by Michael Rigg
He still felt deceived by her, but not purposefully. If she were truly being used by the Carpenters, she's an innocent. She wouldn't know the true depth of what she was.
If any of this incredible story were true, Bryce had been used by powers far greater than anyone could imagine, and used to change history. For the better, or for the worse, he didn't know. He would have to find Alice to make that determination.
Lydia said, "Bryce, if what Clayton says is true than I too have a confession to make. I chased her out of here. I told her I would kill Clayton and pin his murder on her!"
"Why in blazes?" Bryce growled.
Her bodice expanded as she drew a determined breath. When next she spoke it was as a Lady of the South, her chin raised in defiance. "Because it is important that Atlantis be returned to your father, at all costs, Bryce Landry."
"Fate would seem to have other ideas about that. You can't turn against them. You can't fight their whims!"
Lydia nodded. "I didn't know she had the mark, but it makes no difference what superstitious tripe your family believes. That stranger, be she Property or demon, has kept us from what is rightfully ours. Bryce, there are no such things as Clockwork Carpenters!"
Something in Lydia McFerran changed. Bryce saw it and so did Clayton who looked at her curiously over her shoulder as he touched the lump on the back of his head. Her voice had become more steady, deeper.
Clayton whispered, "Lydia? No... I have seen the symbol."
"Lower the weapon, Bryce," she said calmly, ignoring Clayton.
Bryce winced as he tried to make sense of all of this. The pistol had slowly lowered as they spoke. He raised it again. "Whether you knew she had the mark or not, Lydia, why did you do this? You had to know at the time that chasing Alice off wouldn't bring back Atlantis."
"It might've," she said, taking a step toward him, toward the pistol. "I had to take that chance, the chance that I could use Clayton and leverage your father to take Atlantis back from the North, to correct your mistakes, Captain."
Clayton glanced at Bryce, a foggy glint in his eyes that communicated that this was all news to him.
Lydia took another step toward Bryce and spoke evenly, her voice bold and pronounced with all traces of Southern Belle gone. "Whether I married you or Clayton it made no difference. I used money to buy your father. I used my body to buy Clayton, and potentially you. One way or the other it was important I gain control of Landry Holdings."
"What?" Bryce now turned the pistol on Lydia's heart. Clayton merely looked on, dumbfounded.
"I was acting on a higher authority, Captain Landry. It meant greater wealth, greater power, for you and your whole family. Now lower your goddamned weapon."
Clayton and Bryce's eyes strained as their faces blushed. Bryce raised the barrel to her throat as she took another step toward him. "Whose authority, damn you?"
Lydia stopped. With no trace of emotion in her voice, she said plainly, "The Council of The Thinking Machines and Silas W. Kennedy, President of the Confederacy... my husband."
Bryce quickly lowered the weapon to his side and took a step back. Clayton staggered back against the potting bench, his saucered eyes locked on the President's First Lady.
She removed the broach from her neck and opened her dress so she could pull out a necklace. From the end of the necklace hung a Celtic cross framed by a pyramid. A single ruby glinted from an eye at the top of the pyramid. Clayton and Bryce recognized the symbol immediately. There was no need for her to say it, but she did.
"I am a Lady of Grace."
~~~~~~~
The cold fingers wrapped around Pandora's wrist and effortlessly lifted her up and over the rail. Then the hand released her and clasped her by the hand.
"My dear lady, you could catch your death of cold out there," Hearse smiled as he grabbed her other hand as well and turned her so her back was to the building. He laced his fingers between hers on both hands so she couldn't cross her fingers and cast magic. Then he walked her backwards, through the broken glass scattered on the promenade and into the conference room.
Pandora looked down and away. She had heard that Ghouls can overpower you with their eyes. She tried clenching her fists, to dig her nails into the backs of his hands, but he was too strong, and too resilient, for her to break free.
Once inside the room, Hearse called over Pandora's shoulder, "Bradford, be a good lad and fetch a maintenance crew to repair this window. I'd hate for the morning sun to ruin the perfect gloom of this place when it rises."
