Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1)(92)

“You oughtn’t cuss, Eleanor.” She wagged a finger at me. “Anyway, I got nowhere else to go, and you’re ma’s always treated me right. And... and you too. You don’t deserve all this.” She waved around the room.

“Oh, I deserve it. Trust me.”

“I find that hard to believe. Nobody deserves what that reporter’s gone and done to ya.”

My throat tightened, and I clenched the cotton sheet in my left fist. Mary had brought me the paper the day before, and it hadn’t been pleasant reading.

Once the amazement had worn off over Laurel Hill’s ruins and the hundreds of corpses floating in the Schuylkill, and once people had realized the Dead would no longer plague the city or Exhibition, the Philadelphia Bulletin—or rather Nick Peger—had latched onto a new campaign: me. It had somehow reached his ears that Clarence was with me the night of his death, and Peger had bitten into this juicy news with rabid, Deadlike ferocity.

Though the speculation did not spread to other newspapers, the damage was done. Mrs. Wilcox and Allison publicly denounced my family. I knew it was the final blow for my dragon-mother. If Mama had ever intended to swallow her devastation and leave her bedroom, she certainly wouldn’t now.

I rather thought my family deserved the Wilcoxes’ hatred. Though no one knew the exact truth, my family was the cause of Clarence’s death.

Of course, Peger could prove none of his accusations against me. Soon enough, some other story would come along to replace me. I hoped.

I settled back onto my pillow. “You don’t have to stay, Mary. I’m tired now, and I think I’ll sleep.”

“Ah’right.”

“Don’t forget what I said about the gowns. There must be someone who will buy them.”

She nodded.

“And,” I added, my voice tight, “if she’ll listen, tell Mama I love her.”

“Wake up,” said a voice. “Eleanor, wake up.”

I opened my eyes, groggy and confused. The room was dark, and except for the heavy breaths of slumber, it was a silent Sunday night.

Someone sat on my bed, much like Mary had, but this person was small, and her voice was like a sharp-edged music box.

“Jie,” I breathed. “How’d you get in?”

She grinned, a flash of white in the dark. “The window by your bed.”

“But I’m on the second story.”

“And that’s what trees are for, yeah?” She helped me sit up.

“Why are you here? Have you found Marcus?”

“No, but we think we know where he’s gone, so we’re leaving town.”

“To be honest,” I said with a sad twist to my lips, “I thought you’d be long gone by now.”

“Nothing personal, Eleanor, but I would have. It’s not safe for us, yeah?” She cracked her knuckles against her jaw. “But Daniel wouldn’t go until one of us had gotten in here to see you.”

My heart twisted, and I turned away. “Ah.”

“We also wanted to give you this.” She set a fat, dirty envelope on my bedside table. “It was in the grimoire pages. It’s full of letters... from your brother. To you. We thought you might want them.”

My throat stung. “Thanks,” I whispered. “S-so where are you going?”

“Chicago. A headless corpse was found there. It must be Marcus’s work.”

“Was the corpse walking?”

“Naw. Marcus probably sacrificed someone for the power. We’re not completely sure it was him, but chances are pretty high it is.” She scooted closer to me. “I wish you could come with us.”

A breathy laugh broke through my lips, and tears glossed over my eyes. “I wish that too, Jie, but I can barely walk.”

“We could wait a little longer.” She opened her hands wide. “There’s nothing but hate left for you in this town.”

“I know.” I sniffled and wiped my nose on my sleeve. “But I can’t leave. I have to take care of my mother.”

“Have you told her about your brother?”

“N-no.” My voice broke. If I wasn’t careful, I would be crying soon. “Not yet, but I will.”

Jie grunted. “Well, if you change your mind about staying, you come find us, yeah?”

“How will I know where you are?”

“I’ll write to you. Every city we visit, I’ll send you a letter.”

A grin tugged at my lips. “All right.”

Jie slid off the bed. “I should go now. There’s a big reward out for me.” She smiled, her eyes gleaming with wicked pleasure. “Besides, I still gotta let Daniel in.”

“Huh?”

“He’s at the front door.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s too clumsy to climb trees, yeah?” She gave me a quick hug. “See you around, Eleanor.” Then she scampered silently through the room and disappeared into the hall.

Brittle minutes passed, and my heart started banging uncomfortably. After a few days in bed, all my anger at Daniel’s rejection had faded into a tender regret.

He appeared in the doorway, a shadowy figure. He crept toward my bed, and once he reached my side, he gazed down at me for several moments. His eyes ran over my lacerated arms, flicked to my bandaged stump, and then paused at my face.