threat to turn her into a doll of his or…she didn’t know. She didn’t figure a whole lot ever stood between Simon and his quest to get what he wanted. To take the link to the Faire away…she would have to die by his hand.
And I’m afraid he’ll do it.
13
Cora did her best to put on a brave face. She dressed, brushed her hair—resisted the urge to poke through all of Simon’s things, so only did it for five minutes before she worried he’d come in to see what was taking her so long—then headed to breakfast.
She was starving.
When she walked in, a few people turned to see her and smiled. Louis the Magician, Bruce the Firebreather, Jack, Simon, and Bertha were all sitting at one table. It was strange to see Simon sitting there in the mix.
At least nobody’s throwing rocks at him. Or knives.
She smiled and waved to them. Heading to the buffet table, she made herself a plate of breakfast and fetched a large cup of coffee. Coffee and sausages really did make everything better. She headed to the table and was surprised as Bertha scooted over to make room between her and Jack.
“Sit, sweetheart.”
She glanced to Simon, but the Puppeteer barely paid her a glance. He seemed to be locked in a debate with Louis about paint. She wasn’t aware there was that much to discuss, but they seemed engrossed.
With a shrug, she sat down between Bertha and Jack, and across from Simon. “Good morning everybody.”
“How are you, Cora?” Jack smiled at her. “Are you all right?”
“It’s been a rough week…two weeks…whatever it’s been.” She picked up her coffee and sipped it. It was still a bit too hot, so she set it back down and poked at her food with her fork. “I’m hoping things might calm down a little. Maybe.”
“For all our sakes, I hope you get your wish.” He smiled and picked up a piece of bacon to crunch on it. “I like it when it’s quiet around here.”
“Does life around here come in a ‘quiet’ mode?” Cora raised her eyebrow at him.
“Oh, sweetheart, it’s usually duller than a box of rocks around here.” Bertha chuckled. “We can go years just…stuck in the loop. Wake up, do stuff, sleep. Wake up, do stuff, sleep. Why do you think I have so many books?”
Cora smiled. “I need to start reading that book you gave me. I need to find the time to.”
“You will. Things’ll calm down.” Jack patted her arm. “You’ll see.”
Except the Faire is dying. And I get the feeling it’ll be soon. She didn’t know how she knew. She just did. She wondered if she could sense the creature now that it was a part of her. It would make sense. She sipped her coffee again. Much better. “It’d be lovely to be able to not spend every day of my life here worried some terrible catastrophe was about to happen.”
“Well, to be fair, you are dating Simon,” Bertha teased with a smile.
Cora laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I promise he’s not that bad.” He might just be plotting to kill me.
“If you say so.” Bertha pulled out a flask from her bag and tipped the contents into her coffee. It looked like whiskey. Seeing Cora’s glance, the Bearded Lady smirked. “Never too early and never too late at Harrow Faire. Want some?”
“I’m good, thanks.” Cora chuckled. “I think I’ll spend the day sober and hopefully conscious for a change.”
“There go my evening plans,” Simon interjected, pausing the conversation with Louis to grin at her. “I was planning on getting you rightly sauced then have my way with your helpless, unconscious body. I think I might want to see if I can fit my whole—”
Cora kicked him viciously under the table.
“Ow!” Simon growled at her, reaching under the table to rub his leg. “That was uncalled for.” But still, he had that lopsided, manic smirk on his face.
She smiled overly sweetly at Simon over the table. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
“I think I’ve entirely forgotten now.” Simon grinned into his tea. “It’s inexplicably left my mind.”
“Imagine that.”
Everyone else laughed at their antics. Bruce was laughing more in disbelief than anything, watching their exchange with a bit of awe and fear. Jack was smiling, but there was sadness in his eyes. Bertha and Louis both seemed truly amused.
“I’m still not sure how it all happened between you two.” Bertha shook her head. “One second you’re hollering at him and beating him in the face