“Where are we?” she asked the Bridegroom.
“At the center of the river, the place of Ma’at, divine order. In Egypt all gods are the
gods of death and life as well. We don’t have much time, Miss Stern. Unless you wish to
join us here permanently. The current is strong and inevitably we all succumb.”
Alex looked over his shoulder to the shore beyond, west to the setting sun, to the dark
lands, and the next world.
Not yet.
“I need you to look for someone on the other side of the Veil,” she said.
“The murdered girl.”
“That’s right. Her name is Tara Hutchins.”
“No small feat. This is a crowded place.”
“But I’m betting you’re up to the task. And I’m guessing that you want something in
return. That’s why you came to my rescue, isn’t it?”
The Bridegroom didn’t answer. His face remained very still, as if waiting for an audience to quiet. In the starlight, his eyes looked almost purple. “If I’m to find the girl, I’ll need something personal of hers, a beloved possession. Preferably something that retains her effluvia.”
“Her what?”
“Saliva, blood, perspiration.”
“I’ll get it,” Alex said, though she had no idea how she was going to manage that. No
chance was she going to be able to talk her way back into the morgue, and she was all out
of coins of compulsion. Besides, Tara might be underground or ashes by now for all she
knew.
“You’ll need to bring it to the borderlands.”
“I doubt I can come back here. Salome and I aren’t exactly on friendly terms.”
“I can’t imagine why.” The Bridegroom’s lips pursed slightly, and in that moment, he reminded her so much of Darlington, she felt a tremor pass through her. On the western
shore, she could see dark shapes moving, some human, some less so. A murmur rose from
them, but she couldn’t tell if there was reason in the noise, if it was language or just sounds.
“I need to know who murdered Tara,” she said. “A name.”
“And if she doesn’t know her attacker?”
“Then find out what she was doing with Tripp Helmuth. He’s in Skull and Bones. And
if she knew anyone in Book and Snake. I need to know how she’s connected to the societies.” If she was connected at all, if it wasn’t just coincidence. “Find out why the hell
—” A bolt of lightning flashed overhead. Thunder cracked and the river suddenly seemed
alive with restless reptilian bodies.
The Bridegroom raised a brow. “They don’t like that word here.”
Who? Alex wanted to ask. The dead? The gods? Alex dug her boots into the sand as the current tugged at her knees, urging her west into darkness. She could ponder the mechanics of the afterlife later.
“Just find out why someone wanted Tara dead. She has to know something.”
“Then let us come to terms,” said the Bridegroom. “You shall have your information,
and in return I wish to know who murdered my fiancée.”
“This is awkward. I was under the impression you did.”
The Bridegroom’s lips pursed again. He looked so prim, so put out, Alex almost
laughed. “I’m aware.”
“Murder-suicide? Shot her, then yourself?”
“I did not. Whoever killed her was responsible for my death as well. I don’t know who
it was. Just as Tara Hutchins may not know who harmed her.”
“All right,” Alex said dubiously. “Then why not ask your fiancée what she saw?”
His eyes slid away. “I can’t find her. I’ve been searching for her on both sides of the Veil for over a hundred and fifty years.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.”
He nodded stiffly. “If a spirit doesn’t wish to be found, there’s an eternity to hide in.”
“She blames you,” Alex said, fitting the pieces together.
“Possibly.”
“And you think she’ll stop blaming you if you find out who really did this?”
“Hopefully.”
“Or you could just leave her be.”
“I was responsible for Daisy’s death, even if I didn’t deal her the blow. I failed to protect her. I owe her justice.”