Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(81)

"Father!" Sir Markell cried. His frightened horse wheeled about, ears flat, but he managed to control it. He drew his sword and aimed it at the imp. "Say the God damned words before it kills us all!"

"I can't," the general said. "I lost it."

His horse reared again. Its hooves came down, aiming straight for the watch lying on the road. If it broke, they would be stuck here.

I dove for the watch. Pain burned my hands and knees as I hit the ground. Several voices screamed my name. I looked up just in time to see hooves descending toward me. I closed my eyes and threw my arms over my head.

There was a thud, then another, and the squeal of a frightened horse.

I lowered my arms. The imp stood by me on all fours, panting heavily. It was growing weak. Two riderless horses took off down the street, reins dragging on the road.

"Father? Father? By the Gods, are you all right?" Sir Markell helped his father to sit up.

The general blinked dazedly at his son. Then he turned to stare at the imp. "What beast is that?" he murmured.

"It's her pet," Seth snarled. "And it's going to tear you apart if you don't leave."

"Not without Miss Alice," the general said.

I pulled out the piece of paper I'd tucked into my pocket after retrieving it from Lincoln's safe earlier. Then I chanted the written words, the same ones the general had begun moments ago, and clicked the watch button.

By the time Sir Markell and General Ironside realized what was happening, the final words left my lips. They vanished. Their horses disappeared and so did the army, the watch, and even the cart. Gus and Alice fell unceremoniously onto the ground, and the street became oddly quiet, like the morning after a fierce storm.

Seth rushed to Alice's aid and crouched before her. She gave him a wobbly smile. He smiled back then pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Come here, Imp," I said, clutching the orb. "Sleep now."

Light flashed and when I opened my eyes, the imp had disappeared. The orb pulsed once and I could just make out the tiny creature settling inside it. I placed the necklace around my neck.

Harriet waddled over to me and drew me into a hug. I hesitated then hugged her back. "Oh, Charlie, you are so brave! That thing…" She touched the amber nestled against my chest. "Sir Ignatius described it to me, as it was described to him by Lady Ballantine, but I didn't believe him. It seemed much too fantastical to be real."

"I've seen a lot of things that seem too fantastic to be real, and yet they are. Are you all right, Harriet?"

She pressed her palm to her belly. Her features were pinched and her eyes huge in her pretty face. "I think I ought to go home. I feel…different. The baby seems to have moved lower and the most awful pain ripped through me just a few moments ago. Besides, Gilly will be frantic. I forbade him to come with me. There are some things a husband shouldn't know about his wife, and seeing me with my pack is one of them."

"Then go. We'll talk later."

It wasn't until after Lord Ballantine had assisted her into her coach that I realized she'd said "my pack". Her pack wasn't here; Swinburn's was. But he was gone, and Lord Ballantine was bowing to her as she drove off. It would seem the two packs might combine after all under the one leader.

I watched as her coach turned the corner, a peculiar thought taking root in my head.

"Is anyone going to hug me?" Gus asked.

I smiled and threw my arms around him. "You can get a hug from me any time you want."

He kissed the top of my head. "You all right, Charlie?"

"Fine. You?"

"Seems like I got through this fight unscathed."

"Miracles do happen."

He chuckled. "How long before the army comes back?"

That was a very good question. There was another good question, however—how were we going to explain the presence of an army, a giant hairless creature, and their subsequent disappearance?

Up and down the street, neighbors emerged from their homes, scratching their heads and shrugging at one another. Some pointed at us, or at Lord Ballantine. He ushered his pack inside his house and shut the door. Only Jenkin, Swinburn's footman, remained. He stood by the body of his dead employer and pack leader.

"The police will have to be notified," I said, joining him. "They are probably already on their way."

"I should put the head with the body," he said.

I glanced at it, some feet away, and shuddered. Those sightless eyes would haunt me for days.

Speaking of haunting… I could not see Swinburn's ghost. "Sir Ignatius Swinburn, are you here?" I tried to think of his middle name but couldn't remember it. If he had crossed, I'd need it to call him back.

But he hadn't crossed. His spirit rose up from the stairs leading down to the basement service area. Even in shades of gray, the slit at his throat was clearly visible, as was the blood, but I was rather glad the ghostly head was still in place on his neck. I half expected him to be carrying it under his arm like a hat. Another shudder wracked me.

"What is it?" Swinburn snapped.

"You haven't crossed," I said.

Gus, Seth and Alice gathered around me, following my gaze toward the spirit. Jenkin backed up the stairs and disappeared inside, slamming the door shut.