“Possibly a relative of our friend Philippe,” added Jade.
Rory pursed his lips. “So they both got fire magic?”
“Sometimes magic types can run in families,” said Zhang. “The man with the paranormal tattoo, Sebastian de Leon, has enervation magic and his cousin paints magical traps. Two powers that thwart magic in the same family.”
“Philippe was pyrokinetic,” said Jade. “He could control fire.”
“This other fella lit his own hand up,” Rory said, “but the votive candles in the church didn’t seem to react.”
Zhang’s projection and Jade exchanged a glance. “Pyrokinetic aura?” Zhang offered.
Jade nodded grimly. “Able to set his own aura alight. That’s not someone I want working with Zeppler.”
“But why would he?” said Rory. “If Zeppler’s the one who made Ellis kill Philippe, why would this Mercier fella get involved?”
Jade shrugged helplessly. “Very quick thinking on your part to use the ring, though.”
“He wasn’t expecting it.” Rory closed the trunk lid. “And he looked pretty mad when I pulled the wind outta my pocket. Especially when he was blown straight into the cops.”
“I don’t think Baron Zeppler knew about the ring.” Jade frowned. “But we have to assume he will now. And I’m afraid it’s only going to make him more interested in you.”
Rory shivered. He knew a lot more than he wished he did. The ring was a heavy reminder of that, in its box in his pocket, where it lived now. “I don’t want to meet him either.”
“We’re not only here to help you pack,” Jade said reassuringly.
“I’m checking the route to Arthur’s place,” said Zhang, his projection flickering out.
Jade moved her fingers, and the trunk locked itself. “We’ll be using fake names and papers on our travels. We have to behave as if Baron Zeppler has contacts everywhere. Arthur is handling the tickets.”
“Hooray, another boat,” Rory muttered.
Jade grinned and nudged him. “I don’t know how he did it on such short notice, but he managed to get two rooms next to the second-class veranda, so you’ll have easy access to fresh air in case you get seasick.”
Rory paused. “Ace is gonna be insecondclass?”
“First class tends to be full of people with questions, and Arthur might even be recognized. It’s easier to explain away two men sharing a room as splitting the cost of a second-class berth instead of traveling third.”
“I didn’t thinkI’dbe in first class too. I guess I thought he would and I’d be down in steerage. I should know Ace better than that.” Rory shrugged, but he was smiling. “Sharing a room, huh.”
“Well, before you get too excited,” she said, with a rueful smile, “I should probably also mention we’re staying in one of Lord Fine’s empty properties in London.”
Rory groaned. “Oneof them? Geez. Yeah, why not have ten houses for one fella? Not like some kids are homeless.” He pursed his lips. “We can’t stay with him. I mean, yeah, I don’t like him, but that’s not why. We can’t get him mixed up in magic.”
“Absolutely not,” she agreed. “But apparently he’s up in the Lake District enjoying the spring. Arthur promised this is an industrial building used for storing shipments, the perfect spot to lay low while we work out just how closely we want to align ourselves with Gwen and Ellis.”
“I guess,” Rory grumbled.
Chapter Eleven
Two days later, Arthur had Rory’s trunk in his closet at home and they were at the pier on the Hudson, boarding a French ship bound for London. Rory was tense, but he wasn’t complaining, just looking around the second-class deck with cautious eyes.
Their cabin was as short on space as Rory’s boarding house room had been, with two narrow wooden bunks built into the wall, a mirrored stand with hot and cold water for the washbasin, and small settee beneath the porthole. Nothing fancy, but clean and perfectly serviceable—well, except for trying to fit two of them on one of those beds.
Arthur frowned. He was too tall to fit in one of the bedsalone.
But Rory looked delighted. “This is ours all week?”
Arthur smiled at the first note of pleasure in Rory’s voice since they’d boarded. He took Rory’s suitcase out of his hand. “Why don’t you take the top bunk?” he said, sliding the case under the lower bed. “You’ll be able to see out the porthole when you wake.”
