Mist Rising by Eve Langlais
Chapter Fifty
Belle—andnot the orphaned baby found on the edge of a path—barely waited until the annoying Soraers had moved out of hearing before following them at a discreet distance. They obviously knew the secret passages. A good thing since she’d not the slightest clue how to navigate them.
The man in the mirror had claimed that they existed and had told her to locate the hidden halls. He’d insisted the passages under the Citadel would give her a way to see him. She couldn’t wait because her mystery man knew how to treat someone special like Belle.
The King’s loss. He should have accorded her more respect. Maybe at least given her a chance by meeting face-to-face.
There was much walking involved in finding the way out of the Citadel, and by the time Belle emerged into a basement, she was tired and very much annoyed. But she showed none of it when she held up the shard of mirror to use it. Her first shock came at seeing her face.
She appeared to have gained a few years overnight. Probably bad lighting, because even her eyes appeared dull and dark.
Her fingertips pressed the surface of the mirror. The shard didn’t cloud over and show a face. It didn’t do anything at all.
That had never happened before.
Since she couldn’t contact the mirror man, she’d have to find him. He’d told her about a place she could go in case she ever made it outside and wanted to meet in person.
The Gambit Inn, a name of ill repute, and yet it suited her strange suitor. A mystery fellow who’d given her his name, Gideon, and nothing else.
It’s too dangerous, my lovely Belle. My enemies. They might be watching. Listening.
It was enough to give her delightful shivers.
Having never been in the city, Belle got lost immediately. As she searched up and down streets, too proud to ask for help and risk being recognized, an alarm sounded. Her heart began to pound.
Her disappearance must have been noticed. She should return at once before she got caught. Forget meeting the mystery man.
Of course, having lost the way back, she accidentally stumbled across the Gambit Inn with its hanging dice. Surely, Gideon could help her.
The moment she walked in, the taproom quieted. A glance around didn’t show Gideon and his pale, silvery hair anywhere. People stared and said not a word. Perhaps it was best if she went back to the Citadel. Try again another time.
As she whirled to exit, two men slid to block her way, expressions blank.
“Excuse me. I need to leave.” She regretted not turning back around earlier.
“Not yet, sweet Belle.”
She recognized the endearment. “Gideon?” She whirled, only to see another blank-faced man staring at her.
A voice emerged from his mouth without his lips moving. “Where is the hidden entrance to the Citadel?”
She opened her mouth to reply and paused. “What are you? How are you talking to me through someone else’s body?” Her mind struggled with the illogic of it.
“Tell me where the entrance is. The magic has it hidden from me.”
“It’s—” She snapped her mouth shut. “Is that the only reason you talked to me? To use me as a way to get in?”
The first time they’d spoken, he’d been so surprised to see her. Before she could learn anything, that annoying hag Agathe just had to get rid of the mirror.
Imagine Belle’s surprise to find a shard of it in her bed that same night. She never questioned the improbability of how it had gotten there, all too happy to be able to talk to the mystery man again. He’d been the one to ensure that the King’s Elite knew where to find her. Had encouraged her to come to the city rather than meet her on the path.
“You used me!”
“I did.” Starkly admitted.
Her slap never landed.
* * *
Gideon grabbedthe young woman’s wrist. “You are so fucking stupid.”
The girl truly wasn’t too bright, and it had nothing to do with her age. Intellect couldn’t always be taught.
She gaped at him like a fish gasping for air on land. Gideon might be riding a meat puppet, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t see or hear.
“You’re the dumb one. Wait until I tell the King.”
“And how will you do that, sweet Belle?” The puppet’s lip curled. “Look at how easily you fell for everything I said.”
“You told me I was special.” She clung to the lie. They all did. Pathetic, really.
“You were until you weren’t. The question is, do I have you taken care of now, or brought to me for later?” He’d yet to decide if he wanted a bite. The girl was nothing special to look at: insipid features, sullen countenance, and now not even a hint of aura left to her. As if she’d already been sucked dry. And yet that wasn’t the case earlier that day when they’d spoken via the mirror.
“What happened to your magic?” he snapped.
The girl recoiled. “What are you talking about?”
“Your aura. It’s gone.” He gripped her chin, looking deeper.
She struggled, complaining. “Let me go.”
“I will, once you tell me where the entrance to the Citadel is.”
“To the Abyss with you,” she hotly exclaimed. “I am telling you nothing.”
He shook his marionette’s head and tsked. “You’re really going to regret that choice.”
