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My current target, on the other hand, was another story.
It was a long search to find one of the descendants of the Guardians. I had never even tracked down my own genealogy—quite impossible for orphans anyway—and yet I had spent the last six months trying to track down someone else’s. It took just as long to sift through the legitimate and fake fortune tellers to find someone who even believed in the Eros.
But it would be worth it. If I could avenge Maria, it didn’t matter what I had to do.
“Can I help you, sir?” the sales clerk asked.
My face bounced into a smile as I turned to her.
“Ah, just browsing, my dear,” I replied, trying to keep my voice light. “I saw your beautiful fabrics in the window and just couldn’t help myself.”
She returned my smile. “Do you have a special lady you’d like to shop for?”
“Of course. I’m thinking of a dazzling woman in high society, known for her interests in the arts and jewels. Her father is aprestigious arts dealer and her mother—may she rest in peace—was the grand hostess of lavish parties at their estate.”
The saleswoman blinked. “That’s quite specific.”
“Yes,” I replied, turning my voice into a bit of a song. “Do you have any customers like that around here?”
Her eyes glazed a bit. She blinked a few times, as if she was trying to remember.
“Yes…” she said slowly. “I think we have someone like that.”
“Could you tell me what days she might come in?” I sang.
The doorbell jingled. It broke the trance I had on the saleswoman, who instantly forgot our conversation and stepped toward the door to greet her new customer.
I checked the door myself, but it was only an elderly woman. My target was much younger. I’d have to wait until the saleswoman was through with her customer before I could charmspeak her again for more information.
To kill time, I walked down the aisles of fabrics and gowns, grazing my fingertips along the fabrics. So this was how the upper class lived, eh? It was a shame I wasn’t interested in wealth. I could have worn these threads fantastically. But what I wanted was bigger than money. Bigger than status. Bigger than life itself.
Lost in thought, I bumped into someone at the end of the aisle. She gasped and I reflexively grabbed her shoulders to steady her.
“Forgive me,” I said. “I wasn’t watching where I was going—”
I stopped at the sight of her. Two of the purest, most radiant blue eyes I had ever seen were looking back at me, accented by a blue gown of the most current fashion. She smiled at me with innocence.
“It’s quite all right,” she replied, her voice naturally breathy and high. “It was just as much my own fault.”
I then realized I still had my hands on her shoulders. I plucked them off, stepping back as I straightened my coat.
“Nothing injured, I hope?” I asked.
She dramatically searched her bodice and hands, then smiled at me once more. “I’m in one piece, thank you. So sorry for the trouble.”
“Not at all. It was my pleasure to bump into you,” I said, taking in her round face and eyes, Roman nose, blonde hair, and a curvy body only the upper class could accent properly. “An absolute pleasure, indeed.”
I gave her my best wink, but she only returned a mildly amused pout.
“Esmeralda!” someone shouted across the room.
The woman in front of me turned her head toward the name and then waved at the salesclerk, making her way across the room.
Goosebumps.Thatwas Esmeralda?
My target was far more enchanting than I thought she would be.
“What brings you in today, Esmeralda?” the clerk asked.
