Gilded Hearts (The Shadow Guild Series) (28 page)

“Think you can hide from me? I’ll find you, Sammy. No matter where you go in the Archives. I’ll find you. She’ll be with you and I’ll kill her. I’ll slice her up and stretch her out. Make you watch. Sam! Sam! Get back here!”

He had to get away. Leave the Archives. It was the only way to keep Piper safe. If John couldn’t find him, he’d never find her. They’d never be able to put Samuel into the machine.

He had to run.

“You saw me. One good look, you turned and ran. Oh, so fast. I hated you even more for that, you know. For the fact that you were free to run. And you used that freedom to run far, far from me, first chance you got.”

“No.” Sam’s blood had run colder than the steel against his jugular, and his head throbbed with explosive pressure. “I never saw anything. I
never saw anything
.” But he had. His mind blocked everything except the need to get away. The litany of
run
forever engrained on his soul. “It was just a nightmare.”

Jack chuckled, a humorless hiss. “A nightmare, yes, though I wouldn’t say
just
.”

“My God.” Like a toggle switch flicking on, the nightmare turned to a memory in his mind.

Jack was tired of giving Samuel time to process his revelation, it seemed. “I was going to keep you alive. Take you with me as a plaything. Spend time with my brother and make up for all the years when you weren’t there for me!”

Jack leaned down as he brought the knife up. Samuel couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, even as Jack pressed his mouth to his ear. The knee in the small of his back bit into his spine as fingers squeezed his hair to pull his head back to a painful angle. The fresh discomfort jolted him back into the present.

“But you’re more trouble than you’re worth,” Jack continued. “I’m going to slit your throat. Then the throat of that pretty whore of yours. I might leave your friends alive, though. That way I can listen to their screams when I burn this house down.”

Samuel cried out as the hand in his hair flexed. “Leave them alone, you bastard!”

“If I’m a bastard, so are you. At least I know who our father is.”

For a split second, Samuel thought he might tell him. That in one perfect moment he’d learn the secrets of his bloodline before his life ended, letting him die with a bitter sense of peace. If there were only a way he could will Jack to say the name, whisper who it was who’d seen fit to create human beings for the purpose of running a machine. The man who had trapped Jack in that hellish contraption. The name of the real monster in their family.

“Jac—”

A scream—Piper’s—surrounded them. From the corner of his eye Samuel watched as she raced into the room, David’s copper dove in hand, and smashed it against the back of Jack’s head. Jack’s body collapsed down on him, forcing the air from his lungs. The stench of dead flesh clung to Jack’s clothing and skin, filling Samuel’s senses, making him sick.

“Sam? Sam, talk to me.”

The words were there, but he couldn’t form them. His father had created him as a spare part. His mother had been discarded, probably before he’d taken his first steps. His brother had tried to kill him. Everything in his life was a lie.

“Sam, please talk to me. I need to know you’re still with me.”

He registered Piper’s words but couldn’t respond. His mind was stuck, unable to do anything but imagine what it must have been like for Jack, all alone in the dark, slowly going mad. The hate and anger were beyond his comprehension. It must have been vital for Jack’s survival, though, the fuel that kept him living, breathing, when any other human on the planet would have begged for death.

And next came the fear, the terror. Because if the Guild Masters wouldn’t, couldn’t take Jack back… Samuel knew they’d be coming for the spare.

The weight of Jack’s body was rolled away. Death and blood were replaced with roses. Piper leaned over him and pressed a bedsheet to his throat. “This is never going to heal if you keep getting cut.”

“I’ll do my best to avoid knife-wielding mad men in the future.” He didn’t feel joy and yet the smile came without effort, a natural response to Pip’s proximity. “Ouch.”

“Idiot.” She kissed his forehead.

“Is he dead?”

“He doesn’t appear to be. Still breathing at least.” A tear spilled down her cheek. “I don’t know where the others are. You don’t think he—”

“I hope not. He wanted to burn the house with them trapped inside. He wanted to make us all suffer.” Not wanting to lose the advantage, Samuel moved Piper and used the bloody sheet to secure Jack’s hands behind his back. “Find something so I can gag him.”

Truth was a thing Samuel craved in the very core of his being, but there was such a thing as too much. Tonight he’d had his fill from Jack, and wanted to hear no more. Piper tore the pillowcase and they fashioned a gag, securing it between Jack’s teeth before he gained consciousness once again. The mechanical dove lay on the floor, its wings stretched at odd angles and the delicate feathers scattered like metal teardrops on the floor.

