Page 8 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

Chapter 3 - The Clock

The metal hatch behind me slammed shut as if by itself.

I shot the door a narrow-eyed look before spotting the purple-striped cat meander across the floor.

His blue swirly gaze met mine. “My, my, what’s going on here? Trouble in paradise?”

He was clearly amused.

I strolled toward my desk. “What the hell are you doing here again, cat?”

“My mistress sends me again as usual.” Padded feet barely making a sound, the cat hopped up onto my table, right by my spilled snifter of brandy that had soaked through things.

I peeled up the wet scrolls before instantly dropping them in distaste. “Does the Duchess have nothing better to do than to snoop on my personal affairs?”

“You know she will keep sending me until you give her what she wants.”

“That’s out of the question.” I slumped back into my seat, rubbing my temples.

“So you say.”

I shot the cat another dagger look and he merely chuckled, dropping the subject.

“Did your little pet escape the tower?”

“Don’t even start with me, Chez.”

“Rabb, it’s been three weeks,” the cat pointed out. “Don’t you think your ‘let’s wait until she gets her memory back’ plan needs a little adjusting by now? I told you, you should have turned her over to the Queen from the get-go.”

I checked the time on my pocket watch. “The other day you said she was growing on you,” I reminded him as I was fully aware that the cat had frequently been downstairs to visit with the girl. Just curious, Chez had said.

“What can I say, she gives good belly rubs. Still, I don’t want my head cut off when the Queen finds out.” Chez gave me his trademark grin. “Who else is going to put up with your surly ass—who has already put up with your surly ass for the better part of a hundred years, hey, Rabb? I mean, I’m practically your best friend.” He paused to consider. “Heck, I’m your only friend.”

I shot the cat a glare.

I didn’t need friends. I didn’t need anyone.

I frowned. My chest felt tight just then, and to my absolute consternation, hot tears began to well up in my eyes.

I blinked back the wretched stinging. “Oh dammit, she’s crying.” Reaching over to the nearest pipe, I pounded my fist on it several times, the dull banging echoing throughout the clock tower structure. “Oi, down there!” I yelled out. “Stop crying!”

Chez’s eyes were as wide as two yellow moons. “How could you possibly know that? What is going on? Are you feeling what she’s feeling?” He stopped, jaw dropping. “More to the point, are you actually feeling?”

I lowered my head. I supposed my secret was bound to come out sooner or later. In fact, it was a wonder that Chez hadn’t already caught on to it earlier, given he was always here. I let out a sigh. “I think so. Because I carry her heart.” I shook my head briskly. “This has never happened before.”

“I knew you’d been getting more testy lately,” the cat mused. “How long has this been going on?”

“Three weeks.”

Chez’s jaw dropped again. “And you didn’t tell me?”

I dismissed him with a wave. “It seems one-sided. I thought it would go away,” I relayed. “I thought it could have been a temporary side effect from taking in her heart. It might still be a temporary side effect. Why do you think I’m working so hard to figure out how to get rid of it?” I gestured my arm across the piles of books and papers all over the room.

Chez licked a paw. “Hearts can’t exist outside a body for too long.”

Already knowing that, I nodded. “I’ll need a new Heartlamp.”

“Without the Queen’s command, that will be tricky,” Chez relayed.