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"I’ve got only two vials for you" She laid them on a table "And there’s no cup, so you won’t be able to stick your scaly pinkie in the air"

I watched her as I uncorked a vial and downed it in three gulps It was clear that she hated me, whether because I was a Bludman, a rich Bludman, or just someone she was forced to talk to But I wasn’t about to broach that topic

"Can you read?" I asked instead, seeing her glove brush the line of book spines

She jerked her hand away guiltily " ’Course I can But nobody gives books to foundlings It would just give us uppity ideas, wouldn’t it?"

"So you’re an orphan, then?"

"None of your bloody business"

"That again Your rudeness is intolerable"

She snorted "Just because you’re the bitchiest bloodsucker in London doesn’t mean you’re my boss"

I sighed as I uncorked the next vial Hidden hostility I was used to, but this sort of outspoken hatred was entirely new to me, as anyone in Freesia who spoke to me that ould have been on the dinner table within land felt about Bludmen, or did she have a problem with me in particular? I had to find a way to win her over if I wanted her help

"Would you like soive you free run of the library of the Ice Palace, ive you a few voluood novel Robertson Crusoe, for exareen leather cover and gold-leafed pages Longing rippled briefly over her face, and she gulped Then her eyes went shifty

"What do you want in exchange?"

"You’re a very wise child" I held out the book to her "I just want to make a little detour before we leave There’s a shop I’ve beento visit Would you take me there?"

"Where is it?"

"I’m not sure But I know it’s on Ruby Lane"

"Ruby Lane? You want hed, hands on her skinny hips "That’s a good joke, lady Casper would skin me whole if I took you there"

"What’s so bad about it?"

"It’s in the heart of Deep Darkside Chock full of diabolists, bludwhores, opiue color We’d be lucky to get out alive"

I ss, which I kneere stained with blood "Keen, darling, I may be son Ruby Lane that you should fear ainst the bookshelf, biting her lip and staring at me I ood at reading people But I had no idea as going on in that shaggy, ill-bred head of hers

"Okay," she finally said "But we leave noithout a word to Reve Deal?"

"Deal" I grinned, feeling is went as I hoped they would, she’d soon be too dead to read any books

7

Escape was easier than anticipated, thanks to the overpowering cabaret tunes belting out of Reve’s gramophone--and mouth--as she worked The daimon had a lovely, husky voice that quavered with unexpected bitterness We climbed out a backand dropped into a filthy alley The conveniently placed rubbish bin and Keen’s mischievous s her through the shadows of London was easier this time around, mostly because we stayed in the less-traveled areas Every turn seeot a closer look at the giant maroon rodents that had hissed at me on my way to Reve’s workshop and realized that they weren’t sis were the size of Tommy Pain, who had decided to sit out this journey on a tufted footstool Later I’d have to wonder how the cat knew exactly where things would be safer

"What is that thing?" I whispered, tugging on Keen’s jacket