The ship descended rapidly as Lestrasse’s gas escaped through the bullet holes. Sev, Tesla, and Kettlebent tried to maintain their balance in the collapsing vessel. The airship was close enough to the rooftops that the passengers could hear the Steamcoats outside coughing in the clouds of gas from the poison apples. A few more shots were fired, but they tapered off soon enough.
The airship dipped in between the buildings and was caught in the narrow space between. The boys pitched forward as the dirigible was forced to a sudden halt. The balloon was trapped among the rooftops as it steadily deflated. Sev poked his head out to assess their situation. The cabin dangled in between two buildings, both too far away to simply leap onto.
Thinking quickly, he looped a bit of rope around a bolt on his wrist-bow and fired at one of the structures. He used the anchored rope to haul the cabin to the nearest wall. Tesla scrabbled out first, forced open a window, and crawled inside. Kettlebent followed while Sev held the rope, his feet braced against the side of the cabin. Kettlebent reached through the hatch. Sev released the rope and grabbed his friend’s hand. The cabin snapped back to its original position, leaving Sev suspended outside the building, clinging to Kettlebent’s hand.
Kettlebent hoisted Sev inside a dirty apartment. The family living there huddled in a corner, their eyes wide with fear. “Sorry,” Sev said as he and his friends exited the flat. They ran down the back steps and tried to act nonchalant as they stepped out onto the morning street, blending as best they could into the crowd. Sev spared a glance at the ragged corpse of the airship suspended above them and lamented its loss.
UNFORTUNATELY, a small group of Fervis’s Footmen were on their way to the factory when Skeez MacGuff spotted Sev. But, he said to himself, that can’t be Seven. Seven’s dead, ain’t he? Unsure of his eyesight, Skeez elbowed Grim and pointed at the kid who couldn’t be Seven and said, “Does that look like Seven t’you?”
Grim squinted toward the lad. “Can’t be Seven. Seven’s dead, ain’t he?” Grim replied.
“Exactly what I thought, Grim.”
“One way t’find out, fellas.” Their third mate, Neil, joined the conversation.
“And how’s that, then, Neil?” Skeez asked.
“Like this,” Neil said and opened his mouth, taking a deep breath.
SEV kept his face straight ahead but used his peripheral vision to scan for anyone in the crowd who might be noticing their passing. It looked like they’d managed to pull it off. Now all they had to do was make it back to the underground. Sev was totally caught off-guard when someone bellowed, “Oy, Seven!” Before he realized it, he’d snapped his head in that direction. To his dismay what he saw was Skeez, Grim, and Neil: Fervis’s men.
“Shit, mates. We’ve got t’scarper,” Sev told his companions. Fervis’s men were already on the move, running toward them. Tesla and Kettlebent didn’t argue, only started scrambling away. The crowd was too thick for them to use weapons. Their only hope was to outrun their pursuers. Sev couldn’t help but smirk when he looked over to see a bright grin on Tesla’s face. Of course, he’d be ecstatic about the adventure of getting chased.
They snaked through Blackside. Sev and Kettlebent knew the alleys instinctively, and Tesla dashed about like the devil himself, easily keeping pace with his taller mates. Every time Sev was certain they’d lost the thugs, one or another dashed round a corner.
“Damn! We can’t lose them,” Kettlebent rasped.
Sev knew he was right. They had to do something to throw them off their trail. He searched about for something, anything to slow them down. Then it occurred to him.
“Ye fellows turn right up here,” Sev instructed them.
“And which way will you turn?” Kettlebent asked. Sev sensed a snippiness in his voice.
“It’s me they want. I’ll stop long enough so they see me and leave you,” Sev explained.
“No chance,” Kettlebent stated flatly. Sev huffed as they turned another corner, and still he could hear their pursuers’ footfalls. Kettlebent flattened himself against the wall. When Skeez came around the corner, Kettlebent caught the man, used his momentum to guide him into a collision with the wall, and Skeez crumpled. Kettlebent repositioned himself, awaiting the next thug. None came. Cautiously, Kettlebent dipped his head around the corner. “No one’s there.”
