Page 68 of The Mask Falling

“If you leave now, you’ll never know what’s going on in here,” David went on, “and believe me, you want to know. It will change everything you think about Ménard. About the Rephaim. If you don’t want to stay after that, I swear I’ll help you leave. If I break my word, send me and Luce to the guillotine. She deserves it. Maybe I do, too.” Those striking eyes held mine. “Choose.”

“I don’t trust you,” I said. “I couldn’t prove your affair to Ménard. There’s no evidence.”

His gaze flickered. A moment passed before he swallowed.

“Yes,” he said, “there is.”

Slowly, he looked down, and I followed his line of sight. To the bump. The words died on my lips.

“Time to choose, Paige. I’m going to raise the alarm.” He wrapped an arm around me. Around her. “If you want to run, this is your head start.”

I didn’t need a second invitation.

My silver cord hurled me back into my own body. On the rooftop, in the downpour, I scrambled to release my leg from the flue. I was soaked to the skin, my nose streaming, shivering so hard my teeth rattled. Coughs wrenched my insides as I wrestled with the belt.

If you leave now, you’ll never know what’s going on in here.My fingers were clumsy with cold.And believe me, you want to know.

The Trojan horse.I could almost hear Hildred Vance, the flat-toned voice that had betrayed a shadow of approval.An ancient stratagem. You presented yourself like a gift to your enemy, and your enemy took you into their house.

The belt came undone. I yanked my ankle free and ran. My boots slewed on wet metal, almost throwing me over the edge.

You have a death wish, dreamwalker?

Chest heaving, ribs aflame, I lunged for the chimney and caught it with one hand. Stayed to catch my breath, to draw my panic-stricken thoughts into some semblance of order.

The deal David offered was madness, suicide. Only a reckless fool would try to trick the anchor twice . . .

Arcturus would never forgive me for risking my life again. And yet wasn’t this the way of war?

Wasn’t this a chance to get everything we needed?

I was torn between the streets and the mansion. If I ran now, there was no way back in. No guarantee I would ever find the location of Sheol II, or the truth about Ménard and the Rephaim. Domino would discover what I had done and cut me off. There would be no money, no support. I peeled off the dissimulator and shoved it between two bricks in the chimney.

Reckless fools are dangerous in this line of work, Ducos had told me.

Dangerous.

And necessary.

****

When the squadron of Vigiles reached the roof, they found me sprawled by the chimney—as if I had slipped and twisted my ankle. They were not gentle. I put up a convincing fight as they handcuffed me and hauled me up to face their commandant.

Armored hands. Steel-capped boots. Like those that had battered my body in the Archon.

“Your Majesty.” A red visor burned in the dark. “Welcome to Paris.”

His baton snapped out. The last thing I felt, after the shattering blow, was a shock wave from the golden cord.

PART II

Turn the Anchor

You will soon hear of me with my funny little games.

—Jack the Ripper

9

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