Brooks gasped, and Eureka wondered how he had experienced Delphine from the other side. His eyes housed a darkness that made Eureka feel less alone.
I decide who is dead and who is not, Delphine said. And you are not.
Eureka threw her arms around Brooks. He smelled like the old Brooks and sounded like the old Brooks; he held her like no one could but Brooks. Even though she had been tricked before, she knew this was real.
Eureka, he whispered in a voice that chilled her to her core. Its my fault. I couldnt climb it, so he took over. Now theres no way out.
Dont worry, she whispered back, confused by what he meant about climbing. Now that youre here, I can do it. I have to.
She could feel him shake his head against her shoulder. Whatever happenshe pulled away to look her in the eyeI love you. I should have said it long ago. It should have been the only thing I ever said.
And I love
You may play with him once the sun has risen. Delphine pressed a hand between their bodies. Ill even let you use the whip. Until then we have work to do.
Eurekas eyes begged Brooks for more about what he knew and where hed been, but a waterfall sprang up around him like a cage that hung in the air. She couldnt see him anymore.
Eureka!
Delphine returned to her potters wheel and pretended she couldnt hear Brooks scream.
Eureka pressed her hands against the waterfall. It soaked her. Through it, she could feel Brookss shoulder, then his face. She wondered why she couldnt feel his arms reaching back for her. Stay with me.
Hes not going anywhere, Delphine said. You can trust me. Now you must prove I can trust you.
Delphine? A crown of red hair hovered at the waveshops entrance. Atlas did not look happy.
29
THE LOVED ONE
I assumed you would be working when Eureka arrived, Atlas said as he entered the waveshop. The golden light that Eurekas footsteps had lit turned red as he approached.
Delphine did not look up from her wheel. She pedaled slowly, lengthening each note of the strange music.
You said you were not to be bothered. Atlas brushed Delphines dark hair to one side and rested a hand on her shoulder.
When Delphine looked up at Eureka she was really looking through her. You said you wouldnt hurt her.
Show me one scratch on her body. Atlas approached Eureka and made a close circle around her, seeming not to notice the cuts on her wrist, her bloodied shirt where his spiked cuff had bound her waist. His breath was hot on her neck. His eyes moved across her skinlike spiders. She is in mint condition.
Eureka envisioned spinning on him, twisting his neck until his arteries popped and the fire in his eyes went cold. She saw the murder in vivid detail, from the strained gurgle coming from his throat to the pathetic thud of his dead body in the sand. But she craved more than Atlass annihilation. She also had to steal the profits he had made from her tears. She had to undo the Filling, and she didnt yet know how.
You used my lightning on her, Delphine said. There are deeper wounds than scratches. Her focus returned to the orichalcum kneecap her long fingers were shaping. She must come to the tears in her own way.
She refused, Atlas said.
Tension swam between their words. It reminded Eureka of her parents preliminary fights. The memory of Dianas leaving returnedthe nightgown tickling her ankles the storm outside and within the slap forever on her cheek, haunting it.
I continue to refuse, Eureka said.
Delphine reached for Atlass hand, stopping him before he lunged at Eureka. She stroked the coarse red hairs on his forearm. Give it time.
Time. A note of sarcasm entered Atlass voice as he gazed down the wave toward the dark eye of sky. The one luxury we lack.
I sense them building in her, Delphine said. They will come before sunrise.
Atlas bowed his head. I am chastised. No harm will come to her when she is with me from now on.
She is with me from now on, Delphine corrected.
You have your work to do, Atlas said. Let me look after her tonight. I have something for her, a surprise.
From inside his waterfall prison, Brooks bellowed violently.
Whos in the cage today? Atlas asked with a nod.
Delphines gaze checked Eurekas before she said, A boy I want to play with later.
You always have liked to make them seethe first, Atlas said. Eureka couldnt tell if he was jealous or amused.
I will destroy you! Brooks shouted, his voice muffled by the sound of the waterfall.
Oh, hell be fun. Atlas chuckled.
Eurekas teeth clenched. Atlass laughter made her hands itch to kill. She weighed her options. Defend her friend now and loseor bide her time?
Atlas stepped closer to Brooks, surveying the waterfall cage. Then his fist plunged into it. The barrier curved pliantly around his fist, likely allowing Atlas to strike Brooks in the stomach, though Eureka couldnt see her friend through the waterfall. When Brooks howled, Eureka felt his pain in her own gut, like a twin.