“What?” Sev could have sworn he’d heard multiple footfalls, but when he looked, back the way was empty. The three young men stood listening for any sign of Skeez’s fellow thugs.
“They gave up?” Tesla asked joining Sev to look down the alley.
“I doubt it,” Sev replied, keeping his voice low.
“Probably turned back to fetch reinforcements,” Kettlebent conjectured.
“If they turned back,” Sev added, still skeptical. He searched not only the alleyway but, remembering his own tactic of staying above people because they never looked up, he searched the roofline. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he might have seen someone duck out of sight. “We still ought t’be careful.” Kettlebent and Tesla nodded, and they moved swiftly toward the entrance to the underground. All the while Sev kept looking behind and above them for any sign they were being followed. He saw nothing, but he couldn’t deny an odd feeling of unease.
That feeling of unease had followed Sev all the way back into the underground. Only once he was on the lift to Heph’s office did it finally begin to evaporate. Tesla was over the moon with everything he was witness to. He darted about like a child in a sweet shop, trying to look at everything at once. “This lift looks ancient as well,” Tesla observed as Sev pulled the gate closed. The lift rose, and Tesla fired off all the questions he hadn’t had a chance to ask on the way down.
As they approached the third floor, they could hear shouting. “—you are! Damn it! You must release me. You’re an accomplice if you don’t!” The shouting was coming from an old man strapped to a chair in the middle of the work area. “Don’t ignore me, you hooligans! I demand—” the old man continued to roar as they passed.
“Was that Michael Faraday?” Tesla asked.
“I reckon so,” Sev stated nonchalantly. The lift continued its ascent despite Faraday’s protestations.
The lift ground to a halt, and the three young men exited to find Rat sitting at Hephaestus Kildeggan’s desk, his feet propped on it, while Heph paced his office. When the older man saw his visitors, an expression of elation spread over his features. “Silas! Seven!” He greeted them, shaking their flesh hands with his metal one. “You’re safe. Excellent!” He embraced Kettlebent and turned to Tesla. “This must be the esteemed Nikola Tesla.” Heph offered his hand. “I’m Hephaestus Kildeggan.”
Tesla grabbed the offered hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kildeggan,” Tesla answered. He pulled on Heph’s limb, studying it intently. “Fascinating.” Heph allowed the young scientist another moment of study before removing his hand from the young man’s grasp. Deliberately. Tesla looked slightly chuffed. “Yes. Well. The fellows have told me all about you. What do you need me to do?”
“I need a source of power to move something large. I think you’d call it a battery,” Heph replied.
“A battery? Intriguing. And you’ve also brought Michael Faraday. So, an electric power source. Possibly based on Faraday’s work with electromagnetism,” Tesla guessed. “Anything to do with the Faraday wheel?”
“It might,” Heph offered.
“Good.” Tesla clapped his hands together. “Well then, I should have a few words with Mr. Faraday.”
“I’m afraid he’s being rather less than cooperative,” Heph explained. “He’s a staunch imperialist and has no intention of joining our rebellion.”
“I’ll speak to him.”
“Tesla.” Heph smiled warmly. “You’re not just going to walk in there and change his mind.”
“I’m very charming, Mr. Kildeggan.” Tesla flashed a mischievous smile to punctuate his point. Before Heph could protest any further, Tesla spun and strolled back to the li
ft. “I assume all the materials we’ll need are in the workshop?”
“Well, yes. But—”
“Very good. We’ll get to work straightaway.” Tesla waggled a farewell wave as the lift descended.
“Cheeky little bastard,” Kettlebent groused.
“He certainly is,” Heph agreed, not unkindly.
“I like him,” Sev added.
“So do I.” Heph chuckled. Rat sat silently, his arms crossed, with a sour look on his face.
“Don’t worry, Rat.” Sev’s tone was chiding. “Ye’ve not been replaced.” Rat only grunted amicably in response and unfolded his arms.
“I think it’s time we gather everyone.” Heph’s tone turned suddenly serious. He dumped Rat out of his chair and finally sat down. “Everything’s coming to a head, and we need to be ready.”
“What will ye have us do?” Sev asked. “What else do we need?”
