"Stop!" I yelled at them. I didn't care what he had done, I wasn't going to allow him to be tortured.
"He wants to kill you," Henri said. "He made me stick you with the syringe. He's playing us against each other."
Finally, the truth came out. Yet it didn't feel like the truth, something wasn't right. I looked from Henri to Mazol to the four girls, my head becoming more foggy by the moment. Somehow, Mazol made Henri hurt me; I had to believe that.
The four girls squeezed Mazol harder; blood began to ooze from beneath their fingertips where their nails had pierced his skin. He looked at me, his face contorted in grief and pain.
"Please, make them stop." It didn't sound like Mazol. I wouldn't expect him to beg like that. He sounded so weak, almost sad.
"Don't listen to him," Henri screamed, desperation filling her voice. "He told me everything. I was working against him the whole time. I was on your side, Evan, I swear. This is your only chance to beat him."
Little Sae looked up at me and said, "We'll kill him if you want us to, but...,"
Anabelle's eyes darted between me and Little Sae. "Are you sure it's not wicked? To kill?"
The other girls looked at Anabelle, as if they hadn't thought of this before. Fear flashed in their eyes.
"I don't know...," I said.
Henri was acting so strange, it was like I didn't know her. The girls looked up to me, I couldn't ask them to do something that was wrong. I couldn't become the monster my father thought I was. But what if Henri was right? What if this was my last chance to save us from Mazol? Could I trust her?
"Go ahead," Yesler said with a laugh, "Kill her—"
"Silence!" Henri screamed, interrupting Yesler with an anger I had never heard. She looked back at me, the angry creases on her face softened, "Please Evan. For me."
I looked back and forth between Henri and Mazol for a few long moments. I knew Henri was right. I was planning to lock Mazol outside the gates and let the jungle have him anyway. That was as good as a death sentence as killing him. I had to get rid of him if the fallings were going to have a chance without me. What difference did it make if I killed him now?
But it did make a difference. Banishing him from the castle was not the same as murder. And if he was going to be killed, I sure wasn't going to ask my little sisters to do it for me. They should let the monster do it.
"Let him go," I said. "Don't hurt him anymore."
I stepped towards my uncle, ready to catch him as he fell from the fallings' hands. I would give him more mercy than he had given the four girls who were holding him. Mazol at least would have a chance to survive. Maybe he would make it to the village alive.
I felt a rush of blood to my head and everything became suddenly more clear. Until that moment, I hadn't realized just how foggy my world had become. I remembered that only Mazol know how to cure the affliktion. In the confusion of the moment, I had forgotten all about how much I needed him alive. I tried to make a mental note to remember how easy it was to forget things like that when I was using sapience. I couldn't let the sapience control me so much.
The four girls vanished and Mazol collapsed. I caught him, looking down at the body in my arms expecting to see Mazol's wrinkled face staring up at me.
But it wasn't Mazol.
It was Henri.
Her eyes were closed and her body was shaking. I checked her over, desperately hoping she wasn't fatally wounded. Her arms were covered in bruises, but she wasn't bleeding.
I looked up to where Henri had been floating with Ballard and Yesler, but my uncle Mazol was in her place. It was like they had switched bodies.
"What was that?" I yelled at Mazol, "what did you do?" But he didn't answer, he looked dazed. I blamed him for confusing me. Somehow Mazol had tricked me. He was a sapient. He must be. And where did Little Sae and the other dead fallings come from? They must have been my imagination. My mind was just playing tricks on me.
"It was you," Yesler said with a laugh. "You almost killed her."
I looked down at Henri, hoping it wasn't true. Had I caused them to actually change bodies with each other or was it just my imagination? Or worse: was sapience making me lose my mind? The transformation was only hours away. This had to be the beginning of it. I was going to start turning on my own friends now. I had to leave the castle before I did any more harm.
I set Henri down carefully, leaning her head against the stair handrail next to the girl. As I stood, Yesler began laughing even louder. Mazol had come back to himself and joined Yesler.
"Enough!" I yelled and was surprised by how quickly they both stopped.
I held up my hands in front of me and they began to spin.
"So the letter was right," Mazol said. "You really are a monster aren't you."
I didn't answer him, but my blood temperature was rising fast.
"And now you're going to kill us, aren't you? Just like your father said you would." I could hear the desperation in his mocking. It was Mazol's way of begging for his life.
I didn't answer; I was trying to concentrate. The sapience wasn't coming as naturally this time, but I was attempting something much more complicated that just lifting them into the air. I caused the brambles of iron and timber and shattered glass that filled the room in a pile to rise up like a hundred snakes curling and twisting up into the air. My creation's fingers grasped Mazol and Ballard and Yesler's feet first, then wrapped up their bodies until they were fixed in the middle of a cage that seemed to come straight out of my nightmares.
In a single fluid motion, I ripped a dozen enormous clankers from their foundations. They swirled around the room like they were caught in a storm, wind rushed loudly around the circular room faster and faster. I made the clankers slow to a stop as they met in the middle of the room, directly above the heads of the warts. The whole towering room was charged static and sapience; dust and debris floated everywhere like we were underwater.
