Page 40 of Across Space and Time

Hugh wasn’t sure if the man was being genuine with him or not, but at this point, he just wanted answers. He didn’t know how long apple trees took to grow; Prudence had told them that the Elysium Emporium had only been open for a year, so he doubted they would have been the ones to purchase the seeds and grow a full tree nine years ago. And growing one’s own apple tree didn’t seem like the most practical option for a bakery in the middle of London anyway. “I am not familiar with your business, sir, but I assume that they were not ordinary apple seeds.”

“My dear boy, look around. Do you think I would sell anything so benign in this shop?” The Owner said with a chuckle, spreading his hands wide. “No, they were very special seeds. From one of the most famous trees. Perhaps the most famous tree of all. The one that changed the world.”

Hugh tried to think of famous trees, but he couldn’t even think of one. It was not like trees were uncommon or difficult to come by. But it was an apple tree. What famous tree produced apples? He glanced over at Jack, who looked blankly back at him. He probably wouldn’t know any famous trees either. Jack cocked his head, and Hugh’s eyes caught on the devilish horns protruding from his forehead. A strange thought occurred to him. No, it couldn’t possibly be the right answer. But yet, he had learned in the last few days that a good number of things he had thought impossible were indeed possible. “You don’t mean… the forbidden tree from the garden that Adam and Eve ate? The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?”

The Owner smiled. “Ah, you did get there on your own. Splendid.”

Hugh frowned deeper. “You’re saying that nine years ago, you sold seeds to someone from the biblical Tree of Knowledge?”

“Excellent deduction,” The Owner said. “Conan Doyle would be proud.”

Hugh had no idea who that was, but he was less concerned about that right now. “Whom did you sell them to?”

“Mm, a very distinguished gentleman,” The Owner said. “The Duke of Westchester.”

Hugh jerked at the words. “The Duke of Westchester?” he repeated. He had heard that name only a few hours ago. Mr. Rhodes had said that he and Mr. Henries both worked for the Duke of Westchester. Mr. Henries had been the Duke’s gardener. And now Mr. Henries was dead in the bakery fire. “Why did he want the seeds?”

“Presumably he was going to plant them.” The Owner held up his hands. “Once they leave my shop, what happens to them is not my concern.”

“Would the seeds grow into another Tree of Knowledge?” Hugh asked. He tried to remember his Bible study.

“Some hybrid of it, yes. What its powers might be compared to the original, well, who’s to say.”

That was not reassuring. “A bite from the original Tree opened Adam and Eve’s eyes to good and evil, and they realized they were naked. And they became mortal instead of living forever.”

“Indeed,” The Owner said. “One could assume a fledgling tree born from its seeds would not have the exact same abilities, but perhaps something similar.”

What could possibly be similar to knowing good from evil? But then again, no part of this made a whole lot of sense. The viscount turning into a monster, the murders of the young men by what looked like a vicious beast, the apple pastry paper, the strange little bakery in Fleet Street, the missing gardener, the fire. What did any of it have to do with magical seeds from a biblical tree? This entire story was so far-fetched that Hugh was pretty sure he would not have believed it himself only a few days ago.

Hugh turned to Jack. “The fifth man that we identified as John Henries worked for the Duke of Westchester as his gardener. His sister, Elizabeth, was one of the shop owners of Elysium.”

“Ah hah!” Jack glanced over at The Owner, who was silently watching both of them, a bemused smile on his face. “So, he might have been the one to plant the seeds, or at least know of the tree.”

Hugh nodded. “It’s certainly possible, at least. The fact that he’s connected in multiple ways to Elysium too makes me think he might have something to do with what’s been going on.”

Jack glanced at The Owner. “Thank you. We appreciate your help.”

The Owner waved his hand airily in a gesture oddly similar to the one Jack liked to use. “Of course, of course. Have a good morning, gentlemen.”

“How do you know of this shop?” Hugh asked after they stepped out onto the cool, dimly lit London streets, Jack putting his top hat back on to hide his horns. There was the faintest hint of dawn making the sky a dark charcoal instead of black.

“You recall I said that my species travels through space and time to the area we are summoned by our soulmate?” Jack asked, and Hugh nodded. “Well, The Magic Shop has a portal in the back room. When we arrive at our destination, we come through the portal, where we are transformed into our new appearances. The shop has the ability to be anywhere at any time, you see.”

Hugh did not see, but he understood enough. Without Jack, he would never have known about The Magic Shop or The Owner. Just based on what he already knew too, he wondered if The Magic Shop would even be there if he had tried to look for it himself. Magic made its own logic, and it was sometimes nonsensical.

“Is The Owner a will-o-the-whisp type creature like you?”

“He is… something,” Jack said thoughtfully.

That was not a no, but neither was it a yes. Hugh was finding magic to be very frustrating with its rather precise nonsense. “Thank you for taking me there,” he said to Jack, giving him a bright smile. “It was very helpful.”

“Was it? I’m glad,” Jack said. “Now, I believe you need to get some sleep.” Hugh wanted to protest, but the day was catching up to him quickly, and he couldn’t stop an enormous yawn that almost split his jaw. Jack scooped him up in his arms. “We shall head back via rooftop before anyone sees us.”

Hugh nestled close to Jack’s chest. “All right,” he relented. And he just stayed there, curled in Jack’s arms, until they returned to his apartment, and Jack sent him off to bed.

Chapter twelve

“Ishould pay a visit to the Duke of Westchester,” Hugh said after he had risen from sleep, though he could hear the uncertainty in his own voice. He sat with Jack in their usual seats, drinking cups of tea and eating eggs and toast, which were not burned this time.

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