“Our allies,” Heph answered. “Sev, Rat, bring Midnight. Silas, get Sutherland.”
“Get him to do what?” Kettlebent asked.
“Get him to come here,” Heph explained. “Midnight too. It’s time we pooled our efforts. We all need to be on the same page.”
“Are you sure about this, Heph?” Kettlebent asked. “Once they know what’s down here, there’s no turning back.”
“We’re well past the turning back phase,” Heph responded. “It’s time for all the cards to be laid out and everyone’s hands revealed. They need to see the project.”
“He’s right,” Rat agreed. “No one’s gonna manage this on their own. Gettin’ rid o’that black-magic bastard’s goin’ t’take us all workin’ together.”
Heph nodded. “Get to it. Midnight. Sutherland. If there’s anyone else we can bring in, do it.”
“What about Beauchamps?” Sev asked.
“Good. She’s helped us all along. I’ll send Annie to fetch her.”
“I know of a few others as well,” Sev offered, thinking of Waverly and Monty.
“What about the Duchess of Inverness?” Kettlebent asked.
Heph placed a clockwork finger to his lips. “Yes. Good. She’s been trickling what financial help she could. She deserves to be privy to this as well.”
“I can ask Sutherland to get word to her,” Kettlebent offered.
“Do it,” Heph ordered. “We’ll meet here in twenty-four hours.”
“Right,” Sev, Kettlebent, and Rat said in unison. The group bid Heph farewell and boarded the lift.
On their descent, they once again came to the workshop where Faraday had been bound. The old scientist was no longer in the chair. He was engaged in animated conversation with Tesla. The young man regarded his passing friends and tipped them a wink.
Sev stopped the lift and waved Tesla over. “Excuse me, sir,” Tesla addressed Faraday. “I must have a word with my companions.” Faraday mumbled his consent and waved the youth along. “What news, friends?”
“We’re off t’gather the major players in our little drama,” Sev replied. “How’d ye manage t’coax the old man over to our side?”
“It wasn’t difficult. Faraday was livid when I arrived, but when I introduced myself and he realized that I was the ‘real Tesla’, it only took a bit of flattery on my part to soothe the old bugger and gain his favor.”
“Well done,” Rat conceded.
“Charming. Told you,” Tesla reminded them proudly.
“Mr. Tesla!” Faraday interrupted. “We’ve work to do, young sir.”
“Duty calls.” Tesla offered them a smug smile before returning to his new research partner. Sev worked the controls of the lift, and they once again descended.
“Damn,” Kettlebent whispered. No one else said anything, but Sev laughed low in his throat.
When the lift reached the base of the central tower, Rat took off to find Annie and tell her about the planned gathering. “I’ll meet ye at the entrance in a bit,” the urchin stated before he was out of earshot.
“I think he fancies her,” Kettlebent stated.
Sev considered it. “I think ye’re right, Silas. They could both do worse.”
“True,” Kettlebent agreed, chuckling. “Will you walk with me? I have to return home and retrieve my outer-skeleton and the rest of my disguise before I visit the above.”
“O’course,” Sev answered. The two young friends conversed quietly as they walked, wondering what lay ahead for them, for the queen, and for England. Sev blushed when Silas caught his hand but didn’t pull away. The gesture made him happy in a way that he couldn’t articulate. It also made him hopeful. No matter what happened with their endeavor, Sev was certain with Silas Kettlebent’s companionship, he could weather anything. Sev squeezed Silas’s hand and smiled when his friend returned the pressure.
17
REUNITED on the surface, Sev and Rat picked their way through Cheapside toward Midnight’s black chapel. They discussed Sev and Kettlebent’s mission to Austria. Rat asked numerous questions about the airship. Sev was only too happy to brag about the machine and then further brag about Tesla’s modifications. The loss of the ship seemed even worse to Sev as he related his story. If they weren’t being pursued at the time, Sev would have gone back for the ruined dirigible. Rat was totally enthralled by Sev’s story. Sev related Kettlebent’s sour reaction to Tesla, and his own instant liking.
Rat nodded. “He don’t like Tesla because he thinks you do, mate,” he answered and puffed his pipe alight. “He fancies ye just as much as ye fancy him.” Rat waited for Sev to deny his emotions. Sev couldn’t.
