Cogs in Time Volume Three (The Steamworks Series Book 3)

by Catherine Stovall

  Before she cast her eyes to the floor, she’d caught sight of her mother. Minerva LeBeau wore a day dress of pale blue. Her golden hair had been curled and pinned. She looked poised, but Simone had caught the tightness around her eyes.

  Is she been worried that her only daughter would rather run away than bend to the will of her father? The likely answer was that her mother was ashamed. That knowledge stabbed Simone in the heart. She wasn’t close to either of her parents, but the thought that she disappointed the woman twisted her stomach in knots.

  The man yanked her forward, and she fought to keep her balance. Her shoulder burned, but she stopped herself short of rubbing it. No, she needed all her wits about her. To show pain in front of her father would be viewed as a weakness.

  “Daughter.”

  She risked a glance up but stopped short of cowering away from him. Instead, she straightened her back and fixed her shoulders. “Lord Percy LeBeau.” Her voice didn’t waver, though her father visibly stiffened. “I thought I gave you the impression that I no longer considered myself to be a member of this family.”

  Her mother gasped. “Simone!”

  For a split second, she thought her father might strike her again. He raised his hand, but stopped short, and leaned forward. His face inches from hers.

  “It doesn't matter what you think. I am your father, and, under law, you will do whatever I deemed important of you. There is nowhere in this city you can hide from me and your husband waits patiently for you. I will not have this deal fall through because you do not like what I've chosen for you.”

  There was so much she wanted to say, but it was pointless. Her words would only fall on deaf ears. Her father hadn't listened to her before, and he wouldn’t listen to her now.

  “Your husband is collecting you in a few short hours. You will be taken to your room, and if you think you'll be able to escape through the window again. Well, that won't happen.”

  Her mother stepped forward and gently took her arm. In silence, they walked up the stairs and to the second floor.

  Time trickled down like the sands in an hourglass. Simone had spent her time clearing her face in the water basin her mother had brought up with her. She was tempted to try asking her mother for help escaping, but the way the older woman averted her gaze, Simone knew she’d find no help there. As well as the basin, she’d brought a dress and had laid it out on the bed. All for Simone to appear her best before her new husband. Bile rose in the back of her throat. If she did nothing, then she would be trapped, trading one prison for another.

  She pulled out the top drawer in her dresser and worked on clipping her hair out of the way. With a final glance at her reflection, she saw the promise of a bruise across the bridge of her nose. She couldn’t leave by the front door, which left her only one option. An option her father had nailed closed. The thick nails were jammed in deep. Once her mother had left the room, Simone sat down on the windowsill and tried to pry them loose, but after a few moments, she realised it they were stuck fast.

  Frustrated, she stood and leaned against one of the chairs. The window had always been an excellent means of escape when the events at home had proven too much. All she needed to do was to get outside again, and she would make sure her parents never found her. The only reason why they’d done so now was because of Robert. It meant one thing—she needed to leave New Orleans. The sooner the better. Simone turned and picked up the chair. It was strong, well made and all she would need was one good swing.

  She quickly put it down and worked at pushing the table in front of the door. The legs caught on the carpet, but after what felt like a lifetime, she managed to get it where she needed it. There wasn’t any point in leaving in grand style if she was stopped before she managed to get outside. There was no way she could accomplish her task quietly.

  She went to the chair, picked it up and swung. Glass shattered and voices erupted from downstairs. The table would only bring her a precious few minutes. With the majority of the glass broken, she dropped the chair, scooped up a candlestick and set to work ridding the sill of stray pieces of stubborn glass.

  The doorknob to her room turned. Her heart jumped into her throat, and she glanced over her shoulder. There was a grunt, and the door opened a fraction. Her father’s head appeared, fury flashing behind his eyes.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “Maybe it is time you learnt to pay your own debts, instead of pawning me off like gold to the hangman.” Simone didn’t stop moving. She stepped onto the alcove ledge and through the window.

  “If you leave, you’ll be no daughter of mine. I will tell those who ask that you died.”

  “Is that supposed to make me stay?”

  “Simone!”

  The sound of her name shouted in anger followed her onto the roof. The rain had left it slick with water, and she fought against the urge to run. Instead, she took the steps carefully but quickly. The moon shone down, and the clouds appeared heavy with rain. She had no clue to how much time she had. Robert and Catherine had said the boat was leaving in the morning, but hadn’t been more specific than that.

  Coming to where a tree met with the edge of the roof, she threw a prayer up to whatever deity watched over runaways, and jumped. The branches caught her in their wooden embrace. Stabs and flashes of pain flared as they cut across exposed flesh. When she was sure that she wasn’t about to plummet to a very painful demise, she navigated a path down.

  The door opened behind her. Shouts filled the air.

  “Find her!”

  “Percy, don’t hurt her.”

  “I will do whatever I please with her. She is my daughter. Maybe if you hadn’t been so soft on her, she wouldn’t be leaving me to face a beating.”

  “Maybe if you hadn’t bet on a terrible hand.”