I decide who is dead and who is not, Delphine said. And you are not.
Eureka threw her arms around Brooks. He smelled like the old Brooks and sounded like the old Brooks; he held her like no one could but Brooks. Even though she had been tricked before, she knew this was real.
Eureka, he whispered in a voice that chilled her to her core. Its my fault. I couldnt climb it, so he took over. Now theres no way out.
Dont worry, she whispered back, confused by what he meant about climbing. Now that youre here, I can do it. I have to.
She could feel him shake his head against her shoulder. Whatever happenshe pulled away to look her in the eyeI love you. I should have said it long ago. It should have been the only thing I ever said.
And I love
You may play with him once the sun has risen. Delphine pressed a hand between their bodies. Ill even let you use the whip. Until then we have work to do.
Eurekas eyes begged Brooks for more about what he knew and where hed been, but a waterfall sprang up around him like a cage that hung in the air. She couldnt see him anymore.
Eureka!
Delphine returned to her potters wheel and pretended she couldnt hear Brooks scream.
Eureka pressed her hands against the waterfall. It soaked her. Through it, she could feel Brookss shoulder, then his face. She wondered why she couldnt feel his arms reaching back for her. Stay with me.
Hes not going anywhere, Delphine said. You can trust me. Now you must prove I can trust you.
Delphine? A crown of red hair hovered at the waveshops entrance. Atlas did not look happy.
29
THE LOVED ONE
I assumed you would be working when Eureka arrived, Atlas said as he entered the waveshop. The golden light that Eurekas footsteps had lit turned red as he approached.
Delphine did not look up from her wheel. She pedaled slowly, lengthening each note of the strange music.
You said you were not to be bothered. Atlas brushed Delphines dark hair to one side and rested a hand on her shoulder.
When Delphine looked up at Eureka she was really looking through her. You said you wouldnt hurt her.
Show me one scratch on her body. Atlas approached Eureka and made a close circle around her, seeming not to notice the cuts on her wrist, her bloodied shirt where his spiked cuff had bound her waist. His breath was hot on her neck. His eyes moved across her skinlike spiders. She is in mint condition.
Eureka envisioned spinning on him, twisting his neck until his arteries popped and the fire in his eyes went cold. She saw the murder in vivid detail, from the strained gurgle coming from his throat to the pathetic thud of his dead body in the sand. But she craved more than Atlass annihilation. She also had to steal the profits he had made from her tears. She had to undo the Filling, and she didnt yet know how.
You used my lightning on her, Delphine said. There are deeper wounds than scratches. Her focus returned to the orichalcum kneecap her long fingers were shaping. She must come to the tears in her own way.
She refused, Atlas said.
Tension swam between their words. It reminded Eureka of her parents preliminary fights. The memory of Dianas leaving returnedthe nightgown tickling her ankles the storm outside and within the slap forever on her cheek, haunting it.
I continue to refuse, Eureka said.
Delphine reached for Atlass hand, stopping him before he lunged at Eureka. She stroked the coarse red hairs on his forearm. Give it time.
Time. A note of sarcasm entered Atlass voice as he gazed down the wave toward the dark eye of sky. The one luxury we lack.
I sense them building in her, Delphine said. They will come before sunrise.
Atlas bowed his head. I am chastised. No harm will come to her when she is with me from now on.
She is with me from now on, Delphine corrected.
You have your work to do, Atlas said. Let me look after her tonight. I have something for her, a surprise.
From inside his waterfall prison, Brooks bellowed violently.
Whos in the cage today? Atlas asked with a nod.
Delphines gaze checked Eurekas before she said, A boy I want to play with later.
You always have liked to make them seethe first, Atlas said. Eureka couldnt tell if he was jealous or amused.
I will destroy you! Brooks shouted, his voice muffled by the sound of the waterfall.
Oh, hell be fun. Atlas chuckled.
Eurekas teeth clenched. Atlass laughter made her hands itch to kill. She weighed her options. Defend her friend now and loseor bide her time?
Atlas stepped closer to Brooks, surveying the waterfall cage. Then his fist plunged into it. The barrier curved pliantly around his fist, likely allowing Atlas to strike Brooks in the stomach, though Eureka couldnt see her friend through the waterfall. When Brooks howled, Eureka felt his pain in her own gut, like a twin.