Pandora tried to turn, to look over her shoulder toward Thorne, but the ghoul kept her back toward him. She also didn't hear him move to do the ghoul's bidding.
"Bradford," Hearse snapped, "Never mind the girl. I will make her pay for what she did to you. Now, go and do as I command."
Pandora heard a weak, "Yes, Mr. Hearse... Um, Teivel," over her shoulder. A few moments later the doors closed and she was alone with the ghoul.
"Look at me, my dear," he said.
She kept her face down and turned away. He tried blowing into her ear but she only whipped her head around to avoid having to look up at him. He continued to blow at her face as one might to annoy a dog.
"Oh, come now, my dear. You know I cannot release your hand to raise your chin. Won't you look at me?"
"Go to hell, you bastard!"
Hearse laughed and made a tisking sound with his tongue. "Such language for such a lovely young lady... Young at heart, I'd say... Not really as old as she smells, hm?"
"Let me go!"
"In time, in time."
"I have nothing to say to you!"
"Not yet, but you will, my lovely." Hearse eased her back to the conference table and pressed his body against hers. "Hop up," he grinned. He pressed still harder.
To avoid the pain exploding in the small of her back, Pandora did as she was commanded and hopped up to sit on the conference table.
"Good girl." He gave up trying to match the movements of her head to catch her eyes and simply said in a soothing voice, "Let me make proper introductions, hmm? I am Teivel Hearse, president of the Thorne & Hearse Corporation."
Keeping her eyes averted, Pandora snarled, "What'sa damn ghoul want with an Imperial company?"
Ignoring the question, Hearse chuckled, "I've told you my name... What's yours? Your real name, I mean? Or do I have to break all these pretty little fingers?"
She continued to squirm, to thrash her head from side to side, avoiding his eyes and not saying a thing.
"No?"
Catching her in mid head-turn, Hearse head-butted her hard above the forehead. Pandora immediately slackened in his grasp and slumped back, collapsing on the conference table as he knocked her out cold.
The King of Ghouls released her hands and lifted his knee to the table, then he hopped up and crawled onto the table, on top of her. He threw his leg over and straddled her at the waist, lowering his full weight to her body and studied her slack face. "You're a beautiful young woman, witch." He lowered his cold lips to her neck and kissed her gently, then breathed into her ear, "I've smelled you before, haven't I?"
He reached up and parted her lips with his fingers, reached into her mouth and pulled open her jaw. He sniffed her open mouth as if testing the expiration date on a bottle of milk. "Hmm. No? Yes? I think so, my dear. Philadelphia, I believe. You and Mr. Grubbs were hunting something, no? Some one?" He sniffed again before taking his fingers out of her mouth and lowering his lips to hers. Hearse kissed her deeply.
The doors opened and Bradford Thorne stepped in. The door rattled closed behind him.
Hearse looked up and smiled as if he hadn't just been kissing an unconscious woman. "You notified maintenance, Bradford?"
Thorne gl
anced between the woman and his new partner. He nodded slightly.
"Good." Hearse licked his lips before giving Pandora a gentle kiss on the nose, then he climbed off of her and off the table. "Now... There is something I need fabricated. I imagine our corporation—or at least your private holdings therein—have access to a leatherworks and a seamstress?"
Thorne's gaze traveled back to Pandora. He wondered if she was dead, if Hearse would eat her like he did Wolfe. He couldn't bear the thought. Thorne clutched his stomach as he felt himself start to wretch. He nodded again without saying anything, tried to push the gross thoughts from his mind.
"Splendid. Be a good man and fetch them here." Hearse turned and stepped up to the tall golden chairs and took a seat on Thorne's throne. "Be quick about it."
"Yes, Mr. Hearse."
"Oh, and prepare to mobilize some agents. I expect some intelligence within the hour and we'll need to go hunting for someone."
"Hunting?"
Hearse waved his hand as if shooing away a bothersome servant.
