Mirror, page 26
“Premature?”
He chuckled. “Yes. It’s not that I don’t like you. I do. Very much. But I think your father’s right.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that,” she said with a grin.
“Truly. I would like to be your friend though.”
“Even after last night?” she asked, afraid of the answer but needing to know.
“Even so,” he said in a way that made it clear that it didn’t weigh in his decision at all.
Artemis was surprised at how relieved she was, both at his acceptance and at his offer to be just friends. She wanted more, but not yet.
“I think I’d like to be friends very much.”
“Good,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “So, you have a flaming sword?”
Artemis burst out in laughter. “Yes, yes, I do.”
“And those things, those creatures?”
Artemis decided the truth was the only way to go. “Gargoyles brought to life through ancient Egyptian magic.”
Liam’s expression didn’t change. “Right.” He opened his mouth to say more but then shut it.
Artemis laughed lightly. “It’s a lot to take in. Maybe I should start at the beginning?”
He looked almost chagrined. “That might be best.”
“You’re taking all of this exceedingly well,” she observed.
He gave a nervous laugh. “Am I? On the outside perhaps. Last night I slept with the light on.”
She was sure he was joking, but she appreciated the sentiment. She considered where to begin. “I was going to ask you to keep this all to yourself, but it seems like there is no reason for it now.”
Liam appeared confused by that.
“Half of England saw me last night, and I suppose the other half will find out from the evening paper.”
Liam offered her a smile. “I wouldn’t count on that.”
Now it was her turn to be confused.
“My father spent the better part of the morning making sure nothing about last night will ever be printed.”
That would be wonderful, but ….
“He did? Why?”
“Strange creatures attacking Parliament isn’t exactly the sort of publicity the House of Lords appreciates. There will be no news story,” he assured her.
“Really?” she asked, cautiously hopeful.
“Really.”
“But what about everyone who was there?” Artemis asked. “They saw what you saw. They’ll have questions just like you do.”
“Some,” he admitted, “but you underestimate the desire for most to explain it all away. My mother was lamenting how a pack of wild dogs could be allowed to roam free in London over breakfast this morning.”
Artemis couldn’t keep the quirking smile from her face. “Wild dogs?”
“Most people are happy to have a simple explanation. It’s far easier than thinking their world might be more … unnerving than they thought,” he said. “My mother and most of her friends, they’ll have a fundraiser for something or other and forget any of it ever happened.”
This was like what her father had said before; the brain has a marvelous capacity for self-preservation. Explaining away the nearly inexplicable kept the world safe and something that they could understand.
“And your father and his friends?”
Liam hedged. “They’ll never speak of it in public. Most won’t speak of it to each other. It will be as if it never happened. It’s better for them that way. It’s a sort of willful ignorance. And I’m afraid it’s served them well as members of Parliament for years.”
It was clear that he didn’t count himself amongst that particular “them.”
“And you?” she asked.
Liam leaned forward, searching her face for a brief moment, his eyes alight with excitement. “I want to know everything.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Artemis was exhausted, but she’d never been so happy or content. For the last few days they’d spent hours deflecting questions about what had happened at Parliament. Happily, most people had difficulty accepting the idea of a girl with a flaming sword and found ways to explain it away themselves. Some swore that “creatures”, not wild dogs had attacked the building, but as there was no evidence of any, they were beginning to doubt even their own memories.
The furor died down and was replaced by the next salacious bit of news. Another brutal murder in the East End had captured people’s focus now, and the newspapers were more than happy to stoke their curiosity.
Artemis and her father had dispatched two more “nightmares.” There were still plenty out there, but for once she was feeling as though she had an actual handle on being the Blaze. And being me, as well.
All of her friends and family were here together, and she felt a warmth inside her that she hadn’t felt for a very long time. Mrs. Perry and her father were there, of course. And Tommy and Phoebe, and Miss Ashcroft and Arthur Darvill. It was a motley crew, but she wouldn’t trade any of them for all of the tea in China.
Dinner was lively and the food delicious; Mrs. Perry had really outdone herself this time.
“The lamb is perfect,” Artemis told her.
Mrs. Perry beamed and sat back as she sipped her sherry, enjoying her spot at the table.
“It’s all in the mint jelly.”
“Wotever it is, I luv it,” Tommy mumbled through a mouthful of food, earning a frown from Phoebe at his right.
He forced it all down in a painful swallow.
“Sorry.”
Phoebe laughed but tried to cover it. “You’ve got some jelly on your chin.”
He snaked his tongue to retrieve it, but he couldn’t reach it.
She lifted the edge of the napkin he’d stuffed into the collar of his shirt and wiped it away for him.
“You’re like a child.”
Tommy grinned cheekily. “You’re a sight prettier than my mum, I’ll tell ya that.”
Phoebe pursed her lips, but Artemis could see she was pleased.
