Illusions of Fate

Jacky Boy looks at Ma’ati, his face grave and worried and then nods. “I will. But what about you? I know you’re in trouble. I can read it on your face.”

I smile sadly and wave my hand. “I’ll figure it out. You take care of yourself and Ma’ati.”

Leaving her in Jacky Boy’s loving and capable hands, I walk in a daze back toward my room. I have two options, I know that now. I can run away, back to Melei the same way I ran here. Let Albion work out its problems without me.

Or I can . . . what? Claim a role in the middle of international strife? Openly face down Lord Downpike? Ernest was right about one thing: some voices don’t matter. And I’m afraid mine is one of them. I’m a woman, and a dark-skinned island rat at that. I have no power here.

Feeling bleak and despairing, I write a letter to Finn. No matter how he feels about me, I know he’ll help Jacky Boy and Ma’ati. Once they are safe, I’ll decide what to do about myself.

Now a matter of habit, as I pass the dressing table I grab the top card and flip it over. I stop, card still unseen in hand, a chill surging through my veins.

I knocked all of the cards to the floor before I left my room.

Trembling, I look down. In my hand, the fate card, but altered. This time in the middle of the path is a large black bird, its single yellow eye fixed on me. I pull another—and another—and another—all the same. There is a small calling card on the table next to the deck.

Little Rabbit,

Your friends are my friends. Thinking of you.

L. D.

Twenty-three

LORD DOWNPIKE WAS IN MY ROOM. COLD WITH terror, I run into the hall to check on Ma’ati again.

“Whoa!”

I stumble straight into someone. Strong arms circle me to keep me upright. Heart racing, I look up to see Kelen.

And immediately burst into tears. “Oh, Kelen.” I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his chest.

“What’s wrong? What have they done to you?”

“Nothing, I—they who?”

“These ghost-faced spirit cursers, of course. I knew this would happen. They can’t see us without wanting to destroy us. Tell me who hurt you.”

I step away, wiping my eyes. “I can’t. I don’t want you anywhere near this. I won’t let you get hurt, too.”

“What do you think they can do to me that hasn’t already been done?” His dark eyes burn with hatred. “Was it that man? The one you were with at the symphony?”

“Finn? No. He’d never hurt me.”

Kelen scoffs. “Listen to yourself, Jessa. There isn’t a man on this whole spirit-blasted rock that wouldn’t hurt you if given the opportunity. They hate us, they always have, and they always will. We’re nothing to them.”

I shake my head. I know Finn would never hurt me. Eleanor would do anything to help me, too. “I have friends here.”

He laughs. “Friends? You’re a novelty to them. A pet. They’ll drop you as soon as you fall out of fashion.”

“You don’t know them.”

“I don’t have to. They’re Alben. That’s enough.”

His words strike straight through me. I would have said the same thing just weeks ago. I would have dismissed an entire country of people just because of their birth, the same way I have always felt dismissed.

“Come on,” Kelen says, taking my arm. “Tell me who hurt you and we’ll fix them. There’s no justice here but what we make for ourselves.”

“Kelen, no. You can’t.”