What the hell was he going to do now?

“Are you hurt?” Piper’s hand was warm as her fingers gently smoothed the hairs on his arm. “Beyond your throat, I mean.”

“No. I’m not.” His soul felt flayed, but he’d survive. “We need to find the others.”

“Will it be safe to leave him here?”

Jack had escaped from so much darkness, and yet he’d never truly been free. The reach of the Archives now extended to grip his mind, squeezing his soul until there was nothing but black. There was nothing safe about Jack. Samuel doubted there was any place on Earth that could guarantee it.

“We’ll secure his legs to be certain. Grab that wire and help me. Then we’ll find the others.”

Piper yanked the thin copper wire that circled the floorboards of the room. Picking up the knife Jack had used, she sawed through the copper and tossed a length to Sam. “What will we do once we know they’re safe?”

Everything was crystal clear in his mind now. There was only one place, one spot in all of New London where Samuel would be able to find the answers to all of his questions, including the puzzle of what they were to do with Jack. Securing his brother’s feet as he would for a trapped wild animal, Samuel stood, doing his best to ignore the flash of lightheadedness that nearly pulled him back down.

“Sam?”

“We’re going back to the Archives. We need to take Jack home.”

Timmons, David, and Aiko had been on the verge of escaping via the use of a keyhole-sized explosive device David had hastily concocted out of some components they’d found in the closet where Jack had locked the three of them. It was a small miracle that Jack hadn’t gutted them all in his quest to rain bloody vengeance upon New London, and a second miracle that Sam had saved them from David’s effort to free them.

From there it was only a matter of letting Timmons secure transportation for the four of them to return to the Archives. While he waited, Samuel used the opportunity to send a runner with a message to General Collingworth, informing him that Jack the Ripper would terrify New London no longer. He also placed his request for the assistance of as many of the King’s Sentry as were available for gathering and questioning all the Masters of the Archivist Guild. Sam was hardly surprised when the general pulled up in front of Timmons’ house in a steam carriage, mere minutes after he must have received the note.

“Are you out of your bloody mind, Hawkins? You’re talking about the leaders of the most powerful guild in all of England!” The general marched up the front stairs with his aide, barely more than a youth, trailing quickly behind him.

Samuel waited until his superior was safely indoors before he spoke. The last thing he wanted was for a passerby to overhear. If that happened, word would surely reach the ears of the Guild Masters before the King’s Sentry even embarked to round them up.

“Sir, my note was too short to carry much detail, but all evidence suggests the Archivists are responsible for producing the most brutal killer New London has ever seen, not to mention perpetrating unspeakable cruelties upon unwilling victims. Foul, torturous acts that violate more laws than I can count. If it’s not the entire Masters’ council, not some Archives policy at issue, but an unauthorized plan, then the council must still help us identify the ones specifically responsible so they can be brought to justice.”

“Or they will work their technology and suck the souls out of every man, woman, or child on the streets who stands in their way.” The general locked his hands behind his back, jutting the girth of his stomach out. “I won’t risk my men that way, sergeant. Nor will I risk a civil uprising against the guild. If word of what you claim is true gets out, the rabble will storm that building and reduce it to stones.”

Samuel wasn’t sure that was necessarily a bad thing. “Then we need to take the fight to them ourselves. Lay the proof at their feet until we get justice for Jack’s victims, and for Jack himself.”

General Collingworth stared at him, but Samuel refused to be cowed. He was right, dammit, and he’d do what needed to be done to get the answers he needed. If the general had seen what Sam had, he would be first in line to bring the guild to account for what they’d done.

“No, sergeant.” The general held up his hand when Samuel began to protest. “I’m not blind to your little rebellion against the people who raised you. I won’t pretend to understand your reasons for leaving, son, but I won’t actively manufacture a situation as explosive as the one you’re proposing. Take your prisoner to the Tower for processing and questioning. In due course, if we require any members of the guild to assist us with our enquiries, we will proceed with procuring that assistance through the customary channels.”

“General, if I may?”

