Back in Canada, she’d been toying with the idea of building a metal structure herself, a means to generate and conduct electric currents. Simon had teased her about the idea and the practicality of the applications, but she knew the idea held potential. Her plan was to construct a top terminal consisting of a metal frame in the shape of an oval, though the exact structure of the frame wasn’t working in her experiments. She hoped to glean some ideas from the metal cage and spire that housed the giant bells.
“Your mind is surprisingly loud when you’re thinking.”
She stumbled on the next step, shocked by the sound of Emmet’s voice. “I’ve heard that complaint more than once. Little I can do to stop it, I’m afraid.”
“The clockwork mechanism is in a room above the pendulum. Uncle Edmund took great pride in building it. Says there isn’t a thing that can ruin the accuracy of his work.”
“From what I’ve heard, his pride isn’t misplaced.” It was difficult to talk and climb stairs without sounding completely winded. But she wanted to keep him engaged now that the silence between them had finally been broken. “You seem rather familiar with this. Did you visit often?”
“Before I joined the Archives, Uncle Edmund would let me tag along when they were constructing it. I often act as liaison between the guild and the king as well. I stop by and visit, enjoy the view whenever I’m at the castle.”
“You’re most fortunate to have access to such an amazing piece of engineering.”
“Here we are.” Emmet pushed the door open and allowed Nicola to go first.
The clockworks were massive and took up much of the room. Unlike in the stairwell, the room itself was bright as sunlight spilled across the clock mechanism and the floor. The ticking of the machine filled the space as much as the machinery did. Like a moth to a flame, Nicola moved in for a closer look.
The simple beauty of the clicking cogs was matched by the swinging pendulum below. Something glinted in the light from the steam lamps that dotted the walls, pulling her closer still. “Pennies?”
“I asked about that as well. Uncle Edmund said they are used to adjust the speed of the clock. They do so to ensure the accuracy of the time.”
“Amazing.”
Emmet gave her space to climb around the works, though he’d tense whenever it appeared she were to touch something she shouldn’t. After the second time he did it, she treated it like a game, counting how many times he’d flinch.
“You’re doing that on purpose.” He finally said, leaning back against the wall. “I swear you’ve come to this country simply to torture me.”
This was the first time since their return to freedom and Emmet’s memory wipe that he’d started to act more himself. She’d grown ever more aware of his changing moods, wishing she could do something to fill the void that now filled his mind. She could only imagine the pain and frustration it would cause him, knowing that his flawless memory would never be the same again.
Ignoring the long rods that stuck out from machinery, she turned toward where he stood. “And what if I have? What would you do about it?”
He didn’t move, but she could tell he’d gone on alert. “What would you have me do?”
“Well it wouldn’t be very gentlemanly for you to fight back, though you are more than capable of sparring with me verbally. You’re certainly not the type to whine, a fact I’m forever grateful for, if you must know.”
“You’re welcome.”
“That only leaves seduction. It would be the best way to distract me while not causing yourself harm.”
“I’m not going to seduce you in the machine room of a clock.”
“Why not? I’m a clockwerker, after all. There isn’t a better place for a seduction in my opinion.”
“Miss Tesla—”
“Ah, ah! None of that now.”
He huffed. “Nikki, we can’t do this here.”
“Why not? Are you scared we’ll be discovered and you’ll be forced to make an honest woman of me?” She would be concerned about that herself, if she thought society would care one wit about the state of her virginity and propriety.
Emmet’s gaze never wavered as she moved closer. This seemed to be a natural thing between them, this need to attract and repel each other constantly. Their lovemaking and awkward parting was still fresh between them, a reminder that neither of them was as adept at relationships as they might like.
Surprisingly, she’d grown comfortable in his presence, even if she still didn’t understand her kaleidoscope of emotions. Much as she’d become with Simon and the other men of the Company, Emmet was a presence she’d begun to take for granted, the difference being that she wanted more from him than she ever did the others.
“Nikki?” His voice had grown quiet and was nearly drowned out by the machines.
“Kiss me.” She didn’t stop moving until their bodies were pressed together. “Please.”
“We shouldn’t.”
“Don’t you want to?”
“Of course, but—”
“Then kiss me.”
With his hands at his sides, he bent forward and pressed his open mouth to hers. There wasn’t the desperation as when they’d come together previously. This was softer, more exploratory than possessive. She held her arms at her sides as well, allowing her mind to drift and her body to enjoy the brief touches of contact between them.
This was what she’d wanted, passion and companionship. Despite his harsh nature, Emmet treated her as an equal in ways that even her colleagues at the Company didn’t. He also treated her as a woman, something she hadn’t realized she’d wanted before now.
The kiss went on and her body relaxed into his. The feel of him hard beneath her, still obvious despite the layers of clothing between them, betrayed his desire. They both finally slowed the kiss, coming to a stop together. She opened her eyes and looked into his. The thick white bands that now circled his irises were a reminder of what he’d given up to help keep her safe, of what he’d lost in the process.
