The ghostsmith deftly wove the fragments of blue material into a single long strand, a wide, blue glittering band. Then he wrapped it seven times around his wrist and used his other hand to knot it. A lightning bolt flashed through the fabric. Eureka wondered what it had looked like on her skin.
Come close, girls, a peppery voice echoed from inside the mask.
Gem and Aida had been trying to slip silently out the door. They turned and drew slowly toward the ghostsmith.
Atlas ordered this done? the ghostsmith asked.
Eureka discerned the faintest lisp.
Yes, Aida said. He
You will pay for his mistake.
But Aida began to tremble as the ghostsmith removed his mask.
A long, lustrous mane of black hair tumbled from it, revealing pale skin decorated by a dazzling constellation of freckles. Round black eyes peered from a dense curtain of lashes.
The ghostsmith was a teenage girl.
The ghostsmith was DelphineEurekas very-great-grandmother, source of the Tearline and Eurekas darkness.
The ghostsmith dipped forward and kissed Aida on the cheek. When her lips met Aidas skin a spark passed between them. A burning odor stung Eurekas nostrils and the girls eyes filled with tears. Aida fell to the ground. She began to weep. She rolled back and forth, lost in sudden sorrow, a black hole opened with a kiss.
Aidas shaking gradually lessened. Her sobs quieted. Her final cry broke off midway, leaving a feeling of unfinished desperation in the room. She rolled onto her face. The stolen teardrop necklace clinked when it hit the floor.
Delphines red lips loomed close to the other Devil. Gem turned toward the hall and ran. The ghostsmith darted after her, had the girl back inside the room in an instant. Her gloved hand clamped around Gems neck.
Gems lips quivered. Please.
Inches separated their skin. Delphine puckered her lips, then paused. You have worked for me before.
Yes, Gem whispered.
Did I like you?
You did.
That is why Atlas chose you to betray me.
The girl said nothing. Delphine swooped to the ground, lifted Aidas corpse, and pushed it roughly into Gems arms.
Show Atlas what happens when he crosses me.
Gem staggered under Aidas weight and fled down the hall.
Eureka and the ghostsmith were alone. She turned toward the bed.
Hello. Delphines voice was softer. Shed switched from Atlantean to English. She avoided Eurekas gaze, looking instead at the bedposts, the desk, the rocking chair. This must be distracting.
One swipe of Delphines hand along the wall made the familiar furniture vanish. The roomwas gray and bare. The bed Eureka lay on was now a cot.
He commissions convincing holograms, Delphine said, but Atlas does not appreciate the horror of nostalgia. No one wise looks back at what they were. She poured water from a pitcher into a goblet that glistened like a star. Are you thirsty?
Eureka wanted a drink badly, but she jerked her chin away. Water spilled down her chest.
Delphine put the goblet down. Do you know who I am?
Eureka looked into Delphines dark eyes and, for a moment, saw her mother. For just a moment, she wanted to be held.
Youre the villain, she said.
Delphine smiled. I am certainly that, and so are you. Were a team now. Im sorry about the lightning cloak. When I designed itshe stroked the blue band on her wristI never anticipated it might be used on you.
What is it? Eureka sensed she wasnt finished with the lightning cloak. The more she understood, the more she could withstand.
It is woven of my agony, so pure and deep that it connects to all agony inside everyone it touches. What you felt was my pain seeking your pain in the astral light. Had I not interceded, you would have felt every shred of misery youve ever known and ever would know in the future. Call it a mothers intuition that I got here in time. Delphine touched Eurekas cheek with her gloved hand. Pain is power. Over time I have absorbed it from many thousands of agonized souls.
What about Aida?
Another soul put out of her misery, another bump to my arsenal of pain, Delphine said. She was also a message to Atlas. We send each other little notes throughout the day.
Take me to him, Eureka said.
Take me is such a submissive phrase, Delphine said, trying too hard to mask her jealousy. Is that really what you want? Because I can give you anything, Eureka.
Why would you help me?
BecauseDelphine seemed stunnedwere family. She slipped her gloves off and clasped Eurekas hand with long, cold fingers. Because I love
What I want is impossible.
Delphine sat on the edge of the bed and recovered from Eurekas interruption. She flashed a lovely smile. Theres no such thing.
Eureka could have asked for the safe retrieval of the twins and Cat and Anderbut if that were what she truly wanted, she would never have abandoned them. She wasnt their protector anymore. Maybe Delphine was right about not looking back at what you used to be.
