The Angel of Elydria (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 1) (30 page)

Before Penny could answer, a loud thump rang out from downstairs and somewhere Gavin cried out. Both Penny and Annette jumped. Dread soaked through Penny as more shouts sounded in the hall and thunderous footsteps clamored on the stairs. Annette sprang to her feet, her face pale. The door slammed open and Hector burst into the room, followed by Simon.

“Penelope!” Hector exclaimed, winded. His hands emitted silver and red runes as he prepared to perform a spell.

Annette made a guttural gasping sound and caught her breath. “
STOP!
” she commanded, pointing at Hector. Penny’s heart sank again as Hector’s arms fell to his sides and his eyes grew terrified.

Annette ran to the center of the room just as Gavin skidded in. “Nobody move!” she hollered, stamping her foot. Simon, Hector, and Gavin became motionless as Annette peered around at them all, her breathing ragged. She swallowed.

“Now…we will all
calmly
go down to the drawing room…and someone…is going to explain to me what is going on here.” Annette looked to each of them in turn, and then gestured for everyone to follow her downstairs. As if tugged along by invisible strings, Penny’s body was lifted from the chair. Simon and Hector followed behind with Annette leading the group, her face set into a hard expression that was discredited by her trembling shoulders.

In the drawing room Annette directed Penny, Hector, and Simon to sit down on a blue satin couch. She asked Gavin to leave, and he protested with an indignant squawk, “But,
Nettie!
I can’t leave you alone with them! I don’t even know who they―” he cut off when Annette pouted.

“Gavin,” she begged, her voice subdued and meek.

Gavin’s face fell. “Will you at least promise to tell me later?” he tried to whisper, but they all heard him.

“Not everything, Gavin, but most things, I promise. Now go tell Millie and Auntie that everything’s okay, and not to worry.” She spun him around, pushed his towering form through the door, and shut it behind him after catching one last forlorn glance from Gavin.

Simon began to squirm against his intangible bonds. “Please, don’t hurt us! Or at least don’t hurt me! It was their idea, they
forced
me to come along, I never wanted to―” he pleaded, but lost his voice when Annette stopped in mid-step and broke into a weak smile.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she reassured him, patting his shoulder. His face turned a warm pink and he let out a little breath as Annette withdrew her fingers and stalked toward the center of the room, deep in thought.

“From―from what Penny has told me, it seems you’re all trying to help me, and I appreciate that―I really do. I just need to use certain safety measures to make sure no one is lying to me. I hope you all understand,” she explained at last, still pacing back and forth, her frilly skirts bobbing with each step.

“Miss Deveaux, might I express my sincerest apologies for barging into your house like this?” Hector offered, and Annette stopped pacing to consider him. “Penelope was gone for so long, we thought she was in danger. But now that you have made your true intentions clear, I feel rather foolish. I acted out of fear, please forgive me.”

Penny felt a strange twisting sensation in her chest at Hector’s words, but her face remained still, waiting for Annette’s reaction. To her relief Annette nodded in understanding.

“You may, and you are forgiven. Now, you seem to know what’s going on, so please, tell me everything—every last detail. Also,
no lying allowed
.” Her last command shook with ethereal vibrations and Penny knew Hector would have no choice but to obey. She now understood why Deimos so coveted whatever it was Annette was using to control them. Hector cleared his throat.

“Well, it is a rather long story, you might want to get comfortable,” Hector forewarned. Annette took his advice and seated herself on a satin blue loveseat, only a low, elegant coffee table separating them.

“Well I suppose I’d better start with Nelvirna, then,” Hector sighed, displaying the usual disheartened look he got when thinking about his home. In his meticulous manner, he relayed to Annette everything that had happened and all the information that they’d learned from the time he arrived on Earth, up until the events of that morning.

As the tale wound on, Annette seemed much less confused and panicked. Her expression changed from intense concentration to astonishment now and then, but she never interrupted to question the credibility of their tale. Penny decided that she must either be confident that they were unable to lie, or completely gullible. By the end of Hector’s explanation, Annette’s face seemed to have aged; earlier it had been so vibrant and full of joy, now she looked strained as she mused over their information.

Penny, Hector, and Simon waited, no one daring to say anything more. Annette rose and drifted over to the window, distress clear on her face. Penny noticed the light outside had become weak; twilight was upon them.

Annette turned back and cut through the uncomfortable silence. “I knew this would happen eventually, I knew someone would―” her voice left off in a tremble. She looked shaken. “I’ve been trying to hide―to disappear into my own little world, but―I have this awful feeling it’s all about to come crashing down.” Penny admired Annette for being able to so share her innermost worries with total strangers, something she was unable to accomplish even with her closest friends. “I―I’m so very grateful that you all went to such lengths to help me, even though I’m a complete stranger.”

“Miss Annette, I would go to
any
lengths to ensure your safety!” Simon rose and proclaimed with melodramatic nobility. Penny was a bit shocked to see he was free of the invisible bonds, and discovered that she too could move and speak of her own will again. Annette was taken aback by Simon’s outburst and looked as if she were about to laugh when something struck her.

“Are you―quite certain about that?” Inspiration flickered in her china blue eyes. This threw Simon for a loop.

“What do you mean, Miss Deveaux?” Hector asked.