  Her mother gasped as Simone heard the slap. Her father had actually hit her mother. For a second, she was torn, but she knew she couldn’t stay. Her mother might have finally found her backbone, but Simone had to leave. If she didn’t go now, she would never go.

  She ran for the fence and jumped over it, using her hands for balance. She left the shouts of her father behind her and continued to run.

  There was one stop she had to make first.

  She couldn’t return to the shop. It would be the first place her father would send his thugs searching for her. Her only advantage was knowing her father didn’t think she would leave the city. She would need to find a way onto the ship and stay hidden until it reached its destination. An honest adventure. The only way she would truly be free.

  And she could watch her revenge unfold.

  She would have gladly let Robert and Catherine go free. Who was she to question young love? She’d never experienced it, and from what Robert and Catherine had showed her, she never wanted to. What person threw the freedom of a person away as if they didn’t have a care in the world? What made them more important than her? Or maybe important was the wrong word. Desperate.

  She approached the docks where giant airships hummed with life. It truly was a marvellous sight. One that made her pause in awe. She’d never been on an airship before. Floodlights situated on the floor threw up beams of lights beyond the steady stream of people in the boarding queue. Columns of smoke rose in the air and propellers stood still. Simone had time. All she had to do was wait for the distraction, which should start any minute.

  Hooves clattered down the street, sounding as if the horses were being chased by the hounds of hell, and loud shouts filled the air.

  Simone hadn’t been able to see the fleeing duo in the queue, but when the noise reached the people’s ears, two hooded individuals glanced sharply at each other.

  The lovebirds. Simone carefully made her way around the loading boxes and to the ones being lifted by a crane. She darted for the crate with the word London scrawled across the side. Half running up it, she hooked her fingers into the edge and pulled herself over. She lay on her back and prayed that nobody ha
d seen her until the crate landed with a thud. Her heart in her throat and her palms sweaty, she rolled off the crate and landed on all fours. Her head snapped up at the sounds of protest, and she kept low to the ground as she peered over the edge.

  Catherine was being pulled away, her struggles useless against the larger man who Simone recognized as the girl’s father. Robert had been pushed to the floor, and the people in the queue spread out. No one listened to his pleas for help, and the man behind him pulled out a gun and shot.

  Simone flinched as Catherine screamed.

  She sat down with her legs crossed and closed her eyes, resting her head in her hands. She didn't know what she’d expected to feel. A boy had been murdered. They'd killed him, and it was her fault. Her decision had led to his death. She could have let them escape, but she hadn't.

  What does that make me?

  A monster.

  To continue the story of Simone, read Heartless by Samantha Allard

  So, it’s one for the airship, two for the sea

  And three for this wrench in the clockwork of me

  My angel, my demon, my blessing, my curse

  You’re the lens through which I view this vast universe

  Now the pipes, the pipes are calling you underground

  For where there is muck, there is brass to be found

  A creature in motion cannot understand

  How the waters may flow by the skill of your hand

  Since your heart is a thing I can never attain,

  I embarked on a journey to outrun the pain

  Explored the four corners of this little round planet

  But I knew it was futile since first I began it

  The stoker has coal, the mechanic his parts

  And me with my spyglass, my compass, and charts

  I have sailed seven seas and tamed perilous heights,

  Lost civilizations, exotic delights

  I would give you each treasure of worlds in existence

  But I love you enough to remain at a distance

  You’re the one gear I lack in my perfect machine

  You’re the most precious wonder of all I have seen.

  Author Bios

  Audrey Gibson

  Audrey loves all things post-apocalyptic, science fiction, and fantasy. Her two sons have inspired her to share her imaginary worlds with everyone else. When not writing to maintain her sanity, Audrey likes to spend time outdoors. Another passion she has is for entertainment in all forms. Whether it is art, music, acting, writing, etc, she cannot get enough.

  Steve Cook

  A part-time teacher, Steve has been writing as much as possible for over seven years now, mainly science fiction and fantasy with a smattering of steampunk. He has three short stories in print, one of which you can find in this book. The other two are in ‘Avast, Ye Airships’ and in ’The 2015 Writing Times Anthology'. Steve also runs a podcast, ‘Pocket Fiction’, a weekly audiobook reading of some of his own writing or that of a guest author. His passions include karate, gaming (electronic, traditional, tabletop, live-action role-play— anything, really), music, and reading.

  Steve drives a fire-truck camper van called Nina, and lives in South London with his wife Susan and their cat Tesla.

  Wayne Carey

  A lifelong fan of science fiction, Wayne Carey grew up reading H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov, and all the grand masters of the genre. His interest in the genre guided him toward a career in science with degrees in biology and education and provided the desire to write from an early age. A love of classic and noire films, such as Casablanca and the Maltese Falcon, also influences his writing.

  He is the author of The Nanon Factor, a young adult contemporary science fiction thriller that blends a murder mystery with cutting edge technology. Darkest Battle, a paranormal mystery involving Civil War re-enactors, will be released later this year.

