I turned my head slowly toward the fireplace, the perceived source of this new almost-noise. Our mantel didn’t hold a clock.

But then . . . didn’t Erik’s?

THIRTY-FOUR

Zedok

“We heard you talking,” said Guile. “You and the medium. Did you think we wouldn’t?”

Of course, I did know the masks would have heard. Even in the midst of colluding with Rastin, I’d understood that few other parts of myself would want the plan to transpire.

“It is the only way,” I said.

“It is not,” argued Guile, who approached by another step. “By the by, I feel obliged to inform you that we all find it incredibly rude that you chose not to consult a single one of us regarding your plot.”

“Oh?” I remarked, almost wanting to laugh.

“Yes. Wrath in particular was quite put out.”

Wrath. Why had I not seen him since that night he had appeared before me in the parlor? I kept waiting for his strike—anticipating that it might come at any moment. But, if what Guile was saying was true, why was he here in Wrath’s stead? Out of all my masks, Guile presented the least threat.

“Ah,” said Guile, once again latching on to my unspoken thought. “That may be true. But isn’t it always the least threatening part of ourselves that offers the most ominous the opportunity to operate? A mask for our masks. A wild card, if you would.” With another flourish, he produced a joker card. “And don’t you suppose it would then be true to say that I, by proxy, would be the most dangerous? To Valor, at least.”

I frowned at both him and his most recent selection from his deck, not liking the suddenly dizzying turn of this conversation. Done with Guile, I moved to pass him. He skittered to block my path, arms outheld, the absurd feather on his hat dancing.

“Stand aside, Guile.”

“You cannot go yet. Because, well . . . you see, we are going to take her.”

“What are you on about?”

“That is why the others sent me. To tell you it will happen tonight.”

Was there truly some part of me as idiotic as this?

“You see,” Guile hurried to explain, “with the medium on his way, and you dithering over a heart, and the boy so close to stealing hers . . . Well, when might we ever again get another chance?”

Thoroughly done with his antics, I drew my sword and brandished it at the mask.

“I’ll not tell you to stand aside a second time,” I said. “Go scurry back to the others. Tell them what you already know. That it is useless to try to convince me.”

“Why, Valor,” said Guile through a short laugh, “whoever said we needed you?”

THIRTY-FIVE

Stephanie

Scowling, I left the piano, and as I approached the mantel, the ticking grew louder. I went all the way up to the place where I’d found my angel. And there, I stared at the patch of paper-peeled wall from behind which issued the ticking.