When her felicitations hung unanswered in the air, she added more hesitantly, “I knew there was something so special about you when you came before. I was hoping the king would gift you the eternal night.”
Oh. She was congratulating me on being turned into a vampire.
To them, this was ahappything.
I swallowed down the immediate rush of anger. There was something so sweet on the seamstress’s face. Even though I hated what had happened, she was happy for me. She thought I’d been done a favor.
“I appreciate that you’re happy for me,” I managed.
That satisfied Josephine, at least. Bertha snapped her fingers, and the seamstress obediently handed the shears over while pulling a length of muslin.
The two worked to pin the fabric quickly, sketching a rough idea for the dress over my clothing. Raphael watched. I expected him to look bored, or resentful, given that he had to wait around. I wouldn’t have felt bad, per se. I was doing this for one of his balls, after all. But Raphael didn’t appear bored. Instead, he leaned some distance away, arms crossed over his chest, an inscrutable expression on his face.
Thea, unable to trust Bertha completely, also made some suggestions, and the two went back and forth while I stood like a mannequin.
Eventually, they reached some conclusion, and I was released. Josephine worked carefully to remove the garment in place without pricking me on the pins.
“I’m in your debt, my lady,” she murmured, taking some pins from my shoulder. “I’m excited to get to serve you again.”
Old anger rose in me. “There’s no debt.”
She smiled and helped me into my gown. “Whatever my lady says. All the same, I am pleased to get this opportunity to assist you.”
I looked around. Bertha had moved over to Raphael, who was watching me even as the shopkeeper spoke to him about some logistics.
“And you’re… well?” I asked, unsure how to say,Your boss hasn’t come up with some other reason to pull out your fangs?
She nodded, and I hoped I was right to believe her. “You are kind to even think to ask.”
I remembered the way I’d been treated in Greymere. Gods, what it would have meant to have even one person acknowledge the cruelty that went on there. It wasn’t the same—Josephine had options, probably, and was at least paid a wage for her workhere. But as quickly as Bertha supplicated herself to those above, I had no doubt she still enjoyed lording her power over those she saw as below her.
I forced myself to turn from that anger. “If anything ever changes, I’m sure Raphael has use for your talents in the castle.”
Maybe it was presumptuous for me to offer with his name, but I couldn’t leave her trapped.
Josephine’s eyes went wide. “My lady, thank you.” She clasped my hands in excitement. I tensed, and she moved to pull away. “Oh, I apologize. One such as I should never have presumed…”
I grabbed her hands back. “Nothing to be sorry for.”
I offered Josephine a slight smile and thanks for her work as I headed over to Raphael. Seeing I was done, the vampire turned from Bertha mid-sentence with barely more than a word, and the three of us departed.
“What did the girl say to you?” Raphael asked once the door shut behind us.
“First, her name is Josephine. And to answer your question, there was an incident last time. Bertha can be… overzealous.”
“Sam’s understating it. The cow wanted to rip out Josephine’s fangs for an accidental prick, and Sam royally put her in her place.” Thea sighed. “It’s a shame, she really does make the best gowns.”
Raphael said nothing, but I felt his stare acutely.
“Anyway, I need to go finish up some other arrangements,” Thea continued. “Sam, is it fine if I leave you here?”
“I’ll get her back safely,” Raphael said, sounding irked.
Thea held my gaze until I nodded. In that moment, more than any other, I felt the depth of our friendship. “It’s fine, Thea. Take care of what you need to.” I might not want to spend any more time than necessary with Raphael, but whether Thea was with us or not wouldn’t affect things.
Thea left and Raphael started moving. The cobblestone streets all looked alike, though with their own unique shops, patrons dipping in and out. The lamps that lit the city were hardly necessary now. My sight was much clearer.
With as little time as I’d spent on the second level, I struggled to orient myself. We took a few steps down an unfamiliar street, and I immediately lost any sense of direction. I let Raphael take the lead and allowed a few paces to spread between us.
