Page 52 of The Dagger and the Flame
Foolish was the Cloak who put their faith in the words of a man like Gaspard Dufort.
Sera sighed, taking in her friends’ faces. She’d thought she would find relief in telling them the truth about Ransom but the fear in their eyes only made her feel worse. She picked at her food, trying to kindle her appetite. Pippin was curled up in her lap, as though the little terrier could sense the danger she had got herself into that evening and didn’t want to let her out of his sight again. She sneaked him green beans and slivers of roast chicken as the conversation turned to the meeting at the Aurore, and the other pressing matter at hand: monsters.
‘Do you reckon the Orders will really work together?’ asked Val.
‘Who knows?’ said Bibi, biting the head off a sprig of broccoli. ‘That Dagger attacked Sera right after the meeting. It’s not like Dufort’s word is worth anything.’
‘I’m still not convinced he isn’t behind the monsters.’ Theo scowled into his wine glass. ‘But I can’t figure out thewhyof it.’
‘The better question is, what are we supposed to do about the monsters?’ said Bibi. ‘Go out and catch them ourselves?’
‘I can’t say I’m itching to place myself in mortal danger,’ said the Shadowsmith.
‘It beats being cooped up in here all day.’ Val glowered at her injured ankle. ‘I want to catch a monster. Maybe you could fashion something to help us?’
‘Like what?’ he said, leaning back in his chair. ‘A big net made of Shade?’
‘Oh! Yes!’ said Bibi.
He shot her a glare. ‘That was a joke.’
Sera gripped her necklace, stroking it with the pad of her thumb until the bead warmed. She wondered what the magic inside it might do against a beast made of Shade, and if perhaps Mama had made the teardrop with that in mind. She shook off the thought as quickly as it formed. Experimenting on Fig was one thing. But these monsters that stalked the city… who could have foreseen such horrors?
And yet… Unease prickled along the back of Sera’s neck, and she found her mind straining for a thought – an answer – that flitted just out of reach, like a firefly too quick to catch.
She wasn’t the only one plagued by the mystery of her necklace.
I don’t fear your magic, Seraphine. Iwantit.
The Dagger’s words floated back to her.
Ransom hadn’t killed her in that alleyway.
Hecouldhave killed her.
Now who’s afraid, spitfire?He could have ended her with his bare hands and ripped the necklace from her corpse.Look at that smart mouth tremble.
He should have killed her.
Why didn’t he kill her?
Her cheeks flared at the memory of his body pressed up against hers, his cruel mouth full of blood, the smell of wild mint on his breath. She shuddered, though she couldn’t tell whether it was from revulsion or something far more dangerous. Something she did not dare to name. Even to herself.
Chapter 18Seraphine
In a bid to put the horrors of yesterday behind them, Bibi asked Sera to accompany her on her next job. A small Break not far from the Hollows and better still, it paid well. Enough to cover next month’s room and board, and to keep Sera in good standing with Madame Mercure and the other Cloaks.
They set out before sundown, Sera casing their surroundings to make sure Ransom wasn’t lying in wait somewhere. But the sun was melting along the cracked rooftops, and the Dagger was nowhere to be seen. No monsters, either. She blew out a breath as they passed through the gate, leaving the grounds of House Armand.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Bibi, turning to wave up at Val, who was watching them morosely from the window of the upstairsroom where she was still resting her ankle. ‘Whatever happens this evening, it can’t possibly be worse than Villa Roman.’
Sera snorted. ‘You are a master of perspective, Bibi.’
They wandered on, chatting as the narrow grey streets of the Hollows gave way to pretty squares lined with yellow-leaved trees and beautiful pale-stone buildings. When the sun set, they donned their cloaks, losing themselves in the shadows that crawled up the sides of those buildings and pooled beneath the awnings of bistros they passed by.
Sera’s eyes darted all the while, watching the alleys and rooftops for a tell-tale glimmer of silver. She was so distracted by thoughts of Ransom that she didn’t notice Pippin was tracking her until his wet nose tickled her ankle.
Sera yelped, leaping from a shadow to scoop him up. He darted out of reach.
