When they got back to Gretta’s, Daisy was at the bar once again. Upon seeing Vision and Bones, she narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. Bones stepped between the two women, screening Vision from view and smiled, the expression carrying the slightest undertone of menace.
“Business visit, I’m sure you’ll understand.”
Daisy’s lips twisted in displeasure. She tried to peer around Bones at Vision but he moved to block her.
“Another one, Vis?” Daisy sneered, “Are you sure you ain’t a whore?”
“I’m just here to see Celia,” Vision said.
“You’re a piece of work. Celia hasn’t been out of her room since you ran out of here. What did you do to her?”
Bones strode up to the bar and slapped down a coin.
“I’ll just wait for Vision here. A drink to pass the time?”
Vision slipped into the back while Daisy, grudgingly, poured a drink. She opened the door to Celia’s room a crack, and hesitated.
“Celia?”
“Vision? Come in.”
The courtesan was more dishevelled than Vision had ever seen her. Her hair was unbrushed, her clothes were wrinkled and her eyes were red-rimmed. Reminding herself that she had been betrayed, and was rightfully furious, Vision steeled herself.
“I need to know why you told them about me.”
Celia bowed her head, but said nothing.
“The night me and Fox got here, you said Tynan was dead. That she had to be dead. I always believed you, but you never told me why. So, I’m thinking, what if you’re wrong?” she bluffed, “Maybe I’ll get away from the rebels by getting a job in the castle. Reckon I’d be a pretty good ladies’ maid, don’t you think?”
Celia stiffened.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“You can’t.”
“Yeah, I can.”
“Trust me. Please.”
Vision crossed her arms, “We’re past that. Talk.”
Celia hung her head.
“I never wanted to scare you. The rebels can keep you safe, they promised to. It’s in their best interests to make sure the crown never finds you.”
“But they were going to tell the crown about me if I said no.”
Celia shook her head, “They wouldn’t.”
“So, what would they do? Kill me?”
“I…” Celia looked deflated.
“Why did you tell them? I could have kept hiding, like always.”
“You couldn’t,” Celia said, “You look too much like her.”
Vision paused.
“Is that why you told them? Ether, I’ve always looked like her.”
“Not like this,” Celia said, “When you got back, I knew it wasn’t safe anymore. It was just a matter of time until someone realised who you were. I made a call to control it, rather than let you walk into it like a trap.”
Vision sighed, and sat down next to the woman, patting her leg.
“I wish you’d talked to me about it.”
Celia smiled, a little.
“I still see you as a little girl.”
“I’m not, though.”
“No,” Celia pulled Vision against her, and stroked her hair, “You aren’t.”
“So, will you tell me what we’re really hiding from?”
Celia thought about it for a moment, and then sat straighter. Her voice took on a hard edge.
“I don’t know everything, but fine. A little while before your mam disappeared, she wrote me. She said the king had forced her to make something. She didn’t tell me what it was, but she said it was dangerous. She said she needed to find a way to stop him from having it, and asked if I’d mind taking care of the two of you for a little while.”
Vision frowned, “That’s all?”
“No,” Celia said, with a sour twist of her lips, “I got another note, that arrived just after you and Fox. She told me we wouldn’t see her again, and asked me to love you for her. That, and… Ether, girl.”
Vision put an arm around her shoulders.
“It’s okay. What is it?”
Celia ran a hand over her face.
“The crown thinks you might be a key. You, Fox as well. The thing your mam made was keyed to the king, but worked using her blood. They’ll never stop looking for you, not as long as the king wants the thing she made.”
Vision closed her eyes and digested the information. It made a terrible kind of sense. Celia shook with silent tears and Vision hugged her, but her mind was elsewhere. So, what did the rebels want from her? Her blood? No, not unless they could make whatever her mother had created work for them. Celia must have thought they couldn’t, if she believed they wouldn’t hurt her. So, what then? It was always possible Celia was wrong. That, or maybe they just wanted to keep Vision away from the king. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t hurt her, though. There wasn’t a lot to be gained from wondering. She needed to find out more.
She hugged Celia tighter.
“I’ll figure this out. Thank you for trying to look out for me.”
An angry shout from the bar made both women jump. Recognising the voice, they leapt to their feet and ran for the sound. It was Fox; and he was looking for Vision.