Chapter Twenty-Six
Twenty-Six
“Consequence?” I echoed, shuffling closer to Marcellus. I had a plan. I just had to hope the duke wouldn’t realize what was happening until it was too late.
The duke stepped toward me, a glimmer of malice in his eyes.
Or that could have been his natural look.
I had to admit I truly despised him, even without this recent revelation.
Blame it on his clear disdain for anybody he didn’t think worth speaking to, which thus far seemed to be everybody but the Queen, and I bet he only tolerated speaking to her because she could rip his throat out with her teeth.
I had to imagine my being a “consequence” was akin to my being dead.
I nudged Marcellus with my toe. “What possible use can I be?”
“Exactly,” the duke replied. “What possible use can you be?”
My blood ran cold. Suspicion confirmed.
I took a deep breath, then let my cane clatter on the floor. “Oh, how careless,” I said, bending down to retrieve it. Thankfully, Marcellus was awake, though it was clear he still couldn’t move. “Possess me,” I whispered as I fumbled on the floor.
His eyes widened, and then he blinked rapidly a few times, which I had to take as his understanding. He couldn’t nod his head.
I picked up my cane and tried to relax, as I’d had to do during the holy water attack. I felt Marcellus’s presence circling my brain, and I urged him in, hoping the duke wouldn’t do anything before we could act.
“This will work better if we are in private,” the duke said, taking my arm.
I tried to resist, but he was too strong, and he tugged me along through the forest of felled supernaturals as I desperately worked on easing my brain barriers so Marcellus could enter, no small feat when one was in such grave danger.
I was finally able to when I thought about Dante and how he pirouetted for cheese, making me and Hannah laugh.
I didn’t think you’d be thinking about your dog, he said when he was finally inside. I would have assumed I would be uppermost in your thoughts.
It’s all that came to mind, I responded.
I needed to relax, not get all wound up again.
And why are you complaining? You’re in, aren’t you?
Of course he’d complain about not being all I was thinking about.
I might be in love with him, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know he was all too full of himself.
Where are we going? he asked.
Somewhere private. I think he means me harm, I said, trying not to sound hysterical.
You do, though, he replied.
What?
Sound hysterical.
Stop that! I yelled.
You’re the one who asked me in. Is it my fault that your thoughts are so loud?
The duke continued walking me through the aisles, completely ignoring the exhibits as though they were beneath him. I couldn’t help but sneak a few long looks at the displayed items, even though I was also feeling no small amount of terror. Good thing to know I retained my sense of curiosity.
You know I’ll protect you, Marcellus said, sounding more serious than before.
I do. I tried to keep my emotions contained, but with everything that was happening, it was impossible.
Drat. Drat, drat, drat. Did I just…?
Wait, he said, you—you feel that way about me?
Drat. I did.
Oh my God, I shrieked, albeit inside my own head, this is not the time!
If you’re admitting you love me, then it is most definitely the time, he replied, sounding smug. Why didn’t you tell me before?
Look, can we discuss this after we deal with the very real danger this menacing duke presents? This man—this demon—truly had no sense when it came to priorities.
Fine. But we will discuss it, Cora.
The fact that he used my given name—which he used only when we were intimate or when he was being especially sincere—resonated with me, and a tiny speck of hope flickered inside.
But I had to quash it straightaway, since I didn’t want him to notice it, and I didn’t know how much he could access while inside my head.
Besides, he might flee if he caught visions of us in quiet domesticity, and I really could not afford to have him leave at this moment, not when my life was on the line. And I didn’t trust he would stay and do the right thing, because, once again, he was a demon, despite also caring for me.
“Inside there, Miss Hastings,” the duke said. We stood in front of a door that read STAFF ONLY—NO ENTRY. He withdrew a key from his waistcoat and fitted it into the lock, then opened the door, gesturing me inside.
It was clearly being used as a storage room and temporary office—a makeshift desk was shoved against the wall on one side of the room, while rolls of paper, fabric, and newspaper were piled up haphazardly on the floor.
Boxes were stacked one on top of the other, with some of them bearing stamps from countries I couldn’t make out.
“You ruined my plans,” the duke said, casually taking a pistol from his pocket, “but I am resourceful. I am able to improvise and achieve the same results.”
“What results would that be?” I asked. I knew, but I also wanted to keep him talking so as to delay the inevitable duke-takes-a-shot-at-Cora moment. I thought Marcellus and I needed a few minutes to plan.
Do you have anything resembling a weapon? Marcellus asked.
My cane, I answered. But that is of little use against a bullet.
Still, you should unsheath that dagger, he said. If we can get that gun away from him, we can subdue him with your knife.
“The Queen and the general populace need to see that it is foolhardy to allow more beings with powers into our land, and what’s more, we need to control the beings who are here already.
We shouldn’t be letting any more in. In fact,” he said, clearly warming to his subject, “we should be ejecting some of the less savory ones. Who needs trolls, anyway? What use are ogres?”
I didn’t point out that trolls and ogres were very helpful when one needed assistance moving things and that the friends and families of said trolls and ogres would certainly object if all trolls and ogres were to be thrown out of England.
