When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard a twittering flute and notes from a stringed instrument coming from behind the green door that led into the great room. I was about to push open the door when someone’s voice rose up alongside the instrumentals.
My lips parted, and I tilted my head. Hatter sang a tune that I didn’t recognize. One that, judging by its mention of courts and trolls and rolling hills, originated in Faerie. His voice was full and rich and deep—so mesmerizing that it raised goosebumps along my arms.
The guy was handsome, strong, smart, and had golden pipes? Yet another indicator that life wasn’t fair.
I heaved a sigh and pushed the door open only to stop dead in my tracks.
Hatter wasn’t just singing along to a record, but painting at the same time—because of course he was. Even from where I stood, the painting looked like a masterpiece, a landscape filled with otherworldly colors portraying Faerie.
“Do you ever sleep?” I asked, my jealousy growing. The only skills I had of any note were related to killing.
“That I do,” Hatter sang, keeping in tune with the music before setting the brush down and grinning like sunshine at me. “But I was restless last night. I woke up hours ago needing to get some energy out.”
I crossed the room. “Restless? Does that mean we’re finally going to take action today? Find the Red Queen and off her?”
Hatter’s smile fell, which was no surprise. My wording was harsh, crude even. That’s what came from being raised by a vampire who not only had a predilection for blood, but got paid for spilling it. I was sometimes too hard for polite company. And for rebels too, it seemed.
“Sorry, that came out wrong.”
“No, it’s fine.” Hatter shook his head. “We want the same thing. You’re just a bit more blunt about it. But no, there will be no killing today.”
Feeling out of place and wanting a distraction, I gestured to the easel. “Where is that?”
“Wonderland Island, the southern tip. I haven’t been there for years, haven’t been much anywhere outside of Heartstown. But the southern part of the isle is so beautiful that I could never forget it.”
“Why haven’t you been there?”
“Travel is restricted and often monitored.” Hatter glanced up at me before placing his paint pallet on the small side table. “Rebels sometimes go on missions, but we have to be very careful and send people selectively. Unless it’s important, it’s best to simply go about our lives.”
I understood what he meant, though from a different perspective. I was usually hired to off a mark by people the they loved, because the mark was acting abnormally. Spurned wives or husbands, nervous children, paranoid business partners were all common clients of Xavier. It was rare that I was called to assassinate anybody who was living their day to day. Reducing travel to the bare minimum to stave off suspicion made a lot of sense.
Still, it sucked. Fae on this island were living in little more than a cage, unable to leave their towns without interrogation, and bound to the island by monsters.
“When this is over, you’ll be able to visit the south again.”
Hatter’s lips curled up. “I hope so.”
“So, what are we going to do today? Make a plan of attack? Map out the city?” Xavier often did this work for me. Then he’d give me a few options I could select from to execute the mission.
But there was no vampire overlord here, presenting options. We’d have to do that groundwork ourselves.
“Today, I want to assess you.”
I blinked. “I’m sorry, I thought you said you were going to assess me? As in, see if I’m up to snuff?”
No one had tested me since I’d passed Xavier’s elite-level assassin exam with flying colors. The best score he’d ever seen, in fact.
“We don’t know your magical abilities, nor you ours. If we plan on working together, it would be smart to witness some demonstrations, maybe spar a little.”
My shoulders slumped. Today, I wouldn’t be getting anywhere near my goal. It would be another day in Faerie, another day wasted on someone else’s agenda before I took control over my own life. Another day before finding the sister I’d dreamed about last night.
Again, an image of Elise, chained and in a dank cell, rose in my mind, and I heaved a sigh. I wanted to act now, but I knew preparation was key. For her, I could wait a few more days to make sure that my mission succeeded.
“Fine. Let’s get to work.”
Sweat dripped down my face as I dodged one of Henri’s well-aimed punches, and exploded off the ground to kick him in the chest. He slithered away with the grace of a snake and winked at me.
I snorted.Look at Mr. ‘I’m not an athlete’ showing off.
