Page 122 of The Shadows Between Us
That’s when I see her. Hidden through the crowd, carrying a load of dirty dishes from the refreshment table.
It’s the little girl from the gentleman’s club.
From the place where Kallias was touched. And now, I note with horror, the shadows that had been about his head are completely gone.
He either hasn’t noticed or isn’t using them.
“Kallias, don’t!” I shriek. I bat the cup that’s raised to his lips away.
But it’s too late. He already drank.
He immediately falls to the ground and starts convulsing. Liquid foams at his mouth, and he closes his eyes.
Screams go up, and the council tries to rush onto the stage.
“No!” I yell. “Everyone stay back.”
The guards close ranks, barring anyone from joining the king and me on the dais. I try to think. I need to keep people from touching him. We don’t know who the murderer is yet and—
Except we do.
It was Vasco who proposed the toast and had everyone’s cups filled. We knew one of Kallias’s council members had to be in on it.
I’m torn. I have to get the little girl out of here, but I don’t want to leave the king’s side.
And then Leandros, Petros, and Rhouben are trying to get past the guards.
“Let them through,” I order.
The guards part just enough to let the three men by.
“What do we do?” Leandros asks. “He needs a physician.”
“Don’t let anyone touch him!” I shout. “No one. Stay here with him!”
I leap from the stage and kick off my heeled boots before running for that little girl. When I’m upon her, I lift her into my arms and sprint for the exit.
She drops her dirty dishes and grips me for dear life, fearing I will drop her. She makes little protestations, but I ignore her.
Run, run, run.
How far is far enough? What did Kallias say? Fifty yards?
We duck through the kitchens, swerve around overworked kitchen staff, and bound through the back doors. My feet step over rough pebbles and other refuse on the streets, cutting into my skin, but I don’t let that stop me.
I have to get her away from Kallias. I’m not counting my steps. I’m too frantic. I have no clue where I’m going, but I don’t stop until I’m exhausted, which admittedly, isn’t that far away.
It’s not often that I have to exert myself.
We collapse on the ground, and only then do I register that the girl is sobbing, her little hands grasping my neck.
“I didn’t want to be there,” she’s saying. “They told me to. I didn’t know why, but I knew something was wrong. First they had me touch him and then—and then—”
She bursts into more tears, her wracking heaves making it impossible to hear anything else she says.
I don’t want to listen to her crying. I want to go see if Kallias is allright. But I can’t let her get away. She must know or be able to point out who is behind everything.
“Who arethey?” I ask. “Who told you to be here tonight? Who made you touch him?”
