Page 51 of Till Death

Bound to him, as Paesha was, if she had information, he had information. Unless she knew how to hide it from him. But I didn’t think his magic came with loopholes. Without rooting around the room and moving things to dig, I wasn’t sure if I was going to find anything in this mess.

I moved back to the window, thanking the old gods for a full, bright moon, then checked the tree line one more time before falling to my knees beside the bed and swiping my hand below the iron bed frame. Nothing. I’d drugged Orin’s mom to sleep with poppy milk tea that was likely far too potent for her petite figure. I’d waited patiently for days for everyone to leave this godsdamned house. I needed this moment.

If I didn’t find the Life Maiden, I had no true purpose beyond Death’s calling. I’d never bring a single thing to this world. Each foul and despicable thought and word anyone ever had against me would be my only truth. And I refused to be the enemy. I was not like them, those that came before me. And I’d search every inch of this world until I proved it.

My skin practically crawled with the desire to pick up the clothes covering the floor and toss them to the side. Frustrated, I wanted to destroy this place just as much as I wanted to preserve it. But since I couldn’t, and there was not a single clue to be found that wasn’t buried within the millions of pages of books she had or lost beneath a sloppy mountain, I tiptoed back to the open door, cursing Paesha Vox and her gloriously disastrous bedroom.

I almost walked out. Almost let her win. But when the screaming from outside began, a repeat of the last time they’d come home, I threw the door back open, racing for the window. The doorknob crashed into the wall, causing a frame to fall, but also marking the wall. A hoard of silhouettes broke through the tree line.

If I blew my cover, if they knew I was simply staying in order to find answers, they’d force me to leave. And sorting through all my husband’s lies would be so much harder from the outside. I snatched the cracked picture from the floor and propped it back up over the nail head peeking from the wall.

The front door slammed open. My ears began to ring. I glanced at the weathered frame for one more second, hoping I’d gotten the angle right, as if she wouldn’t notice the giant crack in the glass. But the smiles in the painting halted me. Even as Hollis called my name.

There were five people. First, Paesha, her beautiful sun-kissed skin a near match to the familiar face beside her. Orin. Impeccably dressed in a suit, as he usually was, he held her hand in his, smiling brightly. A genuine grin that must have been created by an absolute artist able to imagine such a thing because I’d never seen him look that way. His eyes twinkled. Paesha was just as happy, staring at the side profile of another man standing just a bit taller than Orin, slightly hidden by the collar of his coat. His arms were slung over the shoulder of a third man. Althea stood on the opposite side, her face flushed, leaning on a sword she no doubt crafted herself with a smudge of ash on her chin. These must have been important members of their little Syndicate.

“Deyanira?” Hollis called from the base of the stairs. “Come quick.”

“Coming!” I shouted, muffling my voice with my arm so he couldn’t discern where I was.

I closed the door as quietly as I could, sneaking up one flight of stairs before loudly crashing back down them to make it seem like I’d been in my bedroom. I tossed my hair and pinched my cheeks for color as I jogged down to the entrance of the Syndicate house.

Althea’s eyes were red-rimmed as she dragged a sleepy Elowen through the front door. Hollis held Orin up with the last bit of strength the old man could likely muster.

I rushed forward, taking Orin’s other side. “Was it another hellhound?”

“A sword fight,” Hollis answered, pulling his hand away from Orin’s ribs to reveal the gaping wound. “One he had no chance of winning.”

“Just a scratch,” Orin moaned, his head falling backward, revealing the gash in his throat.

“Where are Quill and Paesha?” I asked carefully, head snapping to Althea.

She covered her mouth with the back of her hand before bursting into tears. “Quill is missing.”

Chapter 23

The wretched groans of Orin Faber as his mother tended to his wounds from his bed were nothing compared to the somber faces standing at the front door, waiting for Paesha and Quill to arrive safely.

I thought of the little girl who’d been so innocent when we’d spoken, and I’d felt guilty for tricking her, though nothing much had come from it. She’d been kind, even when she was scared, and that was far more than I could say for half the world’s population. But what did it mean if Drexel’s charge was missing? Had he hidden her away somewhere? Or had she been taken right under his nose? I couldn’t help the worry as I glared at the damned tree line.

Lit by the full moon, the trees in the distance were easy enough to see, but the shadows remained dark, and each rustle of an oak branch was paired with a tiny gasp before disappointment.

“How long does it usually take Paesha to find someone?” I asked.

“It varies. Sometimes days, sometimes minutes… There.” Althea jerked a finger toward a figure emerging from the darkness before she darted out the door.

Hollis was quick to follow, but not quick in general. I walked behind, unsure of where I fit into this particular situation. Paesha would not want me involved. But Quill was a child, and I could help. I wanted so desperately for the world to see me that way. It wasn’t long before my steps quickened, and I’d passed Hollis and nearly beat Althea to Paesha.

“This doesn’t concern you, Maiden. Go back to the roof, or wherever you like to lurk.”

“Where is she?” Thea asked, ignoring Paesha’s cruelty.

“I’m not saying anything until she goes away.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I can help. I know you think I’m a snake, but if that were true, I’d have already struck. I know this world, and just like you, I’ve hunted in it. Let me help you.”

“Orin’s out of commission until further notice,” Hollis said from behind, finally catching up, his presence deflating some of the animosity. “I won’t have this bickering when one of ours is missing. Where is she?”

Paesha’s scowl would have shredded me to pieces if looks could kill. “I’ve got a read on her, but it’s not great. She’s in Icharius’s castle.”