“And what difference does it make if I fancy Kettlebent?”
“None o’my business,” Rat answered. “Just makin’ an observation.”
“Like the way you fancy Annie?” Sev glanced at Rat. The urchin flushed bright pink and opened his mouth. “Just makin’ an observation,” Sev stated, cutting off Rat’s protest. “None o’my business. Except that Annie is a friend, and I expect her t’be treated well.”
Rat clamped his pipe in his teeth and nodded.
“Good.” Sev clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Relax, Ratty. If I didn’t think ye’d treat her right, I’d have already knocked yer teeth out fer even thinkin’ about her.”
“Aye. No less than I’d expect.” Rat brightened and relaxed. “Will ye put in a good word fer me?”
Sev winked. “I’ll see what I can do,” he answered with a soft laugh. The tension evaporated, and the two young men discussed how they would convince Midnight to join the rebel summit.
MIDNIGHT sat across from Sev and Rat. The villain’s hands were steepled before his lips, and he glared at his guests. “Rat, Rat, Rat.” Midnight clucked his teeth. “You’ve bought into this as well?”
“Aye.” Rat nodded, his ebony pipe clamped between his teeth. “We need t’stop this. And I mean ‘we’. It’s goin’ t’take everything we’ve got t’stop this bastard, I’m afraid.”
Midnight seemed surprised and pleased by Rat’s response. “Inspiring,” the criminal stated. “I assume you agree, Seven?” Midnight asked.
“I do,” Sev answered, meeting Midnight’s heavily lined gaze. “And ye did tell Kettlebent ye’d help in any way ye could.”
“Apparently the students become the teachers,” Midnight stated with a crooked smile. “We need to make something perfectly clear.” The villain stood, turning from his guests. “I want this wizard deposed as much as anyone.” He turned then and fixed the two young men with a grave expression. “But I am no one’s lapdog, and I will not be summoned like a common servant. You can tell your Mr. Kildeggan that Jack Midnight is no one’s whipping boy.”
Sev and Rat shifted uncomfortably. Rat’s eyes were wide with surprise and worry. Sev could see the recovery of this situation was up to him. “Jack,” Sev said, infusing his tone with humility. “Ye misunderstand. Kildeggan isn’t summonin’ ye. He’s humbly requestin’ yer presence.”
“Is that what he’s doing?” Midnight’s voice took on a sharp edge.
/> “He’s no fool. He knows that ye’re the major power in Blackside. He doesn’t want to offend ye.”
“I am no fool either!” Midnight screamed, spinning on Sev. The villain pounded his fist against his desk with enough force to rattle the items sitting on top. It took all of Sev’s courage to remain still in his chair under the blaze of that murderous leer. Rat wasn’t so disciplined. He was already on the floor behind his chair. Rat had seen that look in Midnight’s eyes before. Usually right before a great deal of bloodshed.
“I would never suggest such a thing,” Sev said evenly. He hoped no hint of the fear he felt was detectable.
“Then don’t treat me like one! And don’t for a moment forget that the reason your lungs still draw breath is because I see fit to allow it.” Midnight’s pointed forelock shook loose, obscuring one of the villain’s eyes. Sev could almost taste the venom in Midnight’s words. “You’re valuable to me, but even I have my limits.”
Sev sat forward, his elbows on Midnight’s desk, his hands folded before him. “Ye’d better calm yer tone, mate.” Sev kept his own tone even, calm. “Don’t underestimate me, Midnight. Y’might want t’consider that the only reason you draw breath is because I find yer alliance beneficial.” Sev focused every ounce of his will into the intensity of the gaze he leveled on Midnight while he bared his teeth. It looked more like a threat than a smile, like a predatory cat playing with its meal. “Let’s not test our friendship at this early stage o’the game.”
Midnight’s cheeks flushed. Sev expected the villain’s silver knives to appear in his hands at any moment, still Sev didn’t move a muscle. Midnight inhaled through his nose. Sev braced himself against the explosion. He was beyond surprised when Midnight whispered, “You are a riddle. This friendship will probably end in one of us killing the other.”
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