Right. He took her arm. Youre wasted.
Waste. That was bad, wasnt it? Mila jerked free of his hold. I am not. Im angry. How can you seem so smart and be so not smart? She ran a hand through her hair; it came out covered in plaster dust. Blast.
Jack frowned at her. He was pretty even when he frowned. I told you to stay away from the liquor cabinet.
Mila scowled back. You told her she pointed at the woman who had since donned her shift and was climbing into her gown that she was pretty. Obviously you are not consistent with the truth.
The tartDarlagasped and Mila rolled her eyes. Surely the woman had heard worse insults than that.
Go to your room, Jack instructed sternly. Later the two of us is going to ave a serious chat.
I hate it when you talk like that, she shot back. Speak per-properly.
He grabbed her arm again and propelled her toward the door. Honestly, she wouldnt have been surprised if hed shoved her back through the hole. Get out.
Jack yanked open the door to reveal the new housekeeper hed hired for Mila. Why he thought Mila needed someone to look after her when she had him, Mila had no idea. Hed said something about propriety that she didnt understand and still didnt quite comprehend. Basically hed hired the woman to make sure he didnt treat Mila like one of his ladies.
What if she wanted him to treat her that way?
Beggin your pardon, Mr. Dandy, but is everything quite all right? the older woman asked in her Northern accent.
Jack forced a smile. Mila knew it was forced because it looked nothing like his real smile. Goin to need someone what to fix that ole, missus. Be a love and take care of that would you?
Of course, sir. She continued to stand there. Mila grinned at her and waved. The housekeeperMrs. Brookstentatively waved back. Are you unwell, child?
Of course, sir. She continued to stand there. Mila grinned at her and waved. The housekeeperMrs. Brookstentatively waved back. Are you unwell, child?
Wasted, Mila replied with a grin. Jack, she noted, winced.
Be a love and escort Mila to her room, missus. And then, to the doxy he said, You best be on your way, love.
Yes, Mila chirped. Do be on your way.
Oy. Jack poked her. Dont be rude.
That wasnt rude, she protested. Rude would be And then she threw up all the lovely wine and grapes all over Darlas skirts.
Where was he?
Griffin tried to sit up, but thick straps over his chest, arms and legs kept him from rising. The spots where the straps touched him felt coolwrong. There was something about them that separated him from the Aether, made it impossible for him to use his abilities in any way. What were they made of? It bothered him that he didnt know what they were or how to combat them.
He was too tired to panic. Hed never gotten into a situation he couldnt get himself out of, and hed get out of this one. He just had to keep his wits about him. Garibaldi would want him to be afraid and off balance.
He closed his eyes. Was Finley all right? At least Garibaldi hadnt taken her, as well. When he saw Lady Ash, and then that automaton, shoot her...well, hed lost all reason. If he lived to be one hundred he would never regret killing that womansomething hed never thought himself capable of feeling, but hed slaughter an army to protect Fin.
She was probably ripping London apart looking for him.
But he wasnt in London.
Griffins eyes snapped open. He was in the Aether. How was that possible? How could Garibaldi imprison him there and render him powerless? It was his element, he should be strong, but instead he was as weak as a newborn kitten trying to hold its head up. He reached out for any hint of power and felt the bands around him tighten. There was pressure on his head, as welllike a set of fingers digging into his skull. He could feel his power being siphoned through those conduits. Garibaldi was leeching the Aether from him to keep him weak. Helpless.
Still refusing to panic, he glanced around at his surroundings. The implements digging into his scalp prevented him from turning his head much, but he could see that he was in a house. Garibaldi was strong enough to construct within the Aether. Bloody hell, that was not good. The man would be practically a god in this world, while Griffins power was being slowly drainedprobably to strengthen Garibaldi, the bastard.
Leonardo Garibaldi was a villain in every sense of the word, and the closest Griffin had ever come to having a nemesis. Not only had the man been responsible for the death of Finleys father, but he had instigated the deaths of Griffins own parents, with whom Garibaldi had once been close. He had also tried to turn Sam against his friends and used him as something of a spy. They thought they had defeated him and his plans to build sentient automatons, but hed come back again, kidnapping Emily and almost killing Sam. Some of his friends had thought Garibaldis death put an end to his criminal career, but apparently death only served to make him stronger, something Griffin had feared might happen.
