“And—” I breathe, getting a grip. “And grab that cloak on the hook. It might be cold outside.”
“Outside.” Jude raises a dark eyebrow, amused. “And where are we going?”
“Hands where I can see them,” I snap, and he defensively raises both. “We’re leaving the Playhouse.”
In spite of the hearty laugh he lets out, I see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes still haven’t left my arrow. “Why would I do that, Alistaire?”
“Fair is fair. You kidnapped me. I’m kidnapping you back.”
He tilts his head. “You and what army?”
He’s purposely leaning his right shoulder forward, but I can see what he’s trying to conceal in the mirror behind him.
RIVEN: “What is that? That gash on your left shoulder you keep trying to hide.”
JUDE: “Oh? Looking, were you?” I feel my face heat, annoyed as he evades the question. “As you well know, I can’t leave the Playhouse, Alistaire. Even if I wanted to.”
Liar.
RIVEN: “You can. And youhave.” My eyes move to the deep white scar across his right palm and stay there. Something about it has bothered me since I noticed it in the Archives.
I know how he got that scar.
I know it because I gave it to him.
My mind races back to the memory of that day in the courthouse with the Player, the woman who spoke to me. The Player whocursedme. How she’d screamed and wailed when I raked the blade through her hand.
“You just looked a little different at the time,” I whisper.
Jude goes still.
RIVEN: “We’ve met before.” I raise the arrow higher. “And you’re going to tell me why.”
Act II: Scene XVII
The Player who cursed me, whodoesn’t exist,has been right in front of meallthis time. Just with his own face now.
“News spread about the markings, that the North had begun marking children, too,” Jude admits, too calm. “Sil sent me out to the District to verify if it were true. Obviously with a different face.”
“Why?” I press, even though I’m certain I know the answer. “Why a disguise?”
“Because, as I’m sure you’re aware, I could not go as Lead Player,” he says, sounding bored with the conversation.
RIVEN: “So youcanleave.”
JUDE: “Players are not kept in the Playhouse by your human laws; they’re kept in by Sil’s. Lead Player already has more freedoms, and my contract was…amended.”
RIVEN: “You were taken away. Isawthe sentries take you.”
Jude shrugs in response. “Congratulations. You witnessed their very last breaths.”
“Youspoketo me!” I try to keep my voice steady, but my tone is falling off its hinges, shaking with anger.
“That,”he says, “you’ll have to forgive me for. I have no idea what you’re talking about. There were a lot of people around.” He raises a shoulder. “I’m honored you’ve kept your first sighting of me so close to your heart, of course.”
“Youcursedme!” I shout, rage roaring in my head. “Do you haveanyidea what my life has been like? Tell me what you did to me—”
“Nothing!Nothing,” Jude insists, moving closer and freezing when I raise my crossbow.“I swear, Alistaire. I didn’thurt you.”
