all just trying our best to mitigate the damage,” she says, opening it, ignorant of the raging battle inside me. “It’sjust annoying when others join in to make the fight all that more complicated.”

“Well, isn’t everyone acting so unlike Skull’s Row.” A slight tease is in my voice. “You know, since Skull’s Row isn’t really known for this kind ofbravebehavior. To look out for others.”

I think of my mom as I say that. Of how she loved the architecture of this city, the excitement of it all, and even the freedom, butloathedthe selfishness. She would probably laugh at the irony of everyone acting like knights in a song.

“It’s the natural order of things, isn’t it?”

“Is it?” I rebuke, standing in the hallway that red rubies still light.

Donna rings a bell, to which Rorge looks around the corner and holds up a hand—not yet. “My job among your father is to be the people person,” Donna explains. “And if there’s one thing I see repeated over and over again, it’s that most humans cannot resist the call of purpose. What’ll happen, if I have to guess, is this entire situation we’re all stuck in will pass and some peace will settle for a while, and we will have defeated Misery. Skull’s Row will live through the subsequent changes. Then as people forget what almost happened here, they’ll go back to thieving like this is all a fable. I mean, itwillbe a fable, to them.”

My mind isnotready for that kind of philosophy. “It’s hard to imagine it that way when my mother’s death is a part of what caused it all.” My gaze snaps to her, feeling like I shouldn’t have mentioned my mother in such a way. I’m so used to secrecy, I’m not sure what can be shared anymore.

There’s the slightest twitch to her umber eyes, as if indicating her mind refocusing on a new path. “I’m sorry for your family’s suffering,” she replies, her voice smoother and smokier in an attempt to comfort.

My gaze falls to the floor, a chill washing over me as I’m not used to my neck being so exposed in the back. “Me too.”