After Thorne departed, Teivel Hearse sat back on the throne. He crossed his legs at the knee and rested his arms on the wide arms of the throne. He drummed his fingers and bounced his leg as he stared at the unconscious witch.
He hummed Here Comes the Bride.
CHAPTER 25, “Mystic Lady”
I sat near the back of the flying covered wagon that swayed on the cross-currents of the winds just below the clouds, daydreaming out across the rolling green below dotted with farmhouses and odd factories that looked like spaghetti bowls of pipes and tubes. I thought about Bryce and Addy, their smiles and kindness. I thought about Lucien. I thought about Pandora and Wilco. I really wished things hadn't turned out the way they did. When I thought about Clayton's attack on me and the look on Lydia McFerran's face, I frowned and my eyelids grew heavy.
My hand moved to my chest, then my neck, to find the locket Bryce had given me, so I could hold on to memories of his kindness before —
Then I completely snapped out of my daydream. My hand moved over my neck. No chain. No locket. I drew a cold breath and looked back at the cot where I had been sleeping, the odd "Wocmend" machine above the pillow. Then my eyes traveled to Maggie sitting at the bench. She was looking at me oddly, with knowing eyes. Her own eyes glanced down to the hand at my neck. "Whassa matter, love? Whatcha lookin' far?"
I blinked and looked back outside. My heart sank as I looked out over the land receding behind us and wondered where I had lost the necklace. It was probably on the railroad tracks back in Shreveport where I'd fallen, lost forever... just like Bryce.
A glint in the corner of my eye pulled me around and I saw it. It dangled from Maggie's fingers as she came and sat down beside me. The smile on her face was warm but somehow lost. "I'm so sorry, love. I took it ta hold on to it for ya. I was gonna give it back, I swear."
She held the swinging bronze heart toward me and offered a more apologetic smile. "It was wrong o' me to hold onto it like tha'. I would never steal from an angel, love, I hope ya know."
I reached out and took the necklace by the chain and smiled back weakly, not sure I believed her, but not that it mattered. After all, I'm not the angel she and Kevin believe me to be. "Thank you."
Her eyes turned down. "I'm sorry, Alice. I ain't no fingersmith."
I opened the clasp and reached the two ends of the chain around my neck. Maggie leaned over to help me clasp it. "I'm just glad it wasn't lost," I said as I looked down and turned the dented locket over and over in my fingers.
Maggie sat back and watched me for a bit before asking, "Was it sometin' meanin'ful to ya? I mean... Ya look at it like it's got a lot of feelin' behind it."
I nodded slightly and tried not to cry. I didn't realize how much I'd miss having Bryce nearby. It stung knowing how Lydia threatened me. Still, I had new friends now and would make the most of it. I turned to Maggie and offered an understanding grin. "It was given to me by the man who rescued me in New York. He found me and..." I drifted a bit and had to remember to guard what I said. I didn't want to be caught in a lie with Kevin and Maggie. They'd been so kind even if their kindness was misplaced thinking I was some kind of divine womb-blesser. I said, "He found me and gave me something to eat. I don't remember much else."
She nodded, not seeing a need to pry, and reached out to rub my shoulder. "Now I'm really glad I didna keep 'er. She's really got a meanin' for ya, Alice."
Kevin's voice shouted back from the front of the wagon. "Maggs, my dear, we've got company!"
Maggie quickly turned and made her way forward, grabbing her pilot's cap and goggles as she made her way to the front of the flying wagon. I carefully stood, using the racks and rails of the wagon as hand-holds as I followed her forward. I leaned in and peered between them as Maggie took the seat next to her husband. "What is it?" I asked.
Kevin pointed above us to the left. I could make out the silhouette of an airship like a bloated gray sausage descending out of the clouds. It seemed to be lowering and angling toward us, turning to match our speed and direction. A series of running lights flickered along the compartments below it and a red banner with a blue field of stars flew from a pole jutting out from the bridge area of the ship. I recognized the flag. "It's Confederate?"
Kevin nodded. "Whoever she is, she's coming around to squat on us."