She pressed her hand to his face, letting her fingers linger near his eye. “If anything, it makes you look dangerous.”
“It brands me forever as what I am.”
“And what’s that?”
He swallowed. “A man who steals souls.”
“That’s not what your guild believes.”
“No, but it’s what I believe now. I’ve seen so much, heard too much from others to believe otherwise.”
She knew it was a dangerous admission for him to make, putting him at great risk with the guild. “What will you do?”
“Whatever I have to. I volunteered to join the archivists, unlike so many others. I can’t walk away from this now.”
“Your family?”
“Wouldn’t have me even if I wanted them.”
Being abandoned by her parents, her brothers, she couldn’t imagine the heartache that would bring. They’d accommodated each of her odd requests as a child and into her womanhood, she knew they would never turn their backs on her. The Archives had become Emmet’s family by proxy. No wonder he clung to the life he’d chosen.
The clock mechanism wound up, and the sudden loud clanging pulled a startled yelp from her that she couldn’t help but giggle at. The clock chimed, the loud noise making her ears ring from its suddenness. Da, de da, da de de dum. As quickly as it started, the chimes stopped.
“Three o’clock,” she said with a smile.
The sound of the door opening had her take a step away. While she didn’t care about what others thought of her, she wouldn’t put Emmet in an uncomfortable position. A man stood in the doorway dressed in a long black coat and bowler, staring at Emmet. He wasn’t the clock minder they’d met upon being granted access, but there was something familiar about him.
“Mr. Dennison.”
Emmet pushed away from the wall and stepped between her and the man. It only rankled a little that he felt the need to protect her in such a way, especially after all they’d been through
. But as she looked closer at the man and took notice of his white eyes, she understood.
“Administrator. What can I do for you?”
She’d of course, heard tell of the Administrators. They were the enforcers of the Archives, and less than savory sorts, if Simon’s reports were to be believed. They were the men and women who would get their hands dirty completing the tasks others were unlikely to hear about, let alone wish to do. As she looked closer at the man, she realized she’d spotted him on a number of occasions before their abduction, passing through the areas she’d been in. She needed to develop a better sense of awareness if so many people had been following her since her arrival in this blasted city.
“We have a situation. One that will require your presence as well, Miss Tesla.”
It shouldn’t bother her as much as it did that he knew her identity. “Anything that I can do to assist, I shall.”
“What’s wrong? Did they find Keegan?”
The Administrator looked between them, and Nicola couldn’t stop from shivering. “No. But he’s begun to cause… difficulties. Your presence is required down at the Baron’s.”
She leaned in and whispered in Emmet’s ear. “Who?”
“He makes airship components for the King’s Navy. What did Keegan do?”
“Killed the Baron and destroyed his warehouse.”
“Shit,” Emmet muttered and reached back for her hand. “That means we’ll need to cut short our tour once again, Miss Tesla.”
“Someday I shall see the bells. And the clock face. I hear it’s quite beautiful.”
The Administrator didn’t move away to give them any privacy, instead watching them intently as they approached. He only gave them the barest of room to pass and start back down the massive staircase.
“I believe I’ve gotten a sufficient amount of exercise for the month now.” She grabbed the railing and set a steady pace down.
Upon their exit, they were met by a second man, clearly another Administrator, based on the way Emmet tensed. They were guided toward one of the guild carriages, with little choice but to follow. If she was meant to be intimidated, it wasn’t going to work. She’d come face to face with polar bears and manic scientists with home constructed weapons, and she’d been stuck onboard an airship with faulty ballasts. A bunch of dour-faced men weren’t going to set her nerves off.
Grinning, she jumped into the carriage, taking the forward-facing seat and made just enough room for Emmet to join her. “I don’t normally have this sort of excitement working for the Company. It’s all gadgets and profit margins. Boring most days.”
“Come to New London for the sights.” Emmet bumped her shoulder as the Administrators took the seats opposite. “Stay for the murders.”
“Rather catchy.”
The trip from the castle across town took a surprisingly little amount of time. Nicola was amazed at how the crowds on the streets would simply part, allowing the Archives carriage to pass. She’d catch the faces of the people as they passed—disgust, fear, awe—before they’d moved from sight.
“They don’t want to catch the eye of the zombies within,” Emmet said softly into her ear. “Scared we’ll take their souls from them where they stand.”
“Better they fear us than get in our way.” She looked at the Administrator. His unblinking gaze would have unnerved most. Thankfully, she wasn’t most people.
“I’ve often learned that people will do more to help a friend than they would to punish an enemy. It’s a shame things don’t work that way for your guild.”
“Yes, it is.” His lips twitched into a smirk.
“Why do you need us here?” Emmet leaned forward, pulling the Administrator’s attention to himself. “Surely you don’t need me to conduct an extraction?”
“You are both to offer insight into the state of the boy’s mind and his capabilities in controlling his automaton.”
