‘They won’t let me go.’ Troisclerq put the empty pitcher on a table by one of the shrouded windows. ‘They become part of me. Maybe that’s part of why I kill them – to free myself from them. But they remain, silent and still, and they remind me. Of their voices. Of the warmth their skin once had.’
The gaslights that illuminated the chamber cast the shadows of the dead on the red wall. Fox could see her own among them. She was already one of them.
Troisclerq approached her. ‘You’re still afraid more of his death than of your own?’
‘No.’ Fox didn’t care whether Troisclerq knew that was a lie. ‘He will kill you. For me. And for the others.’
‘Many have tried.’ Troisclerq nodded at his servant. ‘Bring him to me,’ he said. ‘But only him.’
s. Branches. Paths ending in evergreen walls. Again and again.
Jacob had escaped from places where one lost oneself, but not even the Fairy island had turned his world into such a nothing. He touched the scar on his hand, which the vixen’s teeth had once left there so he wouldn’t lose himself in the arms of the Red Fairy.
Don’t forget her, Jacob.
Forget yourself, but not her.
And again the path ended in the shrubs. Donnersmarck cursed, ramming his sabre into the thicket. Left. Right. The very words seemed to have lost all meaning. Jacob rolled up the thread so it would lead them back to the last fork.
Don’t forget her.
How many hours had they been wandering like this? Or was it days? Had there ever been anything but this labyrinth? Jacob spun around and reached for his pistol. A man was standing behind him with his sabre drawn.
The stranger lowered his weapon. ‘Jacob! It’s me!’ Donnersmarck. Repeat the name, Jacob. No, there was only one name he couldn’t forget. Fox. She’s still alive. Again and again. She’s still alive. He leant against the evergreen leaves. The perfume of forgetyourself filled his head with sticky nothingness.
He stumbled on – and suddenly he clutched his chest. The fourth bite.
No. Not now.
The yarn fell from his hand as the pain forced him to his knees. Donnersmarck stumbled after the ball of wool and just managed to catch it before it disappeared beneath the hedge.
The pain set Jacob’s heart racing, yet all he could think was Not now, not here! He had to find her.
‘What is it?’ Donnersmarck leant over him. It’ll pass, Jacob. It always passes.
The pain was everywhere. It flooded his flesh.
Donnersmarck dropped to his knees beside Jacob. ‘We’ll never find a way out of here.’
Think, Jacob. But how, with the pain numbing his senses?
He pushed a trembling hand into his pocket. Where was it? He found the card in the folds of his gold handkerchief. It didn’t stay blank for long.
DO YOU NEED MY HELP?
Jacob pressed his hand to his aching chest. The answer didn’t come easily. A bargain that could only end badly.
‘Yes.’
‘What are you doing?’ Donnersmarck stared at the card.
It filled with new words.
ANY TIME. I HOPE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A FRUITFUL COLLABORATION. ARE YOU READY TO PAY MY PRICE?
‘Whatever you want.’ It could hardly be higher than the Fairy’s price. As long as he got out of this labyrinth.
I WILL TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD.