“Then you remember that I said you were the one?”

“I still don’t know what you meant.” Lara folded her arms.

“It meant that I’ve made you powerful. I’m sure you’ve noticed that your abilities are now increasing.”

“You’ve done that?”

“Well you certainly haven’t done it.” He laughed and sat up straight on the bench. “But as you grow more powerful, you become a threat to her.” Staring up at the stars, he cocked his head. “This little world really isn’t as awful as I recall.”

Lara stumbled over what to say next. Suddenly, in the night air, she was cold, so she began rubbing her bare arms. This was all too much. These disappearances, veiled threats, and strange visions. “If I come to Paris, you promise to help me?”

Facing her, he gave a slow and deep nod. “I will.”

It felt like a contract forming between them.

“Do I have an address to meet you? Do I call you when I land?”

He nearly bent over with laughter. “How precious you are. I assure you, that won’t be necessary. You’ll hear from me.” He stood and bowed dramatically, like a Versailles courtier.

“I don’t know your name.”

He winked before he began to walk up the street toward the cemetery gates. “That, my dear, is the first lie you’ve ever told me. You know exactly who I am.” He turned back. “Oh, one more thing. Did you get my little present the other night at the Rivoli Circus?”

“The journal?”

“Hopefully it was an intriguing read.” His eyes widened dramatically, like a stage actor’s. “There will be more of them… call it a little scavenger hunt.”

As he walked into the night, she noticed that his steps were now silent, as though his feet never touched the cobblestones. He first floated, then faded as if walking into a thick mist. Immediately Lara looked up to find that the two men who had been standing with Margot were now alone and quite perplexed.

Lara felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Ben.

“Is that Lara Barnes under that mask?” He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Ben Archer was one of the rare men who could go from a uniform to a tuxedo with ease. His caramel-colored hair looked a little stiff with gel, the glaze of it glistening under the streetlamp.

“Did you see that man?”

“No,” said Ben, eyeing her suspiciously. “You were sitting here alone.” He looked up at the sign. “You catching a bus?”

“I was alone?”

“Yes.” He laughed, eyeing her peculiarly. “Are you okay? Why were you sitting out here alone?”

“I’m fine. Just nerves going into a party, I guess,” she lied. “Why aren’t you wearing your mask?”