Timepiece (Hourglass 2)

“Then why were you looking for it? Your father believed it was real.”

Lily’s fear escalated, and I caught myself before I said anything else. She hadn’t told Jack we couldn’t find the Infinityglass. That was probably the only thing keeping her alive.

“Dad doesn’t know what he believes anymore. You took the last five years of his memory.”

Jack’s focus kept returning outside, where the sunset flamed hot pink and lavender. “I should’ve wiped him clean.”

“Like my mother?” My rage tried to push its way through again, but Lily’s fresh panic kept it in.

He sighed and walked to the window, turning his back on us.

I caught Lily’s attention, and mouthed a single word. Lie.

It took her a second to grasp my meaning, but when she did, she regained control. I saw fierce determination in the set of her jaw and the straightness of her spine.

“Hey, I think …” She cleared her throat. “I think I’ve found something.”

Jack’s expression changed as he looked over at the map. She took it from the floating hologram to the touch screen, forcing him to move closer to her. “What?” he asked.

Partygoers cheered as they threw pumpkins into the fire for Pumpkin Smash. I took one step toward Lily and Jack.

“I think it could be in Memphis, not the Tennessee city. The Egypt one. It’s faint, but it was definitely there. It might still be there.” Her fingers moved furiously over the map.

I stepped closer, tensing my muscles, ready to spring.

“Egypt?” Jack said. “Why do you continue to lie?”

He raised his hand.

“No,” Lily argued, her eyes bright with fear. “Look, right there.”

Closer.

“Right where?” Jack asked impatiently.

“Yes. Right where?” A female voice dragged the question out.

All three of us looked toward the stairs.

Teague.

Chapter 52

I’d have given anything to be inside the panic I saw in Jack’s expression. Fear like that made your skin too tight.

“Teague.” He said her name with a reverence that should have been accompanied by a bow.

What did Teague know, or what could she do that would make Jack act that way?

Teague smiled serenely at me, absolute calm bleeding from her pores. “Liam’s son?”

“Yes.”

Footsteps echoed on the stairs behind Teague.

Poe.

Lily’s fear. Teague’s calm. Poe’s despair. And still, nothing at all from Jack, except a vein pulsing steadily in his forehead.