He’s got a point about—
Shut up! I said. I knew he was just trying to be amusing, but it was an annoying distraction.
“But,” I said, reasoning it out, “if you shoot me with that thing”—I gestured to the pistol in his hand—“because I am assuming that is your backup plan, won’t it be obvious that the shooter was someone with no powers? The Devil could set me ablaze in an instant—he doesn’t need a gun.”
Why are you giving him ideas, Cora?
The duke’s expression turned speculative. “True. I hadn’t thought of that.”
See?
We can stop a fire better than we can stop a bullet, Marcellus, I replied bitingly.
“I think it will be more effective if I torture you a bit first,” the duke said, sounding as casual as if he were going to offer me tea.
There was no tea, unfortunately.
Stop thinking about tea.
“Torture?” I squeaked. It’s better to think about tea than torture!
Don’t worry, we’ll stop him before he gets that far.
“Have a seat, Miss Hastings,” the duke said, gesturing to a wooden chair in the center of the room. I approached it slowly and sat, keeping a firm grasp on my cane.
The duke made a circuit of the room, gathering some rope, a pair of shears, and a large piece of rough fabric that looked as though it had been used to pack delicate pieces in.
Before either of us could react, he tossed the fabric over my head, and I gave an involuntary yelp.
“Be quiet,” he ordered. I could tell he was leaning in close to my face. “Or I’ll shoot you first and desecrate your body after.”
I swallowed hard.
I have to get my dagger out, I said. Without him noticing.
Well, that will be easier with us under this thing, Marcellus replied.
I hadn’t looked at it that way. I guess there was an upside to being obscured by a musty drop cloth?
I heard the duke’s footsteps move—it sounded like he was standing behind me—and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. He hadn’t actually done anything to me yet, and I was already terrified.
I pulled my cane up, moving it horizontally onto my lap, and slid my fingers down until I found the catch to release the dagger.
Then I felt something drag across my face and realized the duke was wrapping a rope around my neck. I knew I didn’t have much time.
We’ve got to do something now, Cora.
Marcellus knew it too.
I’ll take care of it, I said.
I took a deep breath, then jabbed the dagger up and behind me, toward the duke’s general direction.
I heard a groan, and then he slapped the side of my head, hard, causing me to topple onto the ground, the cloth falling away from my face.
The duke loomed over me, blood streaming from his shoulder, his expression livid.
He grabbed for me, and I struck again, this time aiming for his heart.
It was awkward, as I had to jab the dagger up and guess where his heart might be, since he was wearing a waistcoat and jacket and I was lying on the ground, which made my perspective a bit off.
I had to pray I could slow him enough to make my escape before he made me a consequence.
He froze, then staggered a few feet and dropped to the ground with a thud, blood pouring from his chest.
I knew what I was doing. I knew that by attacking him there, it was very likely I would kill him. I could have turned the reins over to Marcellus and had him do it via my hands, but I didn’t want to cede that responsibility.
I knew Marcellus wouldn’t care about killing someone, but I would care if I’d allowed someone I love to do something I couldn’t bring myself to do.
You’re remarkable, he said in an admiring tone.
Still not the right time, I replied. I have to get off the ground and check if he’s actually dead.
I think he’s fairly well dead. You did stab him in the heart, you know. He sounded amused, and I wished he had a corporeal presence so I could punch him.
Or kiss me? he asked, his tone silky.
I struggled to my feet and walked gingerly over to where the duke lay. I nudged him with my foot, but he didn’t move. Then I leaned down and put my fingers to his neck, feeling for a pulse.
Nothing.
He’s dead.
I told you.
What do we tell the Queen? I said, starting to panic.
I doubt she will care, but we can tell her that he threatened me and my father, and that I was the one who offed him.
I can’t let you take the blame! I shouted.
That is something we will discuss later, he said. Now about the whole you-falling-in-love-with-me thing; tell me more about that.
I wasn’t going to be able to avoid it, was I?
Can we at least leave the room with the dead body? I asked.
Fine. I could practically hear him rolling his eyes.
I walked out of the room, giving one last look to the duke, who remained as persistently dead as he’d been a few moments ago.
Once back in the main area, I returned to where the various demons were beginning to stir, recovering from my amulet blast. I’d have to let Mr. Connors know how effective it was—we hadn’t tested it extensively, and I’d only had to use it a few times before, so we didn’t know the extent of its capabilities.
I should be able to move now, Marcellus said.
I went to where Marcellus lay on the ground, looking almost as dead as the duke.
We’ll be speaking soon, he said, and then he left my head, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I gazed down at him, now with his eyes open, looking up at me and smiling that rakish smile. “I never knew a human’s life could be so thrilling,” he said, getting up to stand beside me. “It’s no wonder I’ve fallen in love with you as much as you’ve fallen in love with me.”
I stared at him, my mouth dropping open. He began to laugh, then took my arm. “I did say we’d be speaking soon, didn’t I? We have to talk about what this all means and why neither of us said anything earlier.”
I couldn’t speak. I just nodded and let him lead me away.