CHAPTER 23
Later that night there had been no argument about whether or not Esme would go with Fielding to find Waters. Since they’d left the Raven’s earlier, Fielding had not let her out of his sight. Even when she’d taken a warm bath to wash off the filth and to try, for a moment, to forget the horrors she’d seen, Fielding had been right by her side.
Despite her longing to curl up in her bed and forget all about what had happened, finding Waters couldn’t wait any longer. The eclipse was tomorrow, and without him by their side, they wouldn’t have a chance at breaking the curse. They hadn’t talked about Thatcher’s bracelet and the fact that they’d need his hand to complete the task.
It was understood that they needed to steal the box back from the Raven, and they’d need that fourth band.
“We are getting rather accomplished at skulking around in the dark,” Esme whispered.
“Shhhh.” Fielding pulled her closer to his body, closer to the brick wall they were leaning against.
They’d found Waters at the same little pub and had followed him into another one. At the moment, though, Waters stood on the street, relieving himself in a drunken stupor.
Their plan was simple: follow Waters back to his place of residence where they could get him alone, and then take him captive. Esme thought it quite fitting that she be the kidnapper for a change. She’d had about enough of being abducted herself.
The stench from the streets was enough to churn Esme’s stomach. Bodily fluids mixed with garbage and who knew what else floated past them. She pressed her nose to Fielding’s back, hoping his pleasant scent would detract from the horrid smell. The wool of his coat tickled her nose.
Waters was on the move again, swaying widely and humming off-key. She and Fielding kept their distance, staying in the darkness. Wrapped in her darkest cloak, it seemed unlikely that she would be seen. Still, her heart seemed to be hammering in her chest and her nerves were frazzled.
Waters turned down an alley and they followed. The man staggered and practically fell down the steps that took him into what they could only assume was his residence. They waited a few seconds before entering through the same door.
“Esme, you must keep your distance. Whatever you do, don’t touch the man.”
Esme swallowed her fear. “What about you?”
Fielding’s eyes softened. “I’ll be careful. I’ll be fine.”
Footsteps sounded overhead. It took a while, but they were finally able to locate the stairs. Boards moaned beneath their weight as they climbed. Still, Waters kept humming and didn’t seem alerted to their presence.
The staircase led them, not to a landing, but rather a large loft area that served as Waters’s bedroom. A sagging mattress lay directly on the floor, with blankets strewn haphazardly over it. Scattered pieces of clothing littered the floor as well as half-eaten chunks of food. By the time Esme had finished surveying their surroundings, she’d realized there was no time for them to hide from plain view.
“Fielding?” Waters said in drunken surprise.
“Hello, Waters,” Fielding said.
Waters frowned in confusion, and his long, thin body wavered. Then he pointed at them, his arm shaking. “Did you follow me?”
“I did.” Fielding’s voice was strong, yet lined with something else. Amusement, perhaps.
Esme waited, still standing with one foot on the stairs, one in the room. She was unsure of her role in this scheme, but she was prepared to strike should Fielding require her assistance.
“The Raven must be furious,” Waters said. “He hasn’t found me yet.”
Esme doubted that was true. Had the Raven wanted Waters, he would have captured him by now.
Fielding took several steps toward his drunken foe. “Why haven’t you returned to the Raven since the monastery?”
Waters blinked rapidly. “I stole from him. I figured that would do me in for good. Thatcher didn’t think we were in danger, but ” Waters just shook his head. “Bloody ’ell.”
Esme wondered for a moment if Fielding would tell Waters that he’d been right, that Thatcher was dead, but Fielding said nothing.
Waters gave a toothy grin, and it seemed then he first saw Esme standing there. “Hey.” He pointed at her. “You’re that lady.”
It was at that moment Fielding grabbed Waters’s shoulders. “You need to come with us.”
“I don’t think I should.” He shook his head and tried to stumble away from Fielding. But his inebriation robbed his coordination. Fielding grabbed Waters by the shirt and, careful not to touch the man’s skin, dragged him down the stairs.
It took them another fifteen minutes to make it back to their carriage. All the while, Waters sputtered about how the Raven was going to find them.
