Page 54 of Across Space and Time

Jack explored the room as Hugh rested on the bed, waiting for the drug to work its way out of his system. The room held a variety of oils and sexual toys that Jack had no idea what most of them were, and he guessed that might be a blessing.

Hugh finally stirred, sitting up on the bed and rubbing at his eyes again. “I think it’s mostly cleared,” he said, and Jack came over to sit next to him. “I have a feeling I missed a lot.”

“Quite a bit,” Jack said. He gave Hugh as quick a rundown as he could about his arrival at the designated place, the abandoned theatre, Adam, the secret passage down into the tunnels. He explained about the apples and what he had seen the guests transform into after eating them. And he did his best to explain what Adam had told him about what the apples did, what they brought out from inside of a person. Hugh’s eyes grew wider and wider as he listened, his breath hitching a little in his throat.

“Fuck,” he said, and Jack gave a slight smirk. Hugh so very rarely cursed, so it was always amusing when he did. “I guess that would explain Viscount Jardin’s appearance, and why he was eating that young man.”

Jack nodded. “Visceral pleasures often go hand in hand.”

Hugh rubbed at his eyes again before they went wide, and he sat up. “Oh! My sergeant was one of the assistants helping us into the wagon,” he said, turning to Jack. “Have you seen him around? Gray muttonchops, looks sort of like a ferret?”

Jack frowned thoughtfully. “No, I don’t believe so, though I have not been comparing anyone to rodents either. Did you know he was involved in Eden?”

Hugh shook his head. “No, not at all. I don’t think he saw me, but we need to be really careful.”

Jack nodded. “If you see him, let me know, and I will do my best to distract him.”

“Are any of the other people you’ve seen the one you saw running away from Christopher O’Malley?” Hugh asked curiously.

Jack shook his head. “No, I don’t believe so. If I encounter Adam again, I can ask him if there are other members who are not currently in attendance. Or if the apples have been taken by anyone not part of Eden.”

“Have you seen the Tree down here?” Hugh asked, glancing around the small space like the Tree would materialize in front of them.

“No, but I have not examined much yet,” Jack replied. A thought occurred to him, and he felt silly that he had not thought of it sooner. “When I went to the Duke’s estate, I heard him talking to someone about the Tree. Moving it to Eden. And someone else replied that they couldn’t just plant the Tree in the stone. The Duke called him Adam. Which would make sense, with Adam being his son.”

Hugh frowned thoughtfully. “That does seem likely. So, the Tree is probably still on the Duke’s property at his estate.”

Jack nodded. “I assume that as well. If we can make our way back there, we could destroy it.”

“We’d have to destroy the whole thing. Probably every apple and seed too,” Hugh said.

Jack’s bonfire eyes twinkled. “Oh, no fear of that.” He patted his chest with his hand. “I can repeat what I did to the viscount in the alley.”

Hugh nodded slowly. “Do you think we could slip out of here and do it tonight?”

Jack frowned. “I’m afraid I am uncertain about the way to get back. And my presence, or lack thereof, would surely be noticed. So, we should probably at least wait for a bit before trying to make an exit.”

He had a point. It wasn't like Jack was inconspicuous amongst the group. “All right. We should probably try to find out what’s happening and any evidence we can find. We might have to bring a case against the aristocrats here.”

Jack nodded. “The only ones I know so far are the Duke, and that Adam is his son. The rest have withheld their names. But perhaps you can identify them better than I can.”

Hugh was sure that was why they all wore masks. “We should go look around. Though, I don’t know if I can just wander the hallways like this.” He glanced down at his barely-clothed body. “I get the impression that I am not supposed to be alone. Especially if I am drugged.”

Jack cast his eyes quickly around the room before they landed on a pile of red silk cord, coiled into a circle like a snake waiting in the grass. “Ah, here. I shall put this on you like a leash and parade you through the halls like a prize hound.”

Hugh’s cheeks flushed pink. “Oh. Um, yes, I suppose that would work.”

“Only with your permission, of course,” Jack added hastily.

Hugh’s whole face went red now. “It would not be my first choice, but I do not see a lot of other great options.”

Jack frowned. “I do not wish for you to be uncomfortable, Hugh.”

Hugh snorted softly. “I’m wearing less clothing than an infant, in an underground dungeon full of monsters. A leash around my neck is the least of my concerns right now.”

Jack laughed a little nervously. “I suppose. My deepest apologies for doing this then.” He slid the red cord around Hugh’s neck, leaving plenty of room, and tying it in such a way that it would not tighten. “Is that all right?”

Hugh nodded, giving the rope a little test pull. “Yes, that will do.” He gave Jack a brave smile. “Lead on.”

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