The last time Samuel had seen Piper, she’d still been in a thin shift. Now she wore a black leather corset on top of a white blouse. Her long skirts were as brown as her eyes, with the exception of the white rings. Sam recognized Aiko’s clothing, and the lack of the typical Archivist garb, but the general obviously looked no further than her eyes to establish her authority. He stepped back at Piper’s arrival, giving her a small bow when she stopped beside Samuel.

“Ah, miss. I wasn’t aware the Archives had a presence here already.” He frowned at her, waving his hand about. “Though I must say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of you out of uniform before.”

“It’s an evening of firsts.” The back of Piper’s hand brushed Samuel’s. “Sir, I would appreciate if Sergeant Hawkins could bring the prisoner known as Jack the Ripper to the Archives. I believe he has information critical to our discovery of a traitor within our ranks. I cannot believe that the Guild Masters were aware of Jack’s presence, which means some rogue Master or independent archivist has been operating in the Archives without their knowledge for years. Time is of the essence. The men Sergeant Hawkins requested could also be of great assistance in apprehending a suspect or suspects, if we’re able to get the information from the prisoner using our… unique methods.” Piper smiled, but there wasn’t an inch of sweetness in the look. “The guild would be most appreciative.”

A request that even a general couldn’t refuse.

General Collingworth cleared his throat and nodded toward his assistant. “Of course, Miss—”

“Smith.”

“Miss Smith. I’ll dispatch as many men as are available to meet you at the Archives. Hawkins, are you able to transport the prisoner yourself?”

“Yes, general. Miss Smith and I have everything under control.”

“Very good. Well then I’ll leave you to it.”

Piper cocked her head to the side, her smile unmoved. “Are you not going to accompany us, general?”

“No, that is the work of the young. And the insane. I expect your report on my desk first thing tomorrow morning, Hawkins, if you’re still of sound mind.”

“Sir.” They walked the general to the door, then watched as he moved his girth slowly down the steps and back into the steam carriage that had brought him.

“I think that was the fastest I’ve seen him move in years.”

“How can he possibly be able to run the King’s Sentry in that condition?” Piper asked. “Isn’t he needed in the field?”

“He’s a brilliant tactician from what I’ve been told. In the last war, he was unstoppable.”

“Sam?” They turned as Timmons approached, a deep scowl fixed in place. There was an angry-looking red slash down his cheek where Jack’s knife had sliced. The blood had dried, but there was little doubt the mark would leave a scar. “I have a carriage, but only one. I can travel on the top, but you and Miss Smith will need to be inside with him.”

“It will have to do. Send it around.”

Timmons looked from Samuel to Piper. “I don’t like it. No offense, Miss Smith, but having you in the back will be too much of a temptation for that bastard.”

“I can take care of myself.” Piper reached behind her back and withdrew two long-bladed knives from the back of the corset. The blades glinted in the early morning light. “I’d be more than happy to show Jack my skills with the blade.”

“We could have used those the first time he showed up.” Samuel ran his fingertip along the face of the knife. “A present from Aiko?”

“No respectable woman should be without a set.” The knives easily slipped back into their homes. “Seeing as I’m no longer an archivist, I thought it would be prudent to dress accordingly. Though I don’t think Master Ryerson had this in mind when he informed me of my banishment.”

Samuel wouldn’t have been able to resist her even if he’d wanted to. Grabbing her around the waist, he kissed her hard and deep. He mapped out every inch of her mouth, enjoying the way her tongue slid along his.

“When this is done, you and I need to talk.” She said the words against his mouth, and followed this with one final kiss. “For now we should get Jack to the Archives.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They stayed side by side, not speaking except to answer the occasional question from one of the others. Samuel cherished her presence, for the first time without the weight of expectation or threat of doom hanging above them both. He was one step away from getting the answers to the questions he hadn’t even known needed asking. He’d finally be vindicated for leaving the guild behind all those years ago.

Unlike his brother, Samuel was free.

David and Aiko led Jack out from the house when the carriage was ready. They’d fitted a high metal collar around his neck that secured chains from his throat around his body to his back, where his hands were fastened tight. It was painful to see him like this, bound and broken. Jack’s eerie gaze bounced between the people as they shuffled him along, never settling. Even as they moved him to stand before Samuel, he didn’t make eye contact.

“I’m sorry.” He didn’t care who heard him because he was. The last thing he wanted to do was take Jack back to the place that had abused him so violently. It would make him every bit the monster that the Guild Masters were. “There’s nowhere else for you now. At the guild they may have some way to wipe your memory to save you. If you went to the Tower, you’d only come out again for your hanging. If there were any other way, I’d take it.”