All you have to do is ask, Delphine said.
Come close, girls, a peppery voice echoed from inside the mask.
Gem and Aida had been trying to slip silently out the door. They turned and drew slowly toward the ghostsmith.
Atlas ordered this done? the ghostsmith asked.
Eureka discerned the faintest lisp.
Yes, Aida said. He
You will pay for his mistake.
But Aida began to tremble as the ghostsmith removed his mask.
A long, lustrous mane of black hair tumbled from it, revealing pale skin decorated by a dazzling constellation of freckles. Round black eyes peered from a dense curtain of lashes.
The ghostsmith was a teenage girl.
The ghostsmith was DelphineEurekas very-great-grandmother, source of the Tearline and Eurekas darkness.
The ghostsmith dipped forward and kissed Aida on the cheek. When her lips met Aidas skin a spark passed between them. A burning odor stung Eurekas nostrils and the girls eyes filled with tears. Aida fell to the ground. She began to weep. She rolled back and forth, lost in sudden sorrow, a black hole opened with a kiss.
Aidas shaking gradually lessened. Her sobs quieted. Her final cry broke off midway, leaving a feeling of unfinished desperation in the room. She rolled onto her face. The stolen teardrop necklace clinked when it hit the floor.
Delphines red lips loomed close to the other Devil. Gem turned toward the hall and ran. The ghostsmith darted after her, had the girl back inside the room in an instant. Her gloved hand clamped around Gems neck.
Gems lips quivered. Please.
Inches separated their skin. Delphine puckered her lips, then paused. You have worked for me before.
Yes, Gem whispered.
Did I like you?
You did.
That is why Atlas chose you to betray me.
The girl said nothing. Delphine swooped to the ground, lifted Aidas corpse, and pushed it roughly into Gems arms.
Show Atlas what happens when he crosses me.
Gem staggered under Aidas weight and fled down the hall.
Eureka and the ghostsmith were alone. She turned toward the bed.
Hello. Delphines voice was softer. Shed switched from Atlantean to English. She avoided Eurekas gaze, looking instead at the bedposts, the desk, the rocking chair. This must be distracting.
One swipe of Delphines hand along the wall made the familiar furniture vanish. The roomwas gray and bare. The bed Eureka lay on was now a cot.
He commissions convincing holograms, Delphine said, but Atlas does not appreciate the horror of nostalgia. No one wise looks back at what they were. She poured water from a pitcher into a goblet that glistened like a star. Are you thirsty?
Eureka wanted a drink badly, but she jerked her chin away. Water spilled down her chest.
Delphine put the goblet down. Do you know who I am?
Eureka looked into Delphines dark eyes and, for a moment, saw her mother. For just a moment, she wanted to be held.
Youre the villain, she said.
Delphine smiled. I am certainly that, and so are you. Were a team now. Im sorry about the lightning cloak. When I designed itshe stroked the blue band on her wristI never anticipated it might be used on you.
What is it? Eureka sensed she wasnt finished with the lightning cloak. The more she understood, the more she could withstand.
It is woven of my agony, so pure and deep that it connects to all agony inside everyone it touches. What you felt was my pain seeking your pain in the astral light. Had I not interceded, you would have felt every shred of misery youve ever known and ever would know in the future. Call it a mothers intuition that I got here in time. Delphine touched Eurekas cheek with her gloved hand. Pain is power. Over time I have absorbed it from many thousands of agonized souls.
What about Aida?
Another soul put out of her misery, another bump to my arsenal of pain, Delphine said. She was also a message to Atlas. We send each other little notes throughout the day.
Take me to him, Eureka said.
Take me is such a submissive phrase, Delphine said, trying too hard to mask her jealousy. Is that really what you want? Because I can give you anything, Eureka.
Why would you help me?
BecauseDelphine seemed stunnedwere family. She slipped her gloves off and clasped Eurekas hand with long, cold fingers. Because I love
What I want is impossible.
Delphine sat on the edge of the bed and recovered from Eurekas interruption. She flashed a lovely smile. Theres no such thing.
Eureka could have asked for the safe retrieval of the twins and Cat and Anderbut if that were what she truly wanted, she would never have abandoned them. She wasnt their protector anymore. Maybe Delphine was right about not looking back at what you used to be.
All you have to do is ask, Delphine said.
