The vibrance of the party made the hallway and, subsequently, any other room in the building dark and cold. That could also be due to the worn floors, wallpaper peeling in some places with suspicious stains, or the fact that only half the gas lamps worked on a good day.
With even Silas distracted, I was sure I’d enjoy a moment of peace.
His room was undone and unused. I didn’t see how he deserved an entire room while I was forced to take a couch. I wasn’t even offered blankets.
The corner of the room, the one with the desk, was the only proof that the room wasn’t completely abandoned. The papers and reports I had seen before—hell, I helped him with his numbers.
I sat tiredly in the old creaky chair, picking up the small photograph clipped to one of the folders. It amazed me that at the drop of a dime, so much wealth could be spent on the runaway idea of a woman. He didn’t hide his ambitions or motivations. He was honest in action if not in declaration.
Among the papers were a small stack of telegrams, telegrams that I bound myself to keep organized. Then, a single telegram beside it. New.
I sat up and placed my finger on the corner, dragging it across the papers.
I didn’t remember this one.
You have until midsummer. See you very soon.
—Leviathan
I checked the back of the note, as if there would be more. As if hoping it was a cruel joke. Why hadn’t he told me?
I placed the note carefully back where I found it before my hand went as numb as my mind. If I moved with any less caution, I might become sick.
Midsummer. It was too soon.
I loosened my tie, releasing a few buttons of my shirt. Everything was too hot, uncomfortable. Yet the moisture on the back of my neck was cold, clammy.
My stomach roiled; I nearly doubled over. I gripped the edge of the desk, placing my forehead on the surface, eyes clenched.
A wretched noise in my gut, then my throat. My head was on fire; I swore the pain sloshed around inside like liquid, the steam steadily increasing in pressure the more it stewed.
No, this was no good, and I couldn’t blame the stress for it at all.
I needed to make her see the reason. I needed to feed again. I couldn’t live on rats forever; they barely lasted an hour.
I would apologize. Yes, that was the first solution. Would she accept? I had no way of knowing. Alina was unpredictable, much like her lover. If I put my ego aside, put myself in debt, it could be tempting enough.
Now I only needed the energy; something I didn’t have. I was running on booze and less than positive thoughts.
“Luka?” Edith’s voice.
“Leave.”
“I came to see?—”
“Go.Please.” I retched, the last word almost coming out as a gag.
I was pulled up by my hair, my back smacking against the back of the chair.
“Edith—”
Her dainty fingers clutched my face, her nails digging into my cheeks to open my mouth. I grabbed her by her bodice, shoving her. She didn’t let up, she planted herself in my lap, her other hand held a flask.
Something hot and thick washed over my tongue, and her hand released my face, only to slap it over my mouth, trapping the liquid there.
I was about to bite her hand before I recognized the metallic taste tingling in the back of my throat, my teeth aching in relief.
She raised a finger as she held the flask, bringing her bloodied finger to her mouth in a silencing gesture.