“Of course you would. Ever the virtuous soul you are, Sammy-boy.” His brother let out a bark of laughter, even as his body began to shake. “To hell, sergeant. Lead on.”

Piper stayed with him as they loaded Jack into the carriage, securing him in place. They weren’t about to take a chance on his escaping before they found a way to see this through, but to Sam, overseeing the process cut deeper than Jack’s blade.

“You’re doing the right thing.” Piper linked her pinkie finger with his. “The Guild Masters need to come face to face with the consequences of their actions.”

“What do you think they’ll do to him?” He knew there was no way he’d allow Jack to be put back into the machine. The Archives and preservation of knowledge be damned. But if they couldn’t repair the damage they’d done…

“I don’t know. I once thought the guild was hard but fair. Now… I just don’t know anymore.”

Timmons climbed onto the back of the steam carriage. The driver pressed several buttons and levers and a loud hiss of steam swirled around them. “We’re ready, sir.”

“Let’s get this over with.” Samuel climbed into the carriage first, taking the seat opposite Jack. “I promise you this: I won’t let them put you back into that blasted machine. If there’s nothing they can do to help you, I’ll take you to the Tower. And if they try to keep you, I’ll kill you myself first rather than let you go back to that.”

Jack met his gaze then, and smiled. He finally seemed to relax back into the seat before looking out the window. “Thank you, brother.”

Piper took the seat beside Samuel, as the door was closed behind her.

The near-silent journey took far shorter a time than Samuel would have preferred. The sun had crested above the buildings, and the strength of the radiation made his eyes water. He hated the goggles every time he was forced to wear them. Another reminder of how the Archives had taken his life and twisted it into something wrong. Even now as he slipped them over his eyes, the anger threatened to spill over. The carriage lurched to a halt in front of the Archives.

“We’re here.” Piper let out a slow breath.

“Aww, buck up, Pipsqueak. It’s not like they want to plug you into a machine as a battery. The worst they’ll do to you is wipe your memories and throw you out on the street.” Jack’s laughter filled the carriage. “It’s poor Sammy-boy who needs to worry. Much simpler for them to take him and start fresh, put a bullet in my head. Why bother to repair me when they see they’ve got their spare part so handy?”

Ignoring the barb, Samuel released the lock on the chains and pulled Jack from the carriage. Timmons jumped down after him, his gun out and aimed at Jack. Piper had gone ahead to the oval watch glass, but the brass guard remained stubbornly closed.

“This will be a short visit if they won’t let us in,” Timmons said as he pressed the gun into Jack’s back.

“They know we’re here.” Piper knocked her knuckles against the guard. “They have a way of being informed.”

Jack laughed. “Not anymore. I’m not there, and the machine is failing.”

Piper slapped her hand against the guard one final time. “What do you mean?”

“It’s dying.”

“Open up, in the name of the King’s Sentry!” Samuel attempted. Silence was the only response.

The building, normally a foreboding presence towering over most of the other New London buildings, looked less frightening in the morning sun. The metal gates surrounding the estate had dulled in his eyes, shrinking to a human scale. It was nothing more than a place that housed men, women, and children. It was as vulnerable as every other building within New London.

The Archivist Guild had held itself above the law for too long. It was time to show the Guild Masters the truth.

“Right. They won’t let us in, we break down the gate.” Samuel pulled Jack to the side, pressing him against the wall. “Timmons, did David give you any surprises?”

“My brother is one crazy surprise after another.” Handing Piper his gun, Timmons rifled through his pockets until he pulled out a small beetle-shaped device. “Here we go.”

“What is it with him and animals?” Piper moved away from the gate as Timmons secured it to the lock.

“He told me once it was his way to remind himself that there was more to life than machines. Get back!”

The explosion was small, but the force was powerful enough to blow the lock apart and rip one of the gates off its hinges. Timmons stepped through, moving the gate aside. “Let’s go.”

To Samuel’s surprise, the main entrance to the Archives building was unlocked. Samuel let Timmons take Jack, and pushed the double doors open. In the reception area, several groups of apprentices hovered near the walls. Their wide eyes and joined hands told him everything he needed to know. Their world was falling apart.