But of course, the other woman paid no attention. “Unlike me, you don’t actuallylivehere. You’ll never need to worry about the results—and within a year or two, you’ll have entirely forgotten them. As soon as you’ve done me this single favor, you may free your own husband from his coffin and leave all of this behind forever. If it helpsto salve your conscience, I’ll even offer you as reward this legendary artifact.”
The baroness smirked. “I’veseenyou in my mirror, remember. I know exactly which two things you care for most: your husband and your all-consuming work. You’re desperate to make a name for yourself, aren’t you, and to cement your reputation? Don’t pretend you wouldn’t do almost anything to study Reflection’s Heart and present it to the world!”
“Of course I would,” said Margaret impatiently, “but?—”
“Then it is a perfectly simple decision.” The baroness held out her palm, and Margaret’s own past reflection moved above it, in the depths of Reflection’s Heart, with unflinching accuracy. “Rescue your husbandandsolidify your professional acclaim—or heartlessly bring about his death only to save a group of creatures with whom you’ll never truly belong.”
Moistening her lips, Margaret stared at the stoneand its reflections. “Those are really the only two choices you see?”
The baroness gave her a pitying smile. “What others could there be? I possess Reflection’s Heart and your husband’s helpless body. I holdallof the cards in this situation.”
“Well.” Margaret sighed, her shoulders slumping. “This is the trouble with not doing thorough research. Your parents may have taught you about your family legacy, but they did you a true disservice in not giving you any further education. If you’d read all that I have regarding Reflection’s Heart, you would know that the mirror never truly shows you everything!”
“What are you prattling on about?” the baroness demanded. “I’mthe one who’s been using it, not you. I can tell you?—”
“Reflection’s Heart can only show you what you’re activelylookingfor,” Margaret said patiently, “and I’ve recently learned that it’s dangerous to ignore the things around us that we don’t find of personal interest. Clearly, you see most of the world as unworthy of your attention—andthat is how you’ve missed the obvious now!”
As the baroness made a sound like a chicken being plucked, Margaret gave a firm nod of confirmation—and then leapt forward to snatch the artifact from the other woman’s open palm and raise it high above her own head.
The massive, three-foot-long black raven who’d been waiting on the closest castle turret dovedown to snatch it from her fingers while the baroness was still lunging towards her in a vain attempt to get it back.
“You dare to steal from me? Younobody?” As the night raven flapped high out of reach, the other woman’s face contorted in vicious rage. Grabbing Margaret’s shoulders, she shook them violently. “You’re no one, only the latest social curiosity. You didn’t even hold a family title before you were married!”
“That is true,” Margaret agreed, through rattling teeth. “But I also have a family legacy—and unlike yours,minetaught me to grant my focus and respect to matters beyond my own reflection.”
“You will regret this!” Releasing her, the baroness whirled around and started for the door in a furious run.
Margaret hurried after her, just in case.
But the baroness came to a halt even before Margaret glimpsed the other two figures stepping out from the doorway.
Hood flung back to reveal her pale, smooth head, Leonie stalked forward beside Herr Schneider, who held his soul pipe at the ready.
“What are you creatures doing inmy home?” The baroness drew herself up, vibrating with rage. “I issued you no invitations! When I report to the authorities that you vermin invaded my property?—”
“The way you invaded ours, you mean?” There was a martial light in Leonie’s red eyes; this time, she didn’t hunch or lower her gaze. “At leastwedidn’tcome sneaking and sliding into your own bedroom to insult you.”
“You can’t prove I did any such thing,” the baroness snarled, “andyou’vejust made a fatal mistake. I’ve been trying for years to force the local magistrate into clearing out your rancid nest, but he alwaysclaimedhe couldn’t do that without proof of any crimes. Now, he’ll finally have it!”
“Oh, really?” Margaret crossed her arms. “Who exactly do you think will offer him that proof?”
“Iwill, of course!Andso will all of my servants. Even if you two somehow managed to elude them?—”
“Oh, no,” Leonie said flatly. “We didn’t miss a single one of them.”
Margaret released a breath of deep relief.
The baroness blinked rapidly. “You didn’t?—?”
“We haven’t harmed any of them,” said Leonie, “because unlike you,wearen’t monsters—but they all fell asleep and never saw us. There will be nothing for any of them to tell.”
“What do you mean?” For the first time, the baroness looked genuinely unnerved. “Did you somehow drug them all with sleeping powders? Or?—”
“I told you,” said Margaret, “you should have done more research...and paid better attention to the world around you. Now you can finally learn that lesson.” Nodding to Herr Schneider, she said clearly, “It’s time for her performance.”
The baroness’s gaze darted rapidly back and forth between Margaret and the two supernaturalvisitors, her face twisting in contempt. “I don’t care what wickedness you’re planning. Even if you somehow cast me into sleep now, Iwillremember what you’ve done here when I wake. I’ve never forgotten anyone who wronged me or mine! And when I go to the magistrate?—”
“Actually, you have a different set of hosts awaiting you now,” said Margaret. “They’ve become impatient for your next visit.”