Frustrated, she mirrored Emmet’s pose and looked the Administrator straight in the eyes. “We don’t know the full extent of what he can do. We only had limited contact with Keegan at best. Just enough to realize Thomas was drugging him. What insights do you expect us to be able to give?”
“Enough to continue to make your presence in our city necessary, Miss Tesla. I’m certain your employer will want you back as soon as possible.”
“Are you threatening me?” While, yes, she suspected Simon was anxious to have her back, she knew him well enough that he’d allow her a grace period before yanking her chains to return.
The Administrator’s face remained glacial. “Threats are for those who lack the resolve or capability to follow through with action.”
“Enough.” Emmet straightened, pulled Nicola with him. “We are working together in this matter. Miss Tesla and I will inspect the scene and provide what we can to the King’s Sentry.”
When they finally turned the corner and slowed their approach, she was more than ready to be once again out in the open. That was until she set foot onto the cobblestones and the stench of cooked meat assaulted her nose.
Emmet jumped down beside her and pressed the back of his hand to his nose. “What the hell is that?”
“That would be the Baron.” The Administrators stayed in the carriage. “I expect you’ll find passage back from here. Please make a report to the Guild Masters immediately upon your return, Dennison. Good day, Miss Tesla.”
The scene was full of men from the King’s Sentry and several who bore the marks of other guilds. The Baron must have had wide-reaching connections for his death to garner this much attention. The largest cluster of men was near a machine, and they set off in that direction as one. The group parted on their approach, revealing the burned body of a large man. His face was contorted from the heat, rivets burned into the skin.
“Have the archivists been dispatched?” Emmet crouched down to inspect the body. “Has Sergeant Hawkins been notified?”
“Yes, sir. We just got here ourselves.”
“You Administrators are efficient.” She kept her distance from the body. While she might have a great deal of experience in the world, the dead were not her area of expertise, nor was she comfortable being so close. The reminder of how frail humanity truly was disturbed her on a deep level.
“They would have been watching the Baron. They tend to have eyes on the more colorful figures of our fair city.”
Why would Keegan do this? His rage against Thomas made sense, given what he’d done to him and Mary. But why this man? With her stomach threatening to cast up its contents, she moved away from the group and allowed Emmet space to work. It was strange how he didn’t even notice the fact the man was roasted as one would a pig on a spit, turning the body this way and that to mentally record the details. For all his talk of hating the extractions, of regretting his joining of the guild, Emmet seemed most at ease while dealing with the dead.
In time, the crime scene swelled with people. Runners from the King’s Sentry came and went, preparing the site for the inevitable arrival of the archivists. The atmosphere changed once more when the guild’s carriage appeared and the door swung open. What she wasn’t expecting was to see the tall frame of Jones jumping to the cobblestones. She gave him a little wave, which got her a small smile in return.
“Miss Tesla.” Jones leaned in and placed a soft peck on her cheek. “You were the last person I expected to see.”
“The Administrators pulled Emmet and myself in. They wanted insight into why the boy attacked the Baron. You’re here to do the extraction?”
He nodded, little joy in his eyes. “I am. Seems the Baron had considerable information that the Guild Masters want to ensure we capture. I have the freshest mind for such a task.”
The single ring of white around his eyes would grow once this extraction was complete, stretching the hole even wider in his mind. Bit by bit they gave themselves in service of their city, and they were treated horribly in return. Nicola couldn’t imagine living such a life.
“I’m afra
id an extraction will be impossible.” Emmet strode up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s a bit too soon for you to be out again.”
Jones looked at Emmet’s hand and couldn’t quite contain a smirk. “Well, you know the Guild Masters. Once you’re on the list…”
“You’re never off.”
“Why can’t we extract?”
“Head trauma. Seems when Mary shoved him into the pipe, she wasn’t exactly careful. The rivets tore the skull and damaged the brain and a spike pierced the top of his head.”
“You know I have to try.” Neither man looked pleased by the prospect.
“Take care.” Emmet clapped him on the back as Jones passed by. To Nicola he said, “You and I will need to do some old-fashioned digging around.”
“Isn’t that what the Sentry is for?”
“The Administrators don’t want the Sentry; they want me.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to her ears. “You can’t tell me you don’t want to be involved with this.”
The shiver that raced through her had nothing to do with the excitement of the chase and everything to do with wanting to feel his lips on her flesh. “You know I do.”
They stood that way—front to back—while the crowds moved around them. It would be so easy for her to simply close her eyes and picture them somewhere else, someplace far away from the city where they could enjoy the luxury of each other’s company. “Come to Canada with me.”
He stiffened behind her. “What?”
“When this is all said and done, you should come back to Canada with me. There’s lots to keep you busy. I know Simon would love to have another able body who can take care of himself and others around.”
“I—”
She spun around and pressed her hand to his mouth. “Promise to think about it.”
Quicksilver Soul Page 24