“No, I don’t. That’s why I’m here. I’ve been trying to find her. Can you help me?”
Amelia drummed her fingers atop the metal gears of her book. Her mind seemed just as sharp and interlocked. She wasn’t replying. Yet at least I could be certain she wasn’t insane. She exhaled a long breath. “How could I help you? I don’t know where Veronique is.”
“You may know something that can assist. May I ask you a few questions?”
“If you must.” The wary look in her blue eyes said she might not answer, however.
Still, I couldn’t believe my luck. This was he furthest I’d gotten with any Lady Amelia. Sad to say, I hadn’t planned much past getting through the front door. I eyed the girl before me carefully. Veronique’s last words were for me to find someone named Amelia. Still, was this the person she’d really meant? And even if it was, how much could I trust this stranger?
“What you know about Veronique?”
“Almost everything.” Amelia kicked her foot against the ground and began to gently swing. Her features softened as she talked about her friend. “Vee loved yellow gowns and handsome boys. She was clever with anything that had gears; not that she’d ever let you know it. The girl was selfish and shrewd. Even so, you’ll never meet anyone with a stronger heart.” Amelia looked up at me through long lashes. “Your turn. What do you know of how Veronique disappeared?”
It didn’t feel right sharing too much. After all, I’d only just met Amelia. I decided on an answer that was both truthful and vague. “She was taken.”
“Now that’s an avalanche of information.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “Perhaps this will free your tongue. I’m a Necromancer.” She quickly lifted her arm. Her pretty features scrunched up in agony as a flash of blue light skittered across her palm. She shook out her hand. “Damn, that always hurts.” She lowered her voice to what was supposed to be a menacing level. “But don’t think I won’t use my power if I have to. I’ll get the truth from you, one way or another.”
My mouth hung open for a moment before I was able to school my features again. I couldn’t believe it. Was it only a day ago that I was threatening thieves with the same logic? The gods have a sense of humor. “I admire your spirit, but that wasn’t Necromancy.”
“That’s what you think.” Amelia lifted her chin. “Answer my questions or I’ll strike you down.”
I worked hard to hide my smile. You want to strike me down? Get in line. Still, her display did prove one thing. Amelia was desperate to find Veronique. I sat down beside Amelia on her swing. “You can’t go around showing off blasts of blue light like that. You’ll get dragged in by the Fantomes. In fact, I’m amazed they haven’t pulled you in already. I thought anyone with Necromancer power was drained ages ago.”
“I was adopted by the Vicomte, same as Veronique. All of us so-called children have Necromancer power. We use it to build things for him.”
This supported my theory about how the Vicomte planned to take in Necromancer magick with a device. Having machinists with some Necromancer abilities would only help him figure out how to take in power from a totem ring. I leaned forward. “And you used some of your magick to build the clock tower.”
“Precisely.”
“It still doesn’t explain the risks you’re taking right now. I’ve heard stories about the Vicomte and his adopted children. Most of them came to a nasty end.” Like Veronique.
“I’m the only child he actually adopted. His sole heir. And I have magickal wards that protect me from him. Otherwise, he’d have sent me away ages ago.” Her gaze turned pleading. “That’s what happened to Vee, isn’t it? He sent her off.”
The question hung in the air. What happened to Veronique? My Necromancer training was clear on this point. Evade all straightforward answers, even to another Sister. Yet I wasn’t feeling very logical today. My heart wanted to trust Amelia. After seeing Rowan leave again, I desperately needed someone I could rely on in this mission.
I’ll tell her the truth.
“I was once a captive of the Midnight Cloister. Veronique was imprisoned there with me. The Mother Superior at Midnight meant to kill us, yet she didn’t. I escaped. The Vicomte took Veronique away.”
Amelia’s lower lip wobbled. “And what’s he doing with Vee? Are the rumors true? Is he draining her?”
My soul ached for Amelia. She desperately wanted to find her friend. I knew just how that felt. “He’s trying to. But we can get to her first.”
Amelia fiddled with the gears on the cover of her book. When she spoke again, her voice was low. “But you don’t know where he’s keeping her.”