  He and his wife Brenda live in the wilds of Central Pennsylvania with their three children, who provide a great deal of inspiration for his work.

  Catherine Stovall

  Catherine Stovall is the author of many fiction works in the horror, steampunk, paranormal, fantasy, dark fantasy, and YA genres. She is also the editor and a contributor to several anthologies produced by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, Vamptasy Publishing, and Steamworks Ink.

  Catherine is a fearless creature who surrounds herself with the joys of life both in and out of her fictional worlds. She lives in Southeast Missouri with her husband, three children, and pets. When not writing, she spends her time riding motorcycles, wearing elaborate hats, and genuinely enjoying the oddities in life.

  A lover of social media, she encourages her fans to reach out to her through facebook, her website, and twitter, so they can share in the experience of publishing and creating.

  Lexi Ostrow

  Lexi Ostrow has been in love with the written word since second grade, when her librarian started a writing club. Born in sunny southern California, she's spent time in various places across the country and can't wait to settle down somewhere in the French Quarter when she's able too.

  Lexi has been a writer ever since the second grade in some form or another. Obtaining her degree in creative writing and her master's in journalism, she couldn't wait to get a chance to put her fantasies down on paper. From paranormal romance to thriller, there isn't a genre she doesn't love to spend her time reading or writing.

  Reading and writing are her first loves, but she also feels passionate for shopping, yummy food and her love for all her many pets. She hopes to one-day help other readers fall in love with writing as she did.

  Cheryl Mackey

  Cheryl lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. Her books, The Unknown Sun and The Immortals Part One: Shadows & Starstone, are both young adult fantasy and available at Amazon. Part Two: Allies & Enemies will be available soon!

  She has a MFA in Creative Writing and enjoys games, reading and, of course, writing. She currently has a flash fiction story published online at The Prompt Magazine.

  Her favorite genres to write and read are fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, space opera, and steam punk.

  Please feel free to contact/follow/engage with her on Facebook, Twitter, and her websites.

  Nicole L. Daffurn

  Sunshine, surf and family are the cornerstones of Nicky’s world. Being born and raised on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia gave her the opportunity to chase her dream of photography, and later, novel writing. She fell in love with fantasy and dystopian and crafted stories with strong men and powerful women. As well as her many contributions to CHBB Publishing’s anthologies, her debut novel through Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly, Courageous Souls, recently released. Her Second Novel, The Darkness Within, is also available. When she is not busy being an author, you will find her walking along the water with her husband or chasing after her two children.

  Andrea L. Staum

  Andrea L. Staum is the author of the Dragonchild Lore series and contributed to several best selling anthologies. She's a trained motorcycle technician with an Associates in Supervisory Management, is an amateur home renovator, and somehow manages to find time to write. She lives in south central Wisconsin with her husband, three 'unique' cats.

  Beth W. Patterson

  Beth W. Patterson was a full-time musician for over two decades before sidestepping into the world of writing (a process she calls “fleeing the circus to join the zoo”). Her most recent book is her lyric anthology, Mongrels and Misfits, and she is a contributing writer of eleven books. Patterson has played in fifteen countries across the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia. She appears on over a hundred and twenty albums (including seven solo albums of her own) in addition to a smattering of soundtracks, videos, commercials, and voice-overs. Various artists have recorded over a hundred of her compositions and co-writes.

  She studied ethno musicology at University College, Cork in Ireland and holds a Bac
helor’s degree in Music Therapy from Loyola University New Orleans. Beth has occasionally worn other hats as a body paint model, film extra, minor role actor, recording studio partner, record label owner, producer, and visual artist.

  Michelle Cornwell-Jordan

  Michelle is a New Adult/Young Adult Author, who enjoys writing Paranormal, Dystopian, Dark Fiction, and Steampunk. She is the author of ten self-published works and several short studies published by independent publishing houses. Michelle is also the producer and one of the hosts for the online radio segment Indie Review: Behind the Scenes Internet Radio.

  Timothy Black

  Award-winning author and popular podcaster, Timothy Black was born in the Deep South where he hit the road at an early age and quickly learned it could hit back. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, he studied Geology, Astronomy, and the Occult, ending up with a degree in Philosophy that twists through his writing. After traveling the world to find his great loves, he settled down in the Pacific Northwest, where he writes unique twists on disturbing fiction. A serial killer of coffee and whiskey sours, he stays one step ahead of retribution with a rebellious cackle.

  Samantha Allard

  Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away, past the farthest star in the sky, and where the horizon meets for its kiss with the land, Samantha battled evil drones. The drones were six feet tall, had three sets of hands, and it was best if you didn't mention the third eye. (They don't like it when you bring it up.) She wields words like a sword in her hand and cuts down her foes with the skill of a ballerina wearing flip-flops and juggling chainsaws. (She knows how to multi-task.)

  Take a trip into her worlds (yep, plural) as she writes young adult with a touch of wolves and anything else that takes her fancy.