Finley! Someone shouted. Stop! Sam, I need you!
Suddenly, a great weight settled on her, pinning her limbs. There was a clicking sound and cool air rushed across her face.
Be still, murmured a deep voice that rumbled through her ribs. Youre safe. Be still.
She knew that voice. More importantly, she trusted it. Sight and clarity returned. Sam loomed over herheld her down. Good lord he was heavy!
Get off, she growled, lungs struggling beneath his weight.
Suddenly, a great weight settled on her, pinning her limbs. There was a clicking sound and cool air rushed across her face.
Be still, murmured a deep voice that rumbled through her ribs. Youre safe. Be still.
She knew that voice. More importantly, she trusted it. Sight and clarity returned. Sam loomed over herheld her down. Good lord he was heavy!
Get off, she growled, lungs struggling beneath his weight.
She didnt have to make the demand twice. Sam jumped off her as though she were a hot coal. Are you all right? he asked, a flush of pink in his cheeks.
Im fine, she shot back. Normally shed tease him for blushing just because he touched a girl that wasnt Emily, but she couldnt do it. Her nerves were raw, jumpy and pinging. She needed to punch something. She wanted to vomit. Fear tightened her body, refused to let go just yet. Lord Felix was going to be the subject of her nightmares again, the piece of dirt.
Sam held up one broad hand, palm out toward her. He didnt have to say a wordshe knew what it was for. She pulled her fist back and then shot it forward, right into his open palm. She felt it all the way up to her shoulder, and it was good. The blow actually knocked him back a couple of feet. Good shot. Then he offered her the same hand. She took it and let him help her into a sitting position.
Emily stood a few feet away, clutching the helmet of the suit to her chest. Her knuckles and face were white, tiny freckles stood out on her cheeks. Finley looked back at Sam. Was it bad? Did I hurt anyone?
He shook his head. You didnt make a sound, not until Em woke you up.
Then how...? She turned her head and saw that they had company. Beside Jasper and Wildcatwho also looked alarmedwas Silverus Ipsley, the medium Griffin had befriended. The poor gingery fellow looked as though he might puke up his guts at any second.
Miss Emily asked Ipsley to monitor you in the Aether, just in case you ran into any trouble, Jasper informed her. His green eyes were full of concern. Which it appears you did.
It was Lord Felix, she admitted with a shrug. She wasnt going to volunteer anything else.
We know, Emily replied, voice hoarse. He told us what he saw.
For a second, she was tempted to backhand the medium, but then she met his gaze and all angerall humiliationfaded. He had only been trying to help, and hed been shoved straight into a little bit of hell that should have been hers alone. Im sorry you had to see that.
He nodded, head wobbling as though his neck was made of Indian rubber. Ive never seen anything like it. Ever. I knew there could be bad things in the Aether, but that was...extreme. Did they hurt you?
Finley shook her head. No. That was all she intended to say on the subject. They could ask her questions later, and maybe shed tell them what Ipsley hadnt revealed. Maybe she wouldnt tell them anything. The only thing she knew for certain was that she couldnt think about it right then. Couldnt think about it until theyd found and rescued Griffin, because the fear it had made her feel could cripple her if she allowed it to.
She turned to Emily. Thanks for pulling me out, Em.
Her friend only nodded, as though shed lost her voice, or couldnt trust herself to use it.
All right, then, put me back in.
They all looked at her as though shed lost her bloody mind. Maybe she had, but it hardly mattered.
No, Emily saidin that tone of hers that she sometimes used with Sam and the other boys. It was the tone that meant my word is law.
Their gazes locked. Finley thought she heard Sam swear. She and Emily had never really butted heads before. Yes.
The little redhead drew herself up to her full height, which still wasnt intimidating. Although, she did have a lot of dangerous-looking tools lying about. He could have killed you.
He didnt.
Because we pulled you out.
And you can pull me out again. She turned to Ipsley. You fine with that?
He didnt look fine at all, but he nodded. If it will save His Grace, of course.
Finley didnt feel at all smug when she returned her attention to Emily. Put me back in.
Two angry splotches of red appeared on Emilys cheeks. Her temper was up. That was fineFinleys was on the rise, as well. Im not arguing, Em. You can put me back in, or Ill go slit my wrists. Either way, Im going into the Aether. Of course, she wouldnt really slit her wrists, that would just be stupid. She probably wouldnt even find Griffin before she died, and if she was a ghost she might be able to reach him, but how would she get him back into the living world?
Stubborn, Emily bit out. Foolish, hardheaded... The rest was lost because shed launched into Irishor what Finley assumed was her native Gaelicand because the telephone on the near wall rang sharply twice, which was an indication that the call was coming from inside the house.
