I stared through the stone archway into the enormous stacks of books around the room, still in complete awe at this place.
And maybe Finn was right about me getting comfortable here, even if it had only been two days. Because if I was honest, part of me didn’t want all this to end. The longer I stayed here, the harder it would be to go back to the real world where I belonged.
I rose from the bath and grabbed a towel to dry myself off. I’d wear something simple, I thought. With the towel wrapped around me, I crossed to the wardrobe where my clothes were being kept.
Except just as I was about to get dressed, I heard the door slamming opening at the far end of the library. I turned to see Samael walking closer, his cloak pulled up. I held the towel close around me, flustered by this interruption.
“I’m not ready yet.”
He stood in the open archway that divided his room from the rest of the library, his eyes like two bright stars in the darkness. "It seems someone tipped off the Free Men." The sharp edge in his voice raised the hair on the back of my neck.
"Did they? How strange. Is tonight off then?"
The angel’s eyes remained fixed on me. I couldn’t tell if it was because I wasn’t wearing any clothes, or if he was suspicious of something. "The plan has changed. Instead of in the music hall, they will be meeting on a ship moored in the Dark River. I still plan to listen in, and you will be coming with me. I’ll be hiding in a secret room in the galley. But you will be moving around the ship. You will serve them drinks. I’d like you to listen in to their conversations, and read lips. Tell me anything you hear that sounds significant.”
I nodded and waited for him to move away. Except he just kept looking at me, his eyes searching. Was he trying to read betrayal? And why did I feel guilt?
He should be feeling guilt. I wanted to ask him if he’d been ripping out people’s lungs, but it wasn’t like he’d tell me the truth. I clutched the towel. “What do I need to wear?”
“Ernald will have some clothes for you there. There’s a certain style of dress for the women at the secret Free Men parties.”
“Ernald?” Understanding dawned. “Oh. He’s an informant for you, isn’t he?”
“He owns the ship. I understand the activities there are unsavory at times."
Unsavory. That certainly sounded like my boss.
Samael’s pale eyes swept down my neck, and I realized he was following the path of a droplet of water down my throat. I saw his fist clench, then he turned and stalked out of the room as forcefully as he’d entered.
I let out a long breath, then finished toweling off. Whatever happened tonight, I could only hope it didn't lead to the apocalypse that these angels wanted to create.
Whatever the storm was, I wanted to be on the right side of it.
Samael wore his dark cloak as usual. As we walked along the riverside, Sourial walked ahead, wearing a shirt for once, along with his blue star-flecked cape.
A warm, briny wind swept off the river. The setting sun dipped lower in the sky, like a ripe red fruit, and it stained the periwinkle clouds with streaks of orange. Vibrant colors rippled out over the dark water. Sometimes the city could be so beautiful.
As we approached the ship—to the west of the castle—I saw that it was very different from the ones I was used to pilfering. This one was an old-fashioned wooden galleon with enormous sails. It looked like a pirate ship from the old days, and it now functioned as one of Ernald’s many clubs.
Tonight, it wasn’t only the angels I had to worry about. What about the cop who I’d warned earlier today? If he was there, I wondered if he’d keep his mouth shut. His comment about looking out for compromised women disturbed me somewhat.
As we approached the ship, I quietly prayed to the Raven King that nothing terrible would happen.
At the walkway that led up to the ship, I followed behind the two angels. The quarterdeck rose above us to the right, and the old boards creaked as we crossed over to it.
We descended a narrow stairwell, which led us to an expansive captain’s cabin below deck.