Page 178 of The Mask Falling

“I can get another one. Take it.”

She did as I said. When it was done, she fingered her cheeks and brow with a grimace, her features strained into those of a stranger. It was the only protection I could offer her.

“I know you might not want to go back to the Mime Order,” I said, “after everything.”

“No,” she said. “I want to stay here. Maybe join Le Vieux Orphelin, if he’ll let me be a perdue.”

“Then as soon as you’ve seen Eliza and Glym, come straight back. But I need you to bring someone with you.”

She raised an eyebrow when I gave her the name, but nodded.

“Okay. If he’ll come.” She hesitated. “Paige, I’m sorry. That Warden tricked you.”

I wanted to tell her it was all right—that I would be fine—but I couldn’t. Before I could think of a reply, she embraced me. I wished she could stay, and reminded myself that she would be back soon. When we parted, Ivy took a deep breath and reached into her back pocket.

“Take this.” She handed me a small tool, like a key. “It opens standard Scion manholes. If the Rag and Bone Man hasn’t scarpered, he’ll be underground and near a voyant district.”

“You don’t mind us going after him without you?” I asked.

“He’s just a puppet. Just a man.” Her face was a washed slate. “It’s Thuban I want. If it takes me the rest of my life, I swear on the æther, my face will be the last thing he sees in this world.”

She spoke with soft conviction. Looking into her eyes, I believed her.

“All right,” I said. “Come back soon.”

Zeke was next to hug me. Even his coat was cold. “Goodbye, Paige. Thank you,” he said. His stubble tickled my cheek. “I really hope we see each other again.”

“I don’t. For your sake.” I patted his back. “Good luck with the journey.”

“We’ll need it,” Nadine said dryly. “Crossing an ocean will be the easiest part of this.” She drew me close to her with one arm and spoke against my ear: “Thank you for the money. And Paige, it will get better. It never stops hurting, but it gets easier to carry. I promise.”

This time, I could barely even nod in answer.

“We are going to take the fight to the free world. This is our official sign-up to the Mime Order,” she continued. “If you ever make it out of this nightmare republic, make sure you find us. My parents live on Anticosti Island. It’s beautiful.”

“I hope you make it there.” I drew back and tried to smile. “Safe travels, Silent Bell.”

“À notre prochaine rencontre, Pale Dreamer.”

At that moment, a woman stepped out of the station, clad in the winter uniform of a train conductor. She conferred with Léandre and Nadine in swift French before she marched back in.

My friends followed her. Nadine gave me a last, troubled look over her shoulder before she disappeared through the doors, into the glowing warmth of the station.

“You’re certain they’ll be safe?” I said to Léandre.

“I am certain of nothing. But that contact has never betrayed us,” he said, face half-lit, “and since Ivy is disguised, there will be no temptation to turn her in for a bounty. They are as safe as they can be.” He opened his stolen umbrella again and pulled me under it. “There are cabs near here. We have to get back to Passy before someone sees your face.”

“Warden knows about Passy.” My jaw was rattling. “He could already have told Scion.”

“For now, we have nowhere else to go.” His hold on my shoulder firmed. “Le Vieux Orphelin sent eyes to Rue Montmartre. You were right. The Man in the Iron Mask does hunt there. And now we know where he is hiding.”

The thought of a hunt in the dark was almost enough to unhinge me. My boots hit the ground too hard, the impact jolting my knees. The ground felt too close. Everything did.

Paige Mahoney needed sleep. Needed to be alone somewhere. But until the gray market was gone, I had to be Black Moth. I slid a hand into my pocket and traced the cold and molded features of the mask.

When we had played chess, the blood-consort had taught me an unusual tactic called the king walk, or steel king. Generally, a player protected the king at all costs and kept it out of the way, safe from capture. It waited quietly and let other pieces fall in its defense.

But the king had the capacity to fight. It could sit and tremble in the wings, or it could march up the board, straight for the enemy side, and attack. It might even win the game.

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