The Faire (Harrow Faire #5) - Kathryn Ann Kingsley Page 0,73

It hurt a lot. But at the same point…she understood.

Jack took one look at her, and his eyes widened just a little. He flinched for a moment, regret crossing his features, before fear took over. He took a step back from them. “I’m not here to fight.”

“Then I suggest you leave.” Simon sneered. “I have a bone to pick with you, Rigger…and I think I know whose bones I’ll be using.”

Cora put her hand on Simon’s shoulder, asking him to wait. Shockingly, he did. She tried to take over the conversation. It might end with less blood on the ground if she did. “Who’s missing, Jack?”

“Amanda.” Rigger’s jaw ticked. “She’s missed two performances today. Two. I’ve spent the last seventy-plus years pulling lines for her. Never once has she skipped out—she’s never missed a single show. So I know you’ve done something, Simon. Where is she?”

“Why is this my fault?” Simon sighed and rolled his eyes. “Cora is the one here who can dissolve people. Why am I the presumed culprit? Have you asked Ringmaster where his precious lady is?”

“He won’t answer his door. I know he’s in there, but he won’t come out.” Jack’s voice wavered and came close to cracking. He swallowed and shook his head. “Something’s happened. I know it. Where is she, Simon? What have you done?”

“Maybe you should check the tower.” Simon finally stood, brushing off Cora’s hand, and moved to stand beside her. “Where you abandoned us to our fate. Where you helped that piece of maggoty bread torture us. Now, me, I understand”—he put his palm to his chest—“as there’s no ounce of love lost between us. But Cora?” He tsked and shook his head. “For shame, Rigger. For shame. How can you still hold your head high when you betrayed a friend in such a terrible manner?” Simon took a slow step toward Jack.

The Rigger took a step back. Simon had successfully called his bluff. “It had to be done.”

“Did it?” Simon laughed. “Oh, yes. Of course. Forgive me. To save the world from a monster. Please. Oh—by the by! I nearly forgot.” He turned to face the others at the table. “Jack knew that Ringmaster planned to kill us all. That he was going to happily stand by while you all withered away and died.”

“We shouldn’t exist!” Jack shouted angrily. “We’re abominations. We should have died a long time ago. It’s not because I don’t care about everybody—I do—but we’re wrong.”

“Hm. And just like Ringmaster, you think your opinion is worth more than everyone else’s?” Simon took off his sunglasses to clean them with his handkerchief. He looked up at Jack with those black-red-white eyes of his. The Rigger pulled back. Cora had forgotten how unsettling Simon’s eyes were to most people. She had long since gotten used to them. “And you call me evil.”

Jack wiped his hand over his face. “Where is Amanda? What have you done with her?”

“You keep asking, and I keep answering. I don’t know where she is. Check my tent if you don’t believe me.” Simon shrugged dismissively.

“I’ll find her. I’ll figure out what you’ve done. I won’t let you get away with this.” Jack stormed off.

“I…I need to talk to him.” She put her hand on Simon’s arm. “Alone.”

“Are you going to kill him?” He smiled hopefully. “I truly hope so. Can I watch? Please? Pretty-please? It was so arousing last time.”

She glared up at him, and that was enough of an answer.

He sighed sadly and slumped back down onto the bench, pouring out the remaining wine in the bottle. “Very well. You’ve turned out to be no fun at all.”

She would have made some snippy remark back at him, but she didn’t want Jack to disappear. Turning, she jogged to catch up with the Rigger. “Jack, wait.”

He whirled, raising his fists for a fight, his eyes wide in panic. “Get back!”

She stopped and looked behind her. There was nothing there. Oh. Right. He’s afraid of me. She looked back to him and felt her shoulders slump. “Jack…I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Where’s Amanda? What’ve you two done with her?”

“I don’t know where she is. I really don’t.” She paused. “Is it weird that I’m worried? I really suck at this whole being-a-villain thing, don’t I? I’m not here to hurt you.”

Jack lowered his hands. “I left you to die. I helped Turk tie you up and throw you in that place.”

“I know. Trust me, I know.” She cringed and rubbed her collarbone. “I can