Danny leaned over and touched Colton’s cheek. Still cold, though he knew that didn’t matter much to a spirit. It was disquieting to watch Colton and not see the rise and fall of breath.
“I could pretend,” Colton had once offered, sticking out his chest and then drawing it back in. Danny had laughed until his belly hurt.
Why couldn’t it be like the stories? In fairy tales there always seemed to be an obvious villain and an obvious hero. If Danny was the hero, who was the villain? Matthias? But he knew Matthias, and the man wasn’t evil.
He hung his head, his thoughts a jumbled mess. Danny didn’t know what he would say to Matthias, or how to stop him if he tried to run away with Evaline.
Matthias had lied. His mother didn’t understand. His father was trapped. Colton was dying.
Everyone leaves, in the end.
When he looked back at Colton, he thought of Sleeping Beauty and how one kiss had woken her from the enchantress’s spell. Danny scooted to the edge of his chair and wiped sweaty palms on his trousers. He looked around. They were alone; his mother had reluctantly left for work. He swallowed and bent forward until his face hovered just above Colton’s. Then, closing his eyes, he kissed him.
Even his lips were cold. When Danny broke away, there was no change, although Colton turned a little toward him. Danny shook his head, annoyed with himself for thinking a fairy tale cure could work.
The door opened below and Danny was beyond relieved to hear Cassie holler up. He jumped to his feet and met her at the bottom of the stairs.
“Will you tell me what’s going on?” Cassie demanded. She wore her baggy work overalls, her hair done up in a thick braid.
Danny jerked his head toward the stairs for her to follow. Up in his bedroom, Cassie gasped at the sight of Colton.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” he said. He briefly told her what had happened in Enfield.
“Oh, Danny,” she whispered.
At just that moment, Colton opened his eyes and searched for Danny, frowning when he saw Cassie instead. Danny took his hand.
“I’m here.”
“Are we going back now?”
“No, not yet. I have to find Evaline, the Maldon spirit. She’ll be able to help. Cassie will take care of you while I’m gone.” Colton looked at her again, and she waved weakly.
“I want to help,” Colton croaked, attempting to rise to his elbows.
Danny gently held him down. “You can’t do anything in the state you’re in.”
“But what if she’s gone? If you take me with you, I’m sure I can find her.”
Danny shook his head. “I don’t think Matthias would let her leave the house.”
Colton opened his mouth, but must have realized that Danny wasn’t going to budge. He fell back against the pillow and closed his eyes with a grimace that twisted Danny’s stomach even tighter.
“I promise I’ll be back soon.” Danny pressed his lips to Colton’s forehead.
The spirit brushed his fingers over the back of Danny’s neck. “Be safe.”
Danny nodded and turned back to Cassie. “I know this isn’t ideal, but I have to find Matthias and that clock spirit. It’s the only way to understand what happened. Please, look after Colton until I’m back. He’ll need protecting in case someone comes.”
“Like who?” she demanded.
“I don’t know, but I can’t trust Matthias anymore, and I don’t know if other mechanics can feel Colton’s presence. If the Lead Mechanic suspects I did this, then the authorities might come, and … I know I’m asking a lot. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
Cassie shivered, but not in fear. Not for herself, anyway.
“Will it be dangerous?” she asked.
Danny felt the burn of Colton’s stare, waiting for his reply. “I don’t know.”
She breathed out through her nose. “Go on, then.” She pulled a large wrench from her pocket and set it down with a satisfying thud on the desk. “We’ll be all right here. Good luck.”
Danny wanted to hug her, but there was only so much time. He nodded his thanks and hurried down the stairs. “And wear your holster!” she shouted after him.
Shoving on his boots, he pounded into the winter-clad streets of London.
At this hour, Matthias was usually at the office filling out paperwork or training the apprentices. As Danny walked from his parked auto to the blue-trimmed house, he wondered which would be worse: not finding Matthias or confronting him on his doorstep.
Danny forcefully knocked. He stood there, tense, waiting to hear the scrape of the lock. It never came. Danny stepped away and tried to peer into the window, but the curtains were too thick.
The clock spirit was here, he was sure of it. Matthias would never allow her to roam London, especially not once the news that Enfield was Stopped began to spread, if it hadn’t already.
Nothing for it, then. Danny breathed in deeply, steeled himself, and kicked the door.
“Mummy!” a little boy shouted. He was walking toward the park, a woolen cap hiding the tips of his large ears. “That man is breaking in, look!”
The mother swung a suspicious glare on Danny.