Then I pulled all the strands of tinsel wire from the debris I could find, winding them together into a single cord capable of holding the weight of those 12 clankers permanently. One end of the string fastened itself to three wide rafters which were still intact in the roof structure above the Caldroen while the other end wrapped tightly around the hanging clankers, binding them together.
When I was finished I breathed out. Feeling lightheaded, I grasped for something to steady myself on. Then I looked Mazol in the eyes.
"You're right Mazol. I am turning into a monster. But I'm not going to kill you." I glanced sideways at Henri, trying to sense her reaction. This was the first time I had admitted it out loud.
"What are you going to do to us then?" Mazol's voice was trembling.
"I'm taking over management of Daemanhur."
I released my hold and the suspended clankers pulled the iron string as tight as a bow. At the same time, all the floating debris fell to the floor with a crash.
"You're going to help me cure the affliktion," I said. "If you do anything that displeases me, I'll snap that iron cord and the weight of a dozen clankers will be the last thing any of you three ever know."
Pearl walked over to me and gave me a huge hug. I jumped at her touch, worried for a moment that she might try to hurt me, but then I hugged her back. I couldn't believe how much better she looked. The rash was gone. The color in her face was coming back. She was even smiling again. If she was getting better I knew there was hope for saving the others. Maybe it wasn't too late for Henri.
I looked down at the girl who had fallen. Her eyes were still closed, she seemed so peaceful. For the first time in as long as I could remember I actually felt at peace with myself. I had faced my fate; there wasn't any hiding it now.
I turned back to Henri just as her eyes were opening. She looked at me, her face blank of emotion, but then she held out her hands beckoning me to come to her.
I was reluctant to go at first. She had hurt me. I didn't know why. But now I had hurt her too. I hadn't meant to hurt her; I don't know w
hat caused me to think she was Mazol. The sapience inside me was becoming even more scary that I thought possible. But there was no taking back what I'd done. Maybe it was the same for her. Maybe she didn't mean to hurt me either. Maybe she really was forced to do it. I had to give her a chance to explain why at least.
I slipped my hands into hers, reluctantly, our fingers intertwining. I felt guilty, angry and relived all at the same time. I wondered what she was thinking about me and if she was feeling the same way.
I wasn't sure if I could ever trust her again. Or if I could even trust myself. I guess in a few hours it wasn't going to matter anyways. But for now at least, my sisters were finally safe.
"I'm pretty pissed at you," she said suddenly. I knew she was being honest, but I couldn't help but laugh.
"Me too."
"You're pissed at yourself?"
"Well, yeah, actually. But I'm even more mad at you."
"I can explain, I promise." I hoped she was right, but I didn't want to talk about it now. I gave her a half smile that meant, we'll see. What did it really matter anyways. I was going to be gone in a few hours. As long as we could keep from killing each other in the meantime. We had to figure out how to save the fallings from the affliktion and then I would be gone. Who knows, maybe I could just take Mazol and Yesler and Ballard with me. They could be my servants. My lips curled into a smile at the thought.
"What are you so happy about?"
"Oh," I straightened my face, "It's nothing."
She paused, then said, "You're not who you think you are, Evan Burl."
I didn't respond. It would have been nice if she was right, but I knew she wasn't.
Suddenly, the girl next to Henri moved her head. We startled, then watched as she cracked her eyes open.
"Evan Burl?" she said. Her voice was sweet, it reminded me of Anabelle. I felt sorry for this girl, what she must be going through. Henri would take care of her like one of the other fallings. She was going to have a hard life, but she wouldn't have to deal with Mazol, so I was thankful for that.
"It's all right," I said, suddenly wondering why it seemed that she knew my name. Then I remembered the rubrics I found on her wrist and the feeling I had about her when she landed. I was afraid of her, but I had forgotten all about that with everything that had happened after she fell. My chest began to pound a little faster when I remembered how Terillium had appeared above this girl and then demanded that my uncle kill me. Was that just a coincidence? Who was this girl? Why had she come to Daemanhur today?
She opened her eyes wide and raised her head. "Is your name Evan Burl?"
"Yes," I said, feeling surprisingly reluctant to admit it.
She looked directly at me, then her eyes drooped like she was about to fall asleep again. She let her eyes close, then after a moment said softly, "I'm supposed to kill you."
Then she fell asleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Anastasia
Friday
6:26 pm
4 hours, 23 minutes until the Falling
I sat in a large overstuffed chair, dangling my feet. I could hear several people talking outside the door, one was the mayor.
"It's ridiculous," the mayor said. "There is no way the child is responsible for his death."
"I'm just telling you what I saw," said another man.
"I've known her since she was in diapers and I've known the family far longer. Spoiled? Maybe. But a killer? It's absurd."
"I'm not saying she did it on purpose, just that she's responsible somehow. We must call a council meeting to decide if there should be a trial."
The mayor hrrumphed. "So be it. But, I'm not entertaining this. We'll call the council so we can decide who will care for the girl until she's of age. Baxter, will you watch her for a few hours while I attend to this?"
"Of course Mr. Mayor," another man said.
"I think it's dangerous to leave just one man with her," said the other.
