Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
London offered everything a man could want – but all I wanted was Jacob. I scoured the city, searching night after night, ignoring my own needs.
Finding no trace of him, I thought I’d lose my sanity.
The loss felt unbearable, the emptiness, agony.
I blamed myself for not seeing Ricardo’s jealousy.
I should have predicted he’d be as wayward as his father.
So many times, I’d showered Jacob with affection but ignored Ricardo.
By spoiling my son, I’d put him in danger.
After another agonizing night, I climbed the winding steps to our room, cursing my ineptitude.
Once inside, I fell to my knees. “I just want him back,” I sobbed. “I just want him back.” Tears soaked my shirt.
I crawled into bed, into Sunaria’s arms, and the darkness closed in. Horror violated my dreams, transmuting them into nightmares.
Once the day faded, I flew back out into the dusky evening. Sunaria eventually caught up with me on London Bridge, where I stood peering over the side, watching my victim’s body float down the Thames.
“Oops,” I said, smiling. “I assumed he’d sink.”
She flashed me an angry glare. “A month in the city and you’re infamous.”
“It took me that long?”
“You kill without thinking of the consequences.”
“I’ve been a little distracted.”
“They burned down our building!”
“What?” I turned to face her. “Who?”
“Don’t pretend to care.”
“How do you know it was because of me? Perhaps a candle fell over—”
“I’m assuming it wasn’t you who left the rose by the bed this morning?” She glanced at the bobbing corpse. “You’re only thinking of yourself.”
“I was just about to ask about our blind landlord.”
“Half-blind.”
“Did he get out?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
I gazed at the city skyline. “Jacob is out there right now, alone.”
“You’ve brought attention to our kind. They don’t like that.”
“I’ll be more careful.”
“I’m done cleaning up after your nightly escapades.”
“You should be out there searching for him, not wasting your time.”
“Keeping us alive is not wasting my time.”
I turned my back on her. “I’m going to find my son and then we’re leaving this godforsaken city.”
“Are you even listening to me?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That you’ll use discretion, follow the rules.”
I glided up onto the bridge wall. “It’s time we came out of the shadows.”
“That attitude will get us killed.”
Holding out my arms, I shouted, “Hello, London!”
“Get down. Now!”
I sat on the wall. “It’s time the world knew that we’re not myth.”
“Have you lost your mind?” She joined me up on the ledge and wrapped her arms around my waist. “Please stop this.”
“I miss Spain.”
“I feel like I’ve lost you.”
“No, never.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry I put you in harm’s way.”
“Have you considered that he may have left London? Found his way back?”
“Rotten luck,” I said, pointing. “Look.”
The body had been snagged near the left side of the riverbank.
“Did you hear me?” she continued, impatiently.
Within seconds, it bobbed off again.
“What do you want me to do?” I asked. “Run back and forth between here and Spain?”
“It’s just that I wonder if he’s trying to find his way home.”
“I feel him,” I whispered. “He’s out there somewhere. Why can’t I hear his thoughts?”
“I believe it’s because he’s so young.”
“So unfair.”
“What if the Creda left the rose as a warning?” she whispered.
“You’re just paranoid.”
“I think they’re following me.” She hugged me tighter. “But I’m more worried about you.”
I wanted to say I was fine, but we both knew that wasn’t true.
“I’ve planned something for you tonight” she said. “It’ll do you good.”
I pulled away. “Not interested.”
“We’ll have dinner together. I’ve arranged a little something that’ll take your mind off London.”
The body finally sank beneath the murky water.
Thank fuck for that. I pulled my knees up and hugged them.
“You need a rest.” Her words sounded rehearsed. “Lately, you’ve been backtracking over old ground.”
“I’m not going.”
Sunaria’s persuasion had been impossible to resist.
Within the Globe Theatre, sitting comfortably in our private box high up on the right side of the auditorium, we had a good view of both the apron-style stage, and the audience.
I finally agreed to attend, partly out of guilt for neglecting Sunaria.
I was also hoping that she might be right, that this evening’s diversion might actually be good for me.
Maybe it would even silence the chaos in my mind, if only for an hour or two.
The dialogue-heavy play was ordinary enough, the company of actors portraying a day in the life of a Tudor family. The theme emphasized the moral attitude of supporting a stable government.
Weekly shows were a popular social gathering for the aristocracy.
Even the fashions contrasted with those of Spaniards.
The women wore such high hats that I wondered how the audience members sitting behind them could see.
Many of the men wore what was considered the latest fashion, heavy tunics over their woolen shirts, and breeches.
Textures had advanced and enriched color pallets reflected a varied style, conveying privilege.
Sunaria’s grasp on my arm tightened. I assumed that my fidgeting was annoying her, until I followed her gaze over to one of the other burgundy draped boxes, high up to the left of the stage, and caught sight of Lady Bradbury.
Her pale blue glazed stare revealed her boredom.
She seemed to sense someone staring at her and our gazes met.
Although she’d seen us only for a moment, our dramatic exit from her bedroom window had left an impression.
Her face flushed brightly as she offered her apologies to the three other women who shared her box, almost tripping on the hem of her dress as she withdrew.
Through sheer determination, and the reminder from Sunaria’s grip, I maneuvered at a leisurely pace, not wanting to arouse suspicion. We finally ran out through the theatre’s front doors and saw Lady Bradbury climb into her horsedrawn carriage.
We took to the air, following closely.
The carriage rumbled over cobblestones, continuing past her home. Within half an hour, we were flying through a forest, heading for the outskirts of London.
Dense woods surrounded a lone house. Lady Bradbury climbed out of the carriage with the horseman’s assistance and headed for the front door. She repeatedly slammed the brass doorknob while glancing behind her.
We sneaked around the back and sidled along the rear wall of the building.
I peered into the study. Lady Bradbury was conversing with a young man who was trying his best to calm her.
I considered that she must have sought out this place soon after our shocking appearance and escape.
We had, after all, been two floors up. In order to unravel the truth behind such a marvel, her search had obviously brought her here.
And by the way she argued with the man, I knew this was not her first visit.
A tug at my trouser leg made me look down.
I flinched in horror at the large dog gnawing through my flesh, sending searing pain into my ankle.
Four more hounds turned the corner at a run.
I shook off the dog and flew up and after Sunaria, landing on the roof.
The dogs barked and growled at us from below, their teeth bared.
Even now, under these circumstances, it was easy to become distracted by the way my torn skin healed itself, the edges shrinking rapidly. The only evidence from my scrap with the animal was my blood-soaked trouser leg.
Sunaria reached for my hand and grasped it. “We have to get out of here.”
I met her gaze. “Who does this place belong to?”
She drew in a sharp breath. “The Stone Masters.”