Page 9 of Knave

Mouse shrugged.

“How about when I come back, we have a game of chess, then I’ll play the viola and you can dance like old times?” Ever’s deep brown eyes held Mouse’s.

“I would love that.” It was a lie, but she didn’t want to hurt Ever, not with the hope sparking in her friend’s gaze. Before being held prisoner, dancing would’ve been precisely what Mouse would’ve wanted. But not now. Most likely not ever. Lying was all she seemed to be doing these days. Inside she was screaming,crying, but she didn’t want anyone to hear it. No one but her.

Mouse bid Ever goodbye, then ventured through the palace toward the drawing room.

Didi turned down the hall, carrying two pouches of blood. “Just grabbed Mock and me a snack.” The guard’s smile was warm again.

Mouse nodded as usual and focused her gaze back on the marble floor. It wasn’t that she was trying to be rude to Didi or the other guards—they were quite lovely—she just couldn’t force a simple hello. Perhaps because as they learned more about her, they would see her for what she was. Broken.

The drawing room’s door was wide open and a fire crackled. She peered inside, her eyes meeting black combat boots hanging off the side of a chair.

Mouse padded inside and Maddie jerked forward, her purple curls bobbing, a dark hat pinned to the side of her head.

Maddie grinned as she continued to work on a felt beret. “Hello, sister, so lovely for you to join me on this glorious occasion.”

“What’s the occasion?” Mouse asked, taking out a chair and sinking down at a table for two. A metal chess set rested on top.

“Why for our chess game, of course,” Maddie sang, tossing her sewing things on the cushion before plopping down across from Mouse.

“I haven’t played you in a while, only Ferris.” Even then, she hadn’t done that since they’d all been hidden in the safe house together months ago.

“He’s shite at the game. You need a real opponent.”

Mouse’s lips tilted up at the edges. “All right.”

“Tea?” Maddie asked, already grabbing a porcelain set and an ice chest from beneath the table.

Mouse took a deep swallow. Once she’d had a taste of fresh blood after being held prisoner, she hadn’t wanted to drink any other sort. “Not at the moment. Where’s Noah?”

“He’ll be back soon. He’s visiting Alice.”

His sister—the girl from the palace, the one Mouse had told Ferris to save after Alice had unwillingly been turned into a vampire. He’d stopped by Mouse’s cell with Alice in his arms before he was supposed to bring her to the dungeon. Mouse had just gotten lashed earlier that day and she’d heard Imogen’s favorite, Rine, laughing about the things she was going to do to Ferris, followed by what else she would have him do with his tongue besides clean the rooms. Mouse would’ve wanted Ferris to save Alice anyway, but it had been an opportunity to get him out of the palace since she hadn’t known how much longer Imogen would keep him alive. It was a chance for him to be unchained to the Queen of Hearts. He’d been more than lucky the memories she’d seen in his blood hadn’t included Maddie and Mouse or he would’ve been dead.

“Your move first,” Mouse said as Maddie poured herself a cup of blood. The smell drifted to Mouse and her eyelids fluttered at the scent, but the cravings pulsing through her veins weren’t for that, but something warmer.

Maddie inched a white chess piece forward, then Mouse went next. With each move, Mouse lost concentration, her thoughts focused on leaving the palace and heading to one of the mortal clubs again.

“Another round?” Maddie asked, taking a sip of blood.

“Perhaps tomorrow.”

Her sister sighed. “You can’t go on like this forever.”

“Oh, I think I can.” Mouse blinked, not looking at her sister. She wasn’t sure what aspect Maddie meant, and she didn’t want to ask either because that would mean discussing it.

“Ah yes, we are immortal.” She waved a hand in the air, then reached to softly grasp Mouse’s fingers. “I want you to heal at your own time, but with each passing day, you’re drifting further and further away.”

Mouse drew her hand back, biting the inside of her cheek until it bled. “I’m fine, Madeline.”

“You’re not.” Maddie furrowed her brow, her lips set in a tight line that was very unlike her sister. “I know you weren’t treated fine in the palace. You used to tell me everything. I know … I know this is my fault and it should’ve been me with Imogen and Rav. Not you. Never you.”

Mouse’s heart lodged in her throat at those words because she never would’ve wanted her sister in there. Not with Imogen and especially not with Rav. Her sister wouldn’t have survived him. “Imogen would come by my cell,” Mouse finally said. “Flash me her pathetic cards, predict my future with them, ask me where Ever was. Rav would taunt me about how he would see you, how you were so easy to give yourself to him when you two first met. There, satisfied?”

Maddie let out a breath. “I’m glad those fuckers are both dead, but there’s more to it than that. You won’t feel better until you talk about what happened. It doesn’t have to be with me, just someone.”

Biting the inside of her cheek harder, she stood from her seat. “I’m hungry now. I’m going out. Thank you for the game.”

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