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Murder victims flashed through my memory in rapid-fire succession. Victims from Jack the Ripper, torn apart and discarded like rubbish. Bodies drained of blood from just last week while Thomas and I had been studying in Romania. Everywhere I went, death trailed behind. I hoped tonight would not follow suit. I shook those thoughts free. “Come on. It’s getting late.”
Ropes creaked, the sound evoking images of giants lifting their old bones and gazing at those who dared disturb their centuries-old slumber. Even traveling arm in arm with Liza, I couldn’t deny the promenade was an eerie place at night.
Liza clutched me closer. “We need to go into that corridor. The stairs will take us down to the next level.”
Wind whipped pieces of hair from my braid, adding to the chills that were already running rampant down my body. I truly did not wish to enter a darkened corridor at night with a murderer running about, but saw little choice. At least Liza and I were together. There was small comfort in that. I swallowed hard and followed my cousin as she pulled the door open and glanced over her shoulder at me.
The corridor lights flickered, the buzz from the bulbs like a swarm of bees defending their hive. Liza moved swiftly down the metal stairs, and I plunged after her, trying to ignore the rapid beat of my heart or the third set of footsteps I was certain I’d invented in my imagination.
We descended for what felt like an entire century, but in reality was only a moment or two. Without hesitation, Liza pushed the door open and peeked out onto the deck of second class.
“Everything is empty,” she said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s move quickly, though.”
She didn’t need to tell me again. We raced down the deck, stopping only periodically to glance over our shoulders. Though I still swore we were being followed, no figure appeared. I was certain I wasn’t the only passenger aboard this ship who was starting to invent midnight monsters. We hadn’t encountered anyone since supper, and the rooms all appeared to be shut up tight, as if they could barricade the evil away.
“There’s Mephistopheles’s chambers.” Liza halted a few doors down from them. “Harry’s room is three away. Fetch me as soon as you’re ready to leave.”
She kissed my cheek quickly and hurried off. I watched her sneak down to Houdini’s cabin and slip inside before bringing my fist to the ringmaster’s door. I heard something that sounded like papers rustling. I counted off five beats of my heart and knocked again. The door flung open, revealing a masked woman in a robe. Cassie. Judging from the way the fabric clung to her slim frame, I didn’t believe she had on anything beneath it. Her unwelcoming expression more than hinted I’d interrupted something. My face burned when I put together what.
“I-I’m so very sorry, I—”
Mephistopheles moved into the doorframe, a lazy grin upon his face. I noticed he was completely dressed, not a wrinkle in his clothing, and his cursed mask was still in place. I almost sagged with relief. “Come to profess your undying love?”
“However did you know?” I asked, loud enough for Cassie to hear. I leaned in indecently close and whispered, “Perhaps when you’re dreaming.”
“At least it’s not in my nightmares.” He winked. “That would be most unfortunate for you.”
I stood back and stole a glance over his shoulder, noting bolts of fabrics and an odd assortment of netting, pearls, and more sequins than I imagined the world contained. A suit jacket with tassels hanging from the shoulders lay on a table with more embellishments ready to be added. It seemed Mephistopheles had quite the sewing hobby—yet another piece to add to the puzzle of him.
“Cassie?” he asked, not sounding at all patient. “Unless there’s anything else, we’re done for tonight.”
Cassie scrutinized me before slipping out of sight. I recalled what Liza had said—Cassie was… close with the ringmaster. I suddenly wished to pull a disappearing act of my own. No wonder she was so annoyed; I’d ruined her romantic plans. As if reading my thoughts, Mephistopheles tilted his head. “Cassie was just finishing up her final fitting. Her new costume is a real showstopper—you ought to see it.”
“It’s not any of my business what you’re doing,” I said. “And I didn’t ask.”
“No, you didn’t.” His lopsided grin was back in place. If he was disturbed by the earlier murder or having the remainder of his evening tryst ruined, he didn’t show it. “But you appear awfully relieved for someone who doesn’t care.” Before I could argue, he stepped back inside and reemerged with a heavy coat. “See yourself out, Cassie. I’ll have someone drop the costume off before the show tomorrow.”
I stood there, mouth agape. “You cannot be serious.”
“Not often, but I do have my moments.”
“You’re going to put on another show tomorrow? That’s madness!”
“Which is good business, Miss Wadsworth.”
“Of course it is, how silly of me to think having another show after a body burned onstage tonight was anything other than a tremendous idea.”
The ringmaster raised a brow above his mask. It truly was a remarkable feat. “It is wise because it will serve as a distraction for those who seek it. Beats the alternative of locking everyone away for three nights, jumping at every creak and groan the ship makes. That, my dear, is madness inducing. Lock a man up and cracks begin to show.”
“Is that something you know firsthand?”
He motioned for us to move down the deck, far enough to remain unheard when Cassie left. We kept a respectable distance, but it still felt as if we were too close.
Once we’d reached the end of the ship, I leaned against the railing and kept my focus off of the ringmaster. I needed to think clearly, and he made it difficult with his brash flirting. Wind nipped at my ears and neck. The coldness helped snap my thoughts into place.
“Well? To what do I truly owe the honor and delight of your presence? Are you ready for your next lesson? Or have you mastered your card trick already and have come to boast?”
I stared out at the churning sea. Waves rolled and tossed themselves back and forth, much the same way my mind waded through new information.
