Sparrow strode over and moved the waiter aside. He tugged his earlobe and leaned in. “I’m sorry, what was that you said?”
She huffed. “You have plenty already. This was a gift. It’s all I have. It’ssentimental,” she stressed.
Sparrow made a slow and deliberate turn. “It’ssentimental,” he parroted, taking on a woman’s voice.
In the blink of an eye, his arm swiped toward her. The electric sword sliced the woman’s head clean off her body before ending its journey an inch from my neck. My heart dropped as blood dribbled from the blade down my shoulder.
“I loathe impolite people,” he muttered, watching her body drop to the floor in a heap.
A man covered his nose with a handkerchief when the unmistakable stench of charred flesh polluted the air. Sparrow used the tip of his sword to collect the necklace and then dropped it on the tray. The dead woman’s glassy eyes stared up at me, her mouth open.
Sparrow cast his gaze in my direction. “My, my, Miss Black. What a big heart you have.” He slid the sword beneath my necklace, the electricity sharp and painful against my skin. With a quick jerk, he attempted to break the chain from my neck but failed. Instead, he jerked me off-balance, and I almost fell on top of the decapitated body.
Perish the thought.
He reached out and touched the silver chain. “I haven’t seen a chain like this in three hundred years.”
“You can have the chain,” I said flatly.
People were busy giving away their precious jewels and muttering profanities under their breath.
Sparrow clutched the ruby heart and gave me a dubious look. “I suppose this is sentimental too?”
I thought about the veiled threat. Sparrow hadn’t given that lady a chance to change her mind. “I’m calling on that favor,” I said quietly.
He sighed before letting the jewel go.“Pity.”
When he turned, I steeled myself for an attack. I couldn’t outrun a Mage, especially not with an energy wall surrounding the house.
Sparrow sheathed his sword. One at a time, each of his Vampy disciples presented him with a tray. Sparrow held his hand over the jewels, spraying light over his stolen riches like a dog peeing on its territory.
Eventually he rejoined Lenore. “And where is that handsome brooch I noticed you admiring earlier?”
Lenore glowered while signaling for her personal manservant. The older man, whom I knew as Wilson, retrieved her gold brooch with rubies. She closed her fingers around it and lifted her chin at Sparrow. “You’re a fool. You’ve made enemies of every single important figure in this city in the span of five minutes.”
A grey-haired gentleman made his way through the crowd. “What is the meaning of this?”
His female companion pointed at Lenore. “You lured us here as a trap! All so you could steal our most precious jewels.”
Lenore delivered a look that could freeze fire. “Do you really think I would play a part in this thievery and damage my reputation and everything I’ve strived to accomplish… for diamonds? I needn’t remind you of the slander laws, so if I were you, I would hold my tongue before it’s cut out. Casting aspersions on me in front of a large audience will guarantee you a spot in jail. As for you, Mr. Sparrow, I demand you leave at once, lest you make an enemy ofme.”
“I shan’t leave without your accepting my offer. I see no reason you should deny this match as you have no suitors.”
“And what makes you think I need one, boy?”
He grabbed her upper arm and yanked her forward. “Careful who you insult, my lady. I’m more terrifying than your worst nightmare.” He took the brooch from her hand.
“Whatisthis charade?” she hissed. “For a few baubles you would risk the largest manhunt ever known?”
I drew closer as they spoke, and their voices lowered. The crowd lost interest and searched for an escape. Some gathered in small pockets, discussing their predicament in hushed words. This Sparrow guy was a real piece of work. Diabolical men always seemed to have a penchant for theatrics. It’s like they’d sat at home for the past two hundred years, practicing their speech in front of a mirror.
“Look around,” he continued. “All my men are Vampires. Their loyalty runs deep, andyoulet them in.”
Lenore struggled in his grip, her arm turning red.
Viktor charged forward like a steam engine. “That will be enough! Let her go.”
Every member of Keystone within earshot slowly moved in.
