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Miss Holain, the horrible sound cutting through the chamber

Frantic, I looked over at Miss Stoker Her eyes were eer protruded from her side A dark stain ate into the fabric of her tunic, spreading rapidly, and blood covered her hand Her chest heaved, as if she&039;d been running The blood-slicked pistol slipped frorip and tumbled to the floor

I returned one silent in her agony, still straining at her bonds Then I turned back to my partner, who still hadn&039;t renizant of the heavy, hardinto my side

Unfortunately, that heavy, hard metal of a pistol barrel was just above the pocket which held my own heavy, hard metal pistolcurrently unavailable to assist risly scene unfold

And I realized with a sudden cold rush that this hat awaited me

After what seeton&039;s body went taut, vibrating rigidly She convulsed against the statue as the vicious current continued to pulse through her

The dull thud-thud-thud-thud was horrifying

At last, the Ankh, her false facial hair gleainal position, and the cha lance at Miss Stoker She seeer out of herit in her hand, she took one aard step toward the Ankh, but stopped when her adversary swooped down, picked up the pistol, and pointed it at her

Blood pooled on the floor at my companion&039;s feet Splat Splat Splat

"I don&039;t think you&039;ll be needing this any longer, Miss Stoker," said the Ankh She wiped off the pistol with gloved hands

My attention riveted on those gloved hands So familiarAs the Ankh replaced her handkerchief in a breast pocket, giving it a particular tuck with an odd flutter of her fingertips, rove-Pitt had done precisely the sa to Lady Corteville

I&039;d observed our captor closely during the entire course of events, watching for familiar traits and movements Instinct told h the Ankh looked nothing like Lady Isabella-she was taller, for one thing She also had a different shape to her nose and jaw-from what I could discern behind the false beard and mustache Even her teeth were different, but I well knew the effects of theatrical costu blonde hair falling over her eyebrows,it impossible to observe their natural shape Her voice wasn&039;t right either; it was much too low and deep

I was an excellent example of how makeup and theatrics can obliterate one&039;s identity But there were certain mannerisms one couldn&039;t or didn&039;t hide, even when deep in disguise

"Froendary yourself, are you, Miss Stoker?" Our captor tipped her head just as she lifted her chin-in the very sareeted rove-Pitt

I was convinced, but now I needed to prove it

My attention turned back to the rooe as our captor continued to taunt my companion "I nized you during our lastAs you come from a family of vae I thought you ht be a hunter as wellbut I was clearly mistaken"

Miss Stoker&039;s face twisted, her eyes burned, filled with loathing and guilt "You killed her"

The Ankh&039;s eyebrows lifted into a swath of thick blonde hair I could almost see Lady Isabella&039;s sneer behind the mustache "I&039;ton offered up her life force to the goddess Sekhged you to release her"

"By then it was already too late If she died as a result of her decision, it&039;s no fault of oddess as er re into my side "What you did was eworth and Allison Martindale and Lilly Corteville"

The Ankh turned, her eyes scoring over uard

Before she could grab me-and notice the firearm in my pocket-I snatched off er had reason to obscure my identity; I wanted her to knoho I was I peeled off the heavy dark brows, the rubber tip on my nose, and spit out the se the shape of my cheeks

"Miss Hol to live up to the reputation of your family as well? That plan doesn&039;t see that I had a gun pressed into my side, my companion ounded (possibly mortally), and no one knehere ere, even I couldn&039;t ument Neither Miss Stoker nor I had done a particularly ad out our duties thus far

Instead, I tried to think of a way out of our predicament, and for the first tiun in my pocket uard

"It&039;s fortuitous that you&039;ve both chosen to join loved fingers "The two of you could be useful Iine what the life forces of a Stoker and a Hol to the resurrected Sekhht back to life"

"Don&039;t be absurd," I said with great bravado If the Ankh er in danger fro oddess bywhat? Collecting artifacts thatso ridiculous"

The Ankh didn&039;t take my bait "Believe what you will" She aiestured to the woton She&039;s in the way"

As Bastet lanced at Hathor and his co me no opportunity to pull out my firearm I looked at Miss Stoker To my horror, she&039;d slu to the side Blood soaked the wall and floor around her

Was she dead? Hadn&039;t she told th, speed, and healing capabilities How could she be dead?

I started toward my companion "She&039;s hurt," I said when the Ankh&039;s cold eyes fastened on me

"That was my intent," said our malevolent hostess "But feel free to see to her if you like The less blood she loses, the more useful she&039;ll be"

"Miss Stoker," I said as I knelt next to her, "Evaline" The pungent scent of blood filled an to feel around in an atteers around

I looked at her, able to see her face unobstructed for the first tiiness had disappeared Her eyes, downcast until nohen they fastened on mine, were as sharp as they&039;d ever been

"Keep talking I&039; to make a distraction," she murmured "When I do, the doorit&039;s in the back"

"All right," I said, glancing over at the Ankh She was rearranging the wires froton&039;s liaze I manipulated ht "Miss Stoker, I-"

"I should have stopped it I could have stopped it, and I didn&039;t" Her voice broke She looked down at the blood on her hand, dried and cracked I wasn&039;t certain if she was truly seeing it, or looking at so that wasn&039;t actually there

"Evaline," I began again Trying to be inconspicuous, I pushedmy hand in the pocket She turned away Her beautiful face had become stone

"Get away fro up to see Hathor&039;s coets and gears on it that I wasn&039;t inclined to ignore his warning

Reluctantly, I stood, using my foot and the cover of ainst Miss Stoker "She&039;s badly hurt," I said as the guard gestured ainst the wall at what he must consider a safe distance from my companion

"More&039;s the pity," said the Ankh from her position behind the table She looked purposefully at Hathor, who moved off the dais to stand overrushed But we can&039;t have her dying before I&039;m finished, so let us hurry with the preparations"

"Lilly Corteville escaped from you," I said I could useconfirmation for my deductions "She was ot away before you could do it"

The Ankh looked atwith dark pleasure Even now that I knew she was Lady Cosgrove-Pitt, I still couldn&039;t see it in her eyes