“Thanks, Bella.”
A crack of thunder slices the air now. When the next flash lights her expression, it changes from excitement to horror. I turn to see what she is staring at.
The door opens. Smeeth and two soldiers step onto the roof. I push Bella behind me and pull out my dagger.
“Well, well, look what we’ve got here,” Smeeth says, his night-vision goggles pulled onto his face. “If it isn’t Miss Bella and the Professor’s daughter, I presume.”
I take Bella by the hand and spin around to run the other direction when another door opens behind us with two more soldiers.
“Don’t be frightened,” Smeeth says. “We want to have a little chat with you, that’s all. No need to run out on us.”
“You know I could jump off this building and be gone before you made it halfway here,” Bella says with defiance.
Smeeth nods and laughs. “That is true, Miss Bella. But it isn’t you we want.” Smeeth clasps his hands behind his back. “I’m here for Miss Darling.”
I take a step back, protecting Bella with my body. “What do you want, Smeeth?” I ask.
Smeeth turns his face to the sky. “In this bloody weather, a spot of tea would be nice, but alas we will not be attending any parties. It’s more of a family get-together. However, don’t feel left out, Miss Bella; I’m sure the Captain will find a suitable use for you.”
“Run, Bella,” I whisper.
Without hesitation, Bella sprints to the ledge. She opens her arms as if they were wings, ready to dive into the nearby tree. She is stopped by two soldiers climbing over the edge of the building. Bella shrinks back with a look of dread as one soldier towers over her. She hurries toward me and wraps her arms around my waist.
“Gold dust,” the soldier mumbles, walking toward us with purposeful steps. He rubs his fingers and thumbs together as glittering specks fall to the ground. “Brilliant, really. Had no trouble climbing the wall with the trail you left behind.” The soldier crouches and peers at Bella. “Once the Captain is done with you, you’ll be showing us where the gold is, little girl. Ain’t that right?”
Bella looks at me with a glassy stare.
“You want gold?” I ask, feeling adrenaline course through me. I give Bella a sideways glance and wink. “You can have it.” I reach in my pocket and throw the dust into the soldier’s face. Bella follows suit, sending her powder into the direction of the other Marauder. They paw at their goggles, attempting to wipe away the dust.
“Brats!” one of the soldiers screams, and stumbles to the ground.
I kick the soldier’s shin with the toe of my boot and grab Bella’s hand. We start for one of the doors when two more soldiers burst through it, blocking our escape.
Smeeth’s dazed expression quickly turns to anger. He pulls his gun from its holster and aims it at Bella and me. “You cheeky scamps! I’ve had just about enough of your nonsense.”
As Smeeth trains his weapon on us, the soldiers move past him, closing in on Bella and me. Bella grabs her slingshot from her belt and turns her back to mine, fending off the advancing men behind me. I hold my dagger, ready for Smeeth and his guards. The Marauders hesitate.
“Ladies, it doesn’t have to be this difficult,” Smeeth says, still directing his revolver at us.
I search for an escape, but we are surrounded, with nowhere to go except over the eastern wall and into the quad. A wave of nausea rolls over me. I breathe, smelling the scent of ash and smoke.
“This is ridiculous,” one of the soldiers says. He snatches Bella and pulls her into him, clutching her arms as she struggles against his hold.
Smeeth steps toward me. His copper gun reflects a flash of lightning as he points the weapon at me.
I seize my second dagger, aiming one at Smeeth’s head, the other at his heart.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Smeeth says, his stare stone cold.
Gripping my daggers tighter, I feel my blood pulse against the hilts. One flick of my wrist, that’s all it would take to plunge the sharp blade in between his eyes, but my stomach churns at the thought. My attention darts from his forehead to his finger wrapped around the revolver trigger.
“You won’t hurt me,” I say, aiming my dagger at him. “Hook needs me.”
Smeeth scowls and steps forward.
“You take one more step and I’ll pin your skull to the wall,” I say, hoping the slight tremor in my hand doesn’t betray me.
Smile lines grow in the corners of Smeeth’s mouth. “Now, now. Let’s be reasonable. We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.” He pulls the hammer back on his gun and aims it at Bella.
“Drop your weapon,” I say, my clenched jaw aching. The hilts of my daggers slip in my sweaty palms, but I keep my aim steady.