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" ‘I can’t say why, but he scares me Always has The streets aren’t safe Just be careful’ "

The poor girl was so flustered that I reached out to hug her Over her shoulder, I saw a small pallet in the corner of the roo clicked into place in my mind, but I only said, "Don’t worry, y’all I knohat I’"

Mel patted ood gossip"

Bea signed Good-bye and so that looked like Good luck I took the stairs to the brick hallway, careful not to let uste waited by the door in street clothes He looked different, dressed in waistcoat, tailcoat, and trousers, couarded as usual

"I’m to deliver you to Monsieur Lenoir’s studio, , as if someone had packed my lunch Inside was a vial of blood, and I turnedto the streets with any lingering hunger, although the old h At least it wouldn’t be a proble, as he wasn’t the human everyone assumed him to be

I had expected to walk, but a posh conveyance waited outside, chugging in a puff of s drizzle of early land, as everyone cauarded bus-tanks This vehicle was shaped like a fussy miniature boat, with carved ribbons, flowers, and fleurs-de-lis, and the proas a carousel-type horse, as if they just couldn’t give up the idea that horses had to pull carriages Auguste helped me up the step, and I settled onto the cushy mauve bench within

Perfume was heavy in the air, and handprints ers generally kept busy Auguste climbed into the front compartment and pressed buttons with patient familiarity, and I watched the streets with interest as the conveyance rattled away The pastel-painted buildings lining the gray-cobbled avenues were tall and angular and squashed together, with long s and ironwork balconies and doors painted in bright colors It was too early for pro about in a businesslikeoverhead It looked a little like e of Paris, down to the bludrats that scattered in the gutters, which were a lighter burgundy than the ones in Sangland and sohtly less bloodthirsty

I couldn’t keep track of the turns wefrom a lavender-painted bakery made me simultaneously nauseated and heartsick for my hu like any other, the walls a sant copper statues of dancers flanking the doors Auguste left the conveyance chugging and held a black parasol over my head as he helped me down to the street and walked me up the steep stairs to the front door

"Bonne chance," he one before I could ask hiet back to Paradis

I took a deep breath and drew back my shoulders as I lifted the door knocker It was shaped like a lion with gigantic fangs, andup and down the alley and sent a flock of pigeons squawking into the grayish-purple clouds Footsteps echoed within, and soon the door opened to reveal Lenoir himself in an iain, I didn’t expect him to

"You’re barely on time"

"And you’re barely personable I expected better, monsieur"

That earned a snort but still no smile "Come in, then, and enjoy my hospitality"

"Said the spider to the fly," I murmured under my breath But if he heard, he rees colder and a deep shade of o the stairs, which were thickly padded by a carpet patterned in thorns and roses I hurried after hi about hierous in a very welcome way, and I wanted to learn more of his secrets Two Siaed corners darted past us, silently preceding us up the staircase I longed to touch them, as the only cat I’d seen in six years had been the tailor’s cat in the caravan

Lenoir passed the second level, and I only had a e-lit hallway at two closed doors and an elegant table holding a huge bouquet of flowers My nose crinkled at the vegetal decay of funeral lilies, but I suspected that to a human or daimon, the odor would have been pleasant Still Lenoir didn’t speak, and still I followed him, past two more floors likewise beautifully closed off, up to the very top floor, where the cats posed daintily on a chaise The plush carpet ended in a frayed strip, and then dusty wood floors the color of new honey spread out, their smooth stripes broken only by the occasional stain of spilled paint

A grandlet in a strip of sun as narrow and targeted as a laser, with the pro was officially in full force Directly in front of it was a rug so deep and luscious-looking that I wanted to rubarle, a cushy pillow and a whisper-soft blanket thrown over it Lenoir turned to me with a dress draped over both arms as if the body inside had simply dissolved