"What's that mean?"
Maggie looked back at me as she pulled her goggles over her eyes and adjusted the arm-lenses to magnify her pupils. "She's probably a patrol ship or sometin'. We're gettin' close to the country border and will be sure to pick up a patrol ship 'ere an' there."
"Is that bad?" I looked to Kevin.
He looked over his shoulder at me. His eyes were dark below the brim of his top hat and behind his goggles. "I don't carry contraband, Alice." He smirked, "Except maybe you."
I looked between them, my eyes widening slightly as I thought back on Lydia's threat. Could she have put the word out so quickly? Would I be arrested, or shot on sight? I glanced back at the cot I had called home since last night. There were boxes and bins under it. There was no room for me to hide aboard the wagon. I'd have to face it. "Look," I said, reaching out to rest a hand on Maggie's elbow. "I won't have you two getting in trouble because of me. If it's the authorities, I'll surrender myself, tell them I forced you to take me to Philadelphia."
Kevin grinned. "Nah, nah, Alice. Half truths are no better than full lies." He looked to his wife and smiled. "We'll tell them everything."
Maggie looked back at me. "True's right, love. We're in it together."
I leaned a little more between them and looked up as the airship finished swinging around to match our direction. As it came parallel with us and descended closer, I was able to make out shapes moving to and fro within the angled windows of the adjoining compartments below the blimp itself. Unlike some of the airships I'd seen, this one looked to have a long chain of cabins under its balloon, almost like windowed train cars. At the front-most part of the ship I saw a wider cabin with taller windows. The bridge, I assumed. Toward the rear was another large cabin with no windows. Pipes, tubes and struts angled out from this section to the enormous fan-like engines that propelled it.
As the ship came still closer, it became even larger. So large, in fact, I was hardly surprised when I saw doors swing open like a bomb-bay in the mid section of the ship. I saw men working ropes and pulleys inside. They planned to bring us up inside their ship! "Oh, wow," I muttered as I realized this. "Is this common?"
Kevin and Maggie exchanged glances, Kevin's face suddenly growing dark.
Then a few things happened all at once. Maggie reached forward and pulled a lever. A loud jut of steam exploded out from underneath the wagon, making us lurch forward and causing the pots and pans
and other bric-a-brac to dance around and clatter loudly behind me. The wagon started to take a sharp dive. Kevin yelled for me to get down. And, in a glimpse, I saw some figures inside the airship man what appeared to be mounted harpoon guns and swing them toward us. It was when Maggie shouted "Pirates!" that I noticed they'd struck the Confederate flag, pulling all markers inside the ship.
The harpoon guns fired with thunderous whoop! whoop! whoop! sounds, followed immediately by a swishing spring echoing in the space between us and the enormous airship. One of the shots impacted with the balloon above the wagon's canopy. It burst with a loud woof of air. Two more harpoons shattered what was left of the balloon and tore through the canopy behind me embedding deep into the floor of the wagon, breaking several plates, bottles and gadgets.
The wagon slumped to the side, angling down as if it were going to spin ungracefully toward the earth. Maggie screamed and started to roll out of her seat before Kevin caught her and pulled her back. We dropped. My stomach flew into my mouth before our short descent ended with a hard jerk that almost felt like we'd hit ground. I tumbled back into the main compartment, bumping off the cot and snagging my skirt on the barb of one of the harpoons.
I felt the entire wagon creak and roll, now suspended by the three cables fired from the airship. We still had forward momentum, but Kevin was forced to shut down the engine to avoid spinning us around their tow cables or swinging us around to crash us into their engines. All he could do was hold his tiny wife closely. All I could do was look up through the tear in the canopy and watch the men grinning down at us, laughing and pointing.
"What do we do?" I called out to Kevin.
He answered after a moment's consideration. I realized this had never happened to him before and what he was about to give me was pure conjecture. "They'll likely just rob us and leave us off somewhere." His voice was weak, almost shaky. It's no wonder Kevin Tarnish never lies. He's very bad at it.