He was trapped with a vengeful madman in the land of the dead, a land of pure energy. Hed known only one other living person who had been able to access this dimensionNikola Tesla. Tesla had built a suit that allowed him to put himself into a deathlike state so he could access the Aether. The man had been attacked by some of Garibaldis demons and had given the suit to Griffin for safekeeping.
The suit was at his house, and if he knew Finley half as well as he thought he did...damnation. The girl was mad enough to put the suit on and come looking to rescue him. If she did that there was no way that he could protect hernot that Finley was the sort of girl who would count on that anyway. Still, the idea of her at Garibaldis mercy was enough to tighten his gut and seize his heart. Physically she was a match for anyone, even Sam. But in the Aether she would be at a disadvantage, vulnerable.
He had to escape before she decided to come looking for him. He pushed against the restraints, digging his booted heels into the mattress. The straps didnt even budge and he fell back panting and sweating. A wave of dizziness washed over him, bringing with it a flush of sick heat.
Struggling wont do you any good.
Griffin went still at the sound of Garibaldis voice. The older man drifted into the room, a gray-hued pantomime of a human. In death hed made himself more than he had been in life. His hair was thicker, his face more chiseled. He might even be slightly taller. Regardless, he was still a vain madman with delusions of grandeur.
He smiled at Griffin. I designed those restraints just for you, Your Grace. Theyll not let you go now that Ive got you.
What do you want? The straps around his head made it difficult to move his jaw so the words came out slightly slurred.
His enemys face darkened. I want to be alive again, but you made certain that could never happen.
Griffin simply stared at him. His silence obviously angered the ghost, whose eyes filled with black. He lunged forward. Griffin tried not to flinch, but it was impossible.
Garibaldi chuckleda dry, rasp. And so, Im going to make you suffer, young Greythorne. Suffer like no one has ever suffered in the history of the world.
Still Griffin said nothing.
The Machinist leaned down and whispered close to his ear, Im going to make your little band of misfits suffer, as well. Im going to make you watch.
He couldnt help itGriffin tried to rise up, but all he did was jerk hard against the restraints.
Garibaldi laughed again. Thats what I want. I will so enjoy the pain their deaths will bring you.
Bastard.
Dark eyes bore into his, and all trace of amusement vanished from that cruel face. You need to learn some respect, and I need to teach you who is in charge here.
As he spoke, he drew one of his fingers through Griffins faceit was like an icicle being driven through his skull. The dead werent tangible, but Griffin wasnt dead. The rules of this world didnt apply to him, especially when he couldnt use his abilities. Garibaldis fingers slid through his flesh right into his chest, grabbed hold and squeezed. It hurt. Oh, hell, it hurt. He ground his teeth. He would not give the bastard the satisfaction of making a sound.
Blackness edged his vision, blurred it. His mind burned. Nothing existed but pain. Such pain.
Garibaldi smiled, cruel fingers searching. Ah, there it is. Ive always wanted to hold someones heart in my hand. His fist tightened.
Griffin screamed.
Chapter Three
Gone.
Griffin was gone.
Finley stood in the doorway of the room they shared and looked around. Shed hoped to find him here when she came running up the stairshoped that hed escaped Garibaldi and found his way back home. Honestly, shed known he wouldnt be here the moment they arrived. He hadnt come to greet them and let them know he was all right.
Which meant that he wasnt all right at all.
Griffin was the strongest person she knew. If Garibaldi was strong enough to imprison him, then the madman had finally achieved the power he sought during the twisted course of his life. There was no telling what the villain might be able to do now.
Which meant that he wasnt all right at all.
Griffin was the strongest person she knew. If Garibaldi was strong enough to imprison him, then the madman had finally achieved the power he sought during the twisted course of his life. There was no telling what the villain might be able to do now.
Her heart kicked hard against her ribs, seized by a terrible fear that refused to let go no matter how hard she pushed. Garibaldi might kill Griffin. No, there was no might about it. Garibaldi would kill him, just as he had killed Griffins parents and her real father. The only question was how long did she have before the terrible event took place?
The Machinist wouldnt do it quickly, and that was as much a blessing as it was terrible. Hed want to make Griffin suffer, and that meant kept keeping him alive. Didnt it? Or would Garibaldi decide to torture Griffins soul for eternity instead? God, it was too much to even think abouttoo many wild and awful places her imagination could go. She couldnt think of what might happen, she had to concentrate on what she was going to do about Leonardo Garibaldis insane ghost. Were they never going to be free of the man? First hed tried to take over England with a false queen, and then hed tried to implant his brain into an automaton. Now he had Griffin.