“Uh-huh,” I repeat.
She huffs. “It’s not my fault you’re incompetent, and it’s finally coming out for others to see, including the king.”
“Right. When I catch you, you’ll be fired.” I liked the idea of killing her, but she’s not worth having more blood on my hands. Five people. I’ve killed five people at the command of Signoria Batorini. Two of those were at the encouragement of Samil. They were evil people who did evil deeds—or so I was told, or saw when I did my recon on them.
Still, I have to live with that. Marsha’s not worth being number six.
“You don’t have that authority. I know you don’t. Besides, Emily returns tomorrow, and with that, everything is going to change. Especially when I tell her what’s been happening.”
“We’ll see. Until then.” I give her my back, walking away and dismissing her.
“You won’t be here long,” she yells after me as if she has to get the last word in.
That’s my plan.
“I’m not the only one who’s been upset with your work.”
I turn back to her before I reach the hall that will take me toward my room. I need to change. I can feel the dirt and grime on me. “The sad thing about you, Marsha? It didn’t have to be this way. You could’ve stayed my friend. All three of you couldhave. You could’ve helped me with all of this, but you didn’t. You chose to be my enemies. And for what? Because I got the job and you didn’t? Grow up. It’s temporary, but memories aren’t. And I will remember this.”
“Ooh, I’m so scared.” She smirks, rolling her eyes dramatically at me. “Real fucking scary, aren’t you?”
I give her the same sadistic grin I learned from Signoria and Antonia. “You have no clue.”
I continue toward the servants’ area, listening as they finish up lunch. I enter the room smiling at everybody and checking in. Briefly, we go over afternoon assignments and any concerns anyone has. No one else seems bothered by my role. Everyone is greeting me with kind smiles and helpful suggestions.
After I’m done, I change out of my gross clothes and into something clean and dry, then head upstairs to the room where Emily is going to be coming home tomorrow.
My mind is racing, stuck in the woods, on the video of Jaqueline, completely lost in thought.
I have to get into the king’s computer before Javier and Emily return home.
It has to be tonight.
I don’t see Rowan for the rest of the day, and he doesn’t come to my room tonight. I’m grateful. As it is, I’m wound too tight, and if I saw him right now, I’m not sure how I’d respond. What I’m about to do doesn’t sit well with me. Quite the opposite, actually. I don’t want to do this, but if I don’t, if I don’t go in and at least look and see what’s going on, then not only will Jacqueline suffer, but I’ll never know the truth about Samil.
The problem is, I don’t know what I’m hoping for. The king’s guilt or the king’s innocence.
I’m not planting anything tonight. Signoria has whatever she wants me to put on his computer, and I’d have to meet up with her to get it. Tonight is simply recon.
I don’t have access to the main cameras anymore, soeverything I’m doing right now is a risk. And if anyone happens to be monitoring the cameras tonight, they’ll catch me instantly, and I’ll be put in jail, or perhaps the dungeons downstairs.
The king’s study is on the second floor, and I know from my earlier recon after I moved into the palace that he goes to bed late. Or should I say he goes to bed with his wife, then goes to his study later. I don’t know what he does in there. All I know is that he’s in there usually late into the night.
The darkness of the palace surrounds me, the air thick and heavy with electricity and humidity from the storm outside that finally broke the summer heat. It’s eerie. I’ve never quite believed in ghosts or scary stories before—certainly not the curse—but for the first time, I feel a presence around me. The creepy paintings with eyes that follow me aren’t helping that. Outside, rain is coming down in sheets, the drops pelleting the windows, making me even more jumpy than I already am.
I slink up through the back stairs, my footsteps silent. It’s been a long time since I’ve snuck around, not just the palace but in general, with the intent of doing evil deeds. The halls are empty. No one is around. The attendant sitting at his post in front of the cameras is face deep in his book, with only a small light to read by. I slip past him through the shadows, and he doesn’t even so much as twitch or look up.
It’s late, and as I reach the second floor. The grandfather clock sounds, startling me half to death. It pings one chime after the other, one, two, all the way up to twelve. Midnight.
I steady myself and continue on, prowling along the walls, mindful of where the cameras are, at least the ones that I’ve been able to note. I round the corner and pad to the junction where the floor branches off to the offices. For a moment, I stand stock-still, plastered against the stone wall, listening. There’s no sound. The king’s study is straight ahead of me, and I don’t distinguish any light coming from beneath the heavy wood door.
I release a silent breath, roll my shoulders back, and move with purpose, on the edge of no return. My hands tremble ever so slightly, and I shake them out, pushing my nerves aside and quelling the adrenaline fighting to be set free. It won’t help me. No second thoughts. No second-guessing.
I have to do this.
I roll my body up to the door and press softly against it. It’s closed but not locked, and I twist the knob and let myself in, then slowly close it behind me with the tiniest of clicks. Lightning flashes across the sky, momentarily illuminating the room. It’s closely followed by a loud clap of thunder that rattles the windowpanes.
I need to be fast.