"Enough," the mayor said. "She's twelve years old and weighs less than a box of canned peaches. I think my man can handle her just fine. Isn't that right Baxter?"
"I'm not so old that I can't still be of use. I'll take good care of her, Mr. Mayor."
The front door to the Mayor's house opened and an elderly man stepped through, careful to shut the door quietly behind him. He looked at me with a kind smile.
"Hello miss," he said. "My name is Baxter." He spoke slowly, I guessed because of his age, and had a low voice. His skin was pale white with dark speckles, like the men who came from over the northern sea.
"Am I in trouble?" I asked.
"Of course not miss, the folks who run this city just need to sort out some things and they asked me to look after you while they're busy."
"I don't need looking after."
"Of course not miss. Whenever my ol' lady leaves town, I help out around the mayor's house. I used to work for him when I was younger, I was an officer in the town's guard. And a pretty fine one at that. I was even a captain for a while, but I gave that foolishness up. Too much stress." He laughed like he had just said something really funny, though I couldn't figure out what it was.
"So you don't work for the mayor all the time?"
"No miss. Just one week a month now. They can't use an old geezer like me all the time anyhow. Not much these old shaking hands can do anymore. But when I was younger, I sure could work, let me tell you. A lot harder than some of these younger folk work now'a days. I hear them down at the canteen, all they do is complain. We worked from sun up till sun down, six days a week. I once spent six whole months underground. Didn't see the light o' day a single time."
He held up a single finger to emphasize this point, then he continued.
"I was always good at saving, my mam taught me that. Save up, boy, and when you're too old to work you'll be able to afford some leisure. Well that's exac'ly what I did. Saved up enough money that now, me and the Mrs. can afford a bit o' downtime, just like mam taught me."
He paused to laugh again.
"Folks said I was the luckiest chap in the guard. Thirty years, and I was never injured once. Not so much as a knick on my knickers."
He shook his head, like this was as astonishing an achievement as sailing around the world.
I realized that he might go on talking like this until I turned to dust, so I thought of something quick to ask while he was pausing for a breath. "What are they figuring out? The town leaders."
"They're trying to find a proper home for you to grow up in so you can take over your father's estate when you're a bit older. That's quite an estate you had up there on the hill, if you don't min' me saying so. I remember when they were building that house. Back then—"
"Wait," I said. His droning on and one was making my mind turn to peanut butter. "What do you mean, find a house for me? I already have a home."
"Miss..., I'm sorry, but..." He sighed. "Miss, your home is naught but rubble and ashes. Don't you remember? The fire, last night."
"That's a lie."
"I'm sorry miss... it was a terrible thing. No girl should be without her family—without her father and mother."
"I have a father. He's home right now waiting for me."
"I'm sorry miss, but you're gonna have to face it sooner or later. Your father, well, he's not with us anymore. What I mean to say is, he's... Uh... gone on to a better place. I know it's hard miss, but you—"
"My mother taught me that it's wicked to lie." I stood up and walked to the door. "I don't like you very much. I'm going home now."
"Miss, now, I... I can't let you leave just yet." He rushed to the door so he was between me and it. I heard him lock it quietly behind him. "Why don't you come back and sit down and I'll make you a nice cup of hot spiced tea. I remember the time I made tea for the chancellor of El Qir, if you can b'lieve it. The man was a giant, made me feel like a little boy..."
He went on and on like this and I found myself unable to pay any more attention. I rather wanted to go h
ome, but I did love hot spiced tea. It may not hurt to have one cup before I left. I knew I ought to punish the old man for lying to me and thought having some tea might be a chance to think of just the right consequence. I followed the old man into the kitchen, never taking my eyes from him, then sat on a tall stool by the window. There was a nice view of the city that Papa built from where I sat, but I barely noticed it. I watched Baxter work, thinking carefully.
"...Then he took that little dog, and do you know what 'e did next? He dumped it straight down in the water. That dog just spluttered and spat, but he sure did smell a lot better after t'at..."
As the old man continued one story after another that seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with each other, he set the water to boil then carefully measured out spiced powder from a painted clay jar. When the kettle whistled, he took the pot from the fire and poured out two steaming mugs. He set one in front of me and sat down with his own. It smelled delicious, but I burned my tongue when I took a sip.
"Oww!"
"—Sorry miss," he said, stopping his story mid sentence. "I should have warned you that it's quite hot."
I was angry with him for not cooling the tea before serving it.
"Let me get you a cool cloth for that burn," he said. "My mam always taught me—"
I stood up before him and said, "That's quite all right. I can get it myself."
He sat back down, somewhat reluctantly, as if surprised that I would do anything myself. He was quiet for a few moments, then started up a new story about a farm that he worked on as a child. But I didn't care what he was talking about. I resented him for the look on his face.
Did he think I was helpless? I was quite capable of wetting a cloth; I dabbed it on my tongue and felt better immediately. Baxter kept looking out the window at the walk to the front door as he rattled on and on, like he was waiting for someone to show up. He seemed nervous; he didn't enjoy my company. He wished someone else had been told to watch me, I could tell. And he had lied to me; how it vexed me when servants lied to me.
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