Jasper answered it. Lo? Mrs. D, darlin. What can I do you for?...Uh-huh....Uh-huh....Send him on down. He thanked her and hung up. Dandys here. Hes coming down.
Finley could have knocked him into the middle of next week. We dont have time for visitors, Renn. She used his last name intentionally to let him know she was annoyed.
He wasnt the least bit cowed. We have time for Jack.
Normally shed agree with him. Griffin is trapped in therewith The Machinistand every damn second we spend doing nothing is another second he suffers!
A heavy hand came down on her shoulder. It was Sam. Em needs to make some repairs before you can go back in.
Is that true? she demanded of Emily.
Her friend nodded, looking much less aggravated. The suit sustained some damage in the struggle when we pulled you out. Plus, I want to make certain were not caught off guard like that again. It will only take about an hour.
An hour here is nothing in the Aether, Sam reminded her.
Frowning, Finley nodded. She didnt like not getting her own way. She disliked it even more than she despised being wrong. Having both of these apply to a single situation was embarrassing. It was her fault the suit had been damaged, and now Griffin would pay the price of being in Garibaldis clutches a little longer.
The lift engine whirred to life, driving the cage upward to collect its passenger. A few moments later, it came back down and Jack stepped out.
Finley stared at him. Shed never seen Jack looking any less than perfectly together, but his coat was buttoned wrong, and his long hair was a mess. He was without a hat and without his customary walking stick that concealed a razor-sharp sword.
He looked around the room and appeared disappointed. Wheres his lordship?
Finley folded her arms over her chest to keep her heart from breaking. Griffins...gone. She frowned. Frowning prevented bawling.
Jacks dark gaze locked with hers. Was that suspicion she saw reflected back at her? Seems to be goin round as of late. He glanced at the others. Dont suppose e ad poppet wiv im?
Mila? Emily stepped forward. No. Whats happened, Jack?
I come ome and found er run off. Figured shed find her way ere.
She hasnt, Emily replied. Did she give you any reason for leaving?
He shrugged. Said she wanted to see some of the world. Didnt want to be a bover to the rest of us. To me.
To Finleys surprise, Emily smiled. She would have expected the little redhead to go off like a steaming kettle with worry. Shes growing up.
Jack looked at her as though she was mad. What the devil as that got to do wiv it? Not very mature of er to just run off like that.
Emily arched a brow, hand on her hip. What did you do to make her run off?
Jack Dandy actually flushed. It was snowing in hell.
Sam stepped forward, fists clenched. If you touched her...
One touch on the arm from Emily stopped him. He didnt hurt her, lad. Her bright gaze remained on Jack. If I know our girl at all, Im willing to bet she ran off to make him look at her as a person and not a child, or a machine.
Jacks flush turned to a scowl in a blink. I know shes not a child, and I know shes not a bloody machine. I know exactly what she is.
Shes obviously infatuated with you, Emily supplied. She wants you to see her as a woman. The question I want to ask is, what are you going to do about it?
His expression darkened. Im going to bring her home. The rest is none of your damn business.
Everyone but Jack seemed to notice that he had dropped his cockney accent.
She may not want to go home. She obviously felt she needed to leave.
For a moment Finley wondered if Emily would also poke a bear with a stick. Provoking Jack had never struck her as a good idea.
I want to make sure shes safe, Jack replied, his jaw tight. I would like your help finding her.
We cant, Finley blurted. Jack looked as though she had punched him. He was her friend, and he had been there for her every time she asked and even when she hadnt. Jack, Griffins been trapped in the Aether. By The Machinist.
Normally he would have sworn or made some sort of witty comment to break the tension, but he only nodded. A prickle of unease tingled at the base of Finleys spine. Was Jack in love with Mila? She was happy for him, of course, especially if the girl felt the same way but...
She was jealous. Since their first meeting she had been Jacks favorite girl. His favorite person. She didnt feel that way about him, but she loved him so dearly as a friend. He was like her brother, her twin soul. She didnt want to lose him.
Then she ought to be a better friend. I can help while Emily fixes the suit. She began climbing out of it so her friend could get to work.
Jack shook his head. No. You need to focus on your duke. There was no judgment in his tone, but she felt like dirt regardless. Ill find her.
Jasper and Wildcat stepped forward. Well help you, Jasper said. We aint much needed here, and Cats a right talented tracker.
Jack smiled, and Finley could have kissed the pair of them.
Take your telegraphs, Emily reminded them. Keep us updated and well do the same.