Her father and Miss Ashcroft spoke quietly with Mr. Darvill at the far end of the table.
“Don’t let my brother hear you say that,” Phoebe replied, but clearly in fun.
“Big bloke, is he?” Tommy asked, rising to the bait.
“As a matter of fact.”
“Speaking of David,” Artemis said, “how is he? Has he asked you anything?”
“No, it’s odd,” Phoebe confessed. “Nothing.”
That was strange. She was sure he would have been next in line after Liam with questions for her. It was slightly disconcerting, to be honest.
“I wonder why.”
Phoebe gave her a delicate shrug. “Who can tell with boys?”
“I thought you were the expert on boys,” Artemis teased.
Phoebe flashed her a warning look, her eyes darting toward Tommy in quick embarrassment.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Artemis could barely keep the smile from tugging at the corners of her lips.
“I must have imagined it.”
Phoebe humphed sharply in reply and then gave her a quick wink.
Artemis's father clinked his knife against the side of his wine glass to get everyone’s attention. Once he had it, he stood.
He glanced around the table at all of their friends: Mrs. Perry, Tommy, Phoebe, Mr. Darvill, and Miss Ashcroft.
“To all of you,” he said raising his glass. “Our friends, our family. Thank you for all you’ve done for my daughter, for myself, and for London. I feared when this all began we would have to face this strange new world alone. How wrong I was.”
He paused and looked at each in turn, finally stopping to look at Artemis for a long moment before speaking.
“My heart is as full as my glass.”
Everyone raised theirs and drank to the toast.
“Here, here!”
“Cheers!”
Tommy drained his glass in one go. “My heart’s empty,” he said, holding it out.
“So’s your head,” Phoebe said jokingly as she swatted his arm, winning a laugh from everyone.
This was what Artemis had always wanted and never knew she’d missed. A family. And now, under the strangest of circumstances, she had it. And nothing could take it away from her now.
The man standing on Harley Street turned the collar of his cape up to ward off the chill as he leaned against the lamppost and watched the house across the way, lights glowing warmly in the window.
He was bewildered when he suddenly found himself in someone’s bedroom, a girl’s bedroom. He’d been in the Otherworld one moment and there the next. Some sort of enchantment must have pulled him through the Veil. It took him a few moments to realize just where he’d been transported to. And when he had, the anticipation rose within him.
Ever since, he’d watched her carefully. She was more than he’d ever dreamt of. More powerful, more magnificent.
He’d waited years for this moment; he could wait a few more days. It had to be perfect. And it would be. The day he would take back his baby girl.
He watched the house for a moment more, a feeling of contentment and purpose permeating his being. Finally, things would be set right.
“It’s good to be home,” John Cain whispered into the night as he stared longingly at the house across the street.
Good to be home.
Jack the Ripper was back.
More Books & About the Author
Want to read more of the Monique’s books? Click here to read the next book in your favorite series and to see all of Monique’s books.
* * *
Don’t miss an adventure, visit Monique’s website to sign up for the new release newsletter.
THE BLAZE SERIES
(YA Historical Fantasy)
Blaze (Book #1)
Mirror (Book #2)
Legacy (Book #3) - coming November 28, 2018
OUT OF TIME SERIES
(Time Travel Adventure Romance/Mystery)
Out of Time: A Time Travel Mystery (Book #1)
When the Wall Fell (Book #2)
Fragments (Book #3)
The Devil’s Due (Book #4)
Thursday’s Child (Book #5)
Sands of Time (Book #6)
A Rip in Time (Book #7)
A Time of Shadows (Book #8)
Voyage in Time (Book #9)
Revolution in Time (Book #10)
A Time for Christmas: An Out of Time Christmas Novella
Christmas in New York: An Out of Time Christmas Novella
Book #11, coming soon
SAVING TIME SERIES
(Time Travel Adventure/Out of Time Spin-off)
Jacks Are Wild (Book #1)
Aloha, Jack (Book #2)
Nairobi Jack (Book #3)
HOLLYWOOD HEROES SERIES
(Romantic-Comedy)
The Frame (Book #1)
The Curse (Book #2) - coming soon
If you enjoyed this book, please consider posting a brief review.
Have an idea for a monster you’d like to see Artemis fight or a time and/or location you'd like to see Jack or Simon & Elizabeth visit? Drop me a line or come on by Facebook and let me know. I have quite a few ideas for future adventures, but would love to hear from you!
Visit: http://moniquemartin.weebly.com
* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monique was born in Houston, Texas, but her family soon moved to Southern California. She grew up on both coasts, living in Connecticut and California. She currently resides in Southern California with her naughty Siamese cat, Monkey.
She's currently working on an adaptation of one of her screenplays, several short stories and novels, and the next books in The Blaze, Out of Time, Saving Time, and Hollywood Heroes series.
Monique Martin, Mirror
