“You hired me. You’re paying me.”

“Yes, but you didn’t have to take the job. Besides, we are equal in more ways than that.” We were quiet, the music taking over the room. “I need you to turn my pages.”

“‘Please.’”

“Please, what?”

I rolled my eyes. “You mean, ‘Please, Andromeda, will you turn my pages?’”

“Well, will you or won’t you? I’m getting to the end and I’d rather not stop.”

“Say ‘please’ and I’ll think about it.”

His fingers tripped over themselves, ending in a plunk. And then he lifted his gaze, hesitantly, like nerves were getting the better of him. But his gaze was getting the better of me. I liked when he looked at me, but this was too steady, too invasive. I wasn’t about to let him figure me out before I could gauge him.

He’s not your enemy, Andi.

Still, my voice came out slightly tight as I demanded, “Why are you staring at me?”

“Because I can,” he replied, almost casually.

“I’d prefer you didn’t.”

“I can’t help it. You don’t…” The longer he hesitated, the more uncomfortable his expression became. “… vanish when we look at each other.”

My muscles froze for a moment, but it wasn’t due to the cold. “Vanish?”

“Every time I look someone in the eye, the next morning they’re gone. All of their things still in their room, like they never existed. Simply … vanished.”

I chewed on my lip for a moment. “Everyone in the house should be wearing an amulet.”

“They won’t wear them. Peggy’s old, and really superstitious of anyone who isn’t Protestant. When I tried to tell her that I thought I was the cause of the disappearances, she thought I was having a mental breakdown. She knew it was the curse, but she wouldn’t believe it was me directly. That’s when I came up with the rule list. If no one was going to listen to me, I could at least keep everyone away.”

“Why not just add amulets to the rule list?”

He shook his head. “They won’t wear it. Not even Esjay and Kelela could convince them.”

“It makes sense now,” I said, gesturing to his wrists. “Why you wear the bells.”

He nodded. “So people hear me coming.”

“I thought you just liked irritating everyone.”

Magnus grinned up at me again. I sort of loved that grin. “Saba’s been my only real friend in three years. I have a hard time connecting with people when I can’t look at them … I like to see people’s eyes.”

His gaze drew me in like a beacon. It was difficult to think when he was looking at me so fully.

“What are you playing?” I said quickly, looking down at where his music sat.