“Before I ask anything more of you, I feel I should make it clear that I do not intend to let you go. You know much too much about all this, about
them
and about...other matters,” she said, indicating that this was all she would share about her curious ability. “If anyone were to know―well, my career and reputation would be tarnished. I hope you understand, but I’m not going to allow you to leave.”

“Wh-what? You can’t just―” Penny exclaimed, but the actress cut her off.

“Oh, yes I can. Anyway, it’s safer for you here than out there. From the sound of it, Deimos isn’t playing around, and if he’s in town, you’d better be careful. It seems to me like our paths were destined to cross eventually. After all, some of the best friendships are formed out of sharing enemies. Of course, we’ll treat you all wonderfully! And it’ll be nice to have a little company.”

“B-but, we need to get to―” Simon blubbered.

“I know, I’m getting to that, don’t worry,” Annette assured him. “You need to get to Crescia, and I certainly don’t intend to be kidnapped or murdered by anyone. I think we might be able to work out a way to make everyone very happy.” She paused, gauging their reactions.

“Go on,” Hector encouraged, still quite skeptical.

“Well, you’d be able to recognize this Deimos, right? You’d be able to stop him if he tried to get at me? I saw the magic you did before…could you protect me?” Annette addressed Hector, feigning innocent helplessness as she looked into his eyes. Simon scowled as Hector cleared his throat a little and loosened his collar.

“Erm, I suppose. I’d certainly be able to hold him off, if that’s what you mean―but as I explained, I’m not adept at combative spells as―”

“I knew I could count on you, big brother!” Annette gushed, and Penny felt an unexpected, powerful burst of irritation toward them.

Really, Hector? I’d expect that of Simon, but not―

“W-wait a moment, I’m not quite sure what you want me to do,” Hector stuttered, looking uncomfortable. Simon was still glowering.

Annette smiled, her hands on her hips. “I’m sure of one thing: they’re planning to try something at the King’s Annual Jubilee Ball. Valentine hasn’t so much as looked at me for about four years. Her comment today about the ball was just
too
obvious. She wanted to make sure I’d be there, or give me a reason to show up by taunting me. I’m certain of it. She’s just the kind of vicious little―” Annette stopped, looking a tad embarrassed at her outburst. “Anyway, I’d like to form an agreement with you all. The ball is two weeks away. If you stay here until then and escort me to it as my bodyguards, I promise to get you all tickets for the airship to Hulver. That way, I won’t have to hire any outside bodyguards, which eliminates the chance of information being leaked by them. Hulver is a cesspool of rumors, so even if you told this entire story to the King Yulghrat himself, no one would believe it. How does that sound?” she offered.

We don’t have much of a choice, do we?
Penny thought cynically.

“I think we’d better take some time to consi―” Hector began, but Simon jumped up and clasped Annette’s hands in his own.

“Miss Annette, I would be proud to lay my life down for you,” he almost shouted. Hector frowned and sighed, sharing a worried glance with Penny. Annette twittered, extricating her hands from Simon’s affectionate grip.

“Wait a minute,” Penny interjected, “What will you do after we’re gone? Assuming Valentine doesn’t try anything at the ball, where will you be then?”

“If that’s the case, well―I suppose I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. But I’m completely sure that’s the night, and when her plan is cracked wide open, the rangers will arrest them all and I’ll be safe for good!” Annette chirped, wobbling a little. Penny sighed, knowing that there was no way her plan would work out as well as she hoped.

“Sorry, but are you feeling all right? You look a bit peaky,” Simon interrupted, looking over Annette’s graying complexion. Annette nodded, holding her forehead in her palm as she flopped back down on the satin loveseat.

“I’m just tired―I think I’d better turn in early. This news has been rather upsetting to me.” Annette assured him. She got up with shaking legs and crept toward the door. “I’ll send Millie to pick up your things and your anteloo from the inn, just give her directions.” She stepped out of the room, then turned back to them for a final, chirping word. “Oh, and don’t try to do anything silly, like leaving the house! You know what that will force me to do. Let’s just all agree to be friends for now—it’ll make everything so much more pleasant.”

P
enny, Hector, and Simon could not muster courage enough to leave the sitting room. Once night had come, Gavin interrupted their quiet by opening the doors and peering in with an uncertain smile.

“Good evening,” he greeted them. “Nettie has gone to bed, I’m sure you know. She was able to make the situation clear to me beforehand, so I thought I’d take this time to formally welcome you to our home.” He seemed jumpy, perhaps worried that one of them might spring up and attack without warning. Simon was staring at him, every so often glancing down at the skirt he wore in blatant confusion. Penny noticed his rude reaction and gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs with a warning glance.

“Thank you very much, we really appreciate everything you’re doing for us,” Penny told Gavin, and he seemed to relax a mite.

“My mother’s made some dinner, if you’d like to join us,” he offered.

“Good lord, yes! I’m starved!” Simon sprung to his feet, losing all prior misgivings. Gavin led them to the furnished dining room where several steaming dishes were waiting. Gavin’s mother was a short, plump woman with half-moon spectacles and flossy white hair tucked in a bun. The woman beamed as her guests wandered into the room with wide eyes, welcoming Penny and her friends and introducing herself as Aunt Wendy to them. When they had all been seated, she encouraged them to keep filling their plates, stressing particularly over her son.

“Look at you, darling―you’re like a walking skeleton! Here, have some more rolls.” She piled a few more on Gavin’s plate and he flushed a rosy hue.

“Mother, please,” he said through gritted teeth, and Penny giggled to herself.