CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Light from the gas lamps did not offer much illumination as they followed on Toby's heels through the London streets. Dev had to stay alert, as Toby would slip down an alley no wider than an arm span and expect them to be behind him. He hurried up and down small lanes Dev had not known even existed.
No one spoke, as Eden had her earplugs out and was listening to see if she could detect any voices or information that may lead them to Lilly.
They stayed connected, the Sinclair siblings holding hands so their strength was greater and their senses stronger. Dev felt sensations travel through them as they focused, all intent on finding Lilly.
He and James spoke to whomever Toby took them too, and handed over money for information, but as yet none of it led him to Lilly. They frequented small, dilapidated buildings, and talked with people huddled in alleyways. No one approached, and Dev thought that was due to the fierce expression he knew he wore.
Someone knew something, and he was willing to pay whatever was needed to get her back, but the desperation inside him told him he had to find her soon.
They passed people doing things no child should know about, yet Toby never flinched, his small body watchful and silent as they made their way to another informant, who he hoped would have the information he needed. Dev used his vision in the more sinister areas to determine anything moving or alive; most kept out their way, as they were moving fast and a large group.
Essie and Eden stayed between the men, but when two men tried to grab Essie, Dev's growl and Cam's fist sent them back to the shadows.
“Stay here, my lord, and I shall return shortly.”
They had reached the back of a small alehouse. Dev could hear the rumble of noise with the occasional high-pitched squeal.
“The big brother in me demands I shouldn't let you go in there unescorted, Toby, yet I know this situation is not new to you.”
Toby snorted and shook his head, but said nothing before disappearing through a door.
“A remarkable young boy,” James said, pulling Eden in front of him and wrapping his arms around her.
“Are you all right, Eden?” Dev asked, as this was harder on her than any of them. She would be able to hear everything that was happening around her.
“I am, although what is taking place in the rooms somewhere in that house is extremely disturbing.”
Cam snorted, knowing full well it was a brothel.
“Where the hell is she?” Dev said, giving voice to his fears.
“If anyone can find her, brother, it is us,” Cam said. “We will search for as long as we need.”
Dev looked at the faces of his family, all there to support him and find the woman he loved. Yes, it was love, he knew that now, because the pain inside him was unlike anything he had experienced before.
Toby came out of the building. “I have just spoken to Split, who has heard from Jessie, who overheard his master, Ely Chit, talking to Delve about something happening down at a warehouse on Dilth Street. It's old and unused and by the water.”
Dev's siblings often talked in circles, so he followed with what little patience he had left.
“We has to find her tonight,” Toby added. “’Cause Jessie said that Gegan is involved, and that means there's a lot of money at stake. ’Cause he'd sell his mother for a coin.”
“Do they know what he's involved in?”
“Jessie said Dominus was at Dilth Street.”
“Dominus being?” James asked.
“He's new in town, but mean and done some bad things. But he's starting up an army of thieves, so we have heard.”
“And the missing children could have been kidnapped to work for him?” Dev made the leap.
“That's my guess, but there's got to be more, ’cause we all know how to filch, so this had to be more,” Toby said.
“Specialized, you mean?” Cam said. “As if he wants them trained for a reason?”
“Not sure what the first word means, but I think the other part’s right. Could be he plans to steal from nobs.”
“Nobs like us,” James said.
The boy nodded. “Strange that no one seen him yet though, and don't know much about him.”
“Why strange?” Dev asked.
“Rumors have a way of spreading on these streets. The man must be a mean one, if he's managed to keep everyone's lips tight.”
Dev thought about that for a few seconds. Could whoever was taking these children be the one who had Lilly? Was her disappearance a direct result of her interference? If he had her, what did he plan to do to her?
He could not contemplate that, so he focused on Toby again.
“We have to find her now,” Dev said, the tension inside him rising.
“Let's go then.”
Toby led them deeper into a dark side of London. Buildings rose above them along narrow lanes, blocking even the smallest glimpse of the moon.
“Now,” Eden whispered when they reached the end of a narrow lane. “Hold hands now.”
Dev and his siblings formed a circle and while they closed their eyes, he changed his vision and focused.
“I hear men, three, possibly four. They are discussing a woman,” Eden said. “Where they are to take her, and what is to be done. It's Lilly, I'm certain, and she is in very real danger. We must get to her now.”
“She's near, I can detect the faintest trace of her scent,” Cam added.
“Fear,” Essie whispered. “She's scared because it's dark, and she's alone.”
“The warehouse is just down there,” Toby said, his eyes wide as he tried to understand what he was hearing.
They trod silently to where the old building stood. Dev looked around for people and saw two men standing at the front of the building. A black carriage stood waiting for someone, and Dev wondered if it belonged to this Dominus Toby spoke of. Looking toward the building, he opened his senses and found Lilly, her unique color among the others inside. She was alone, and relief nearly buckled his knees as he watched her move. She was alive and her color strong.
“I see her,” Dev whispered. “I'm going to get inside through one of the open boards. Cam, you come with me and watch my back. You others stay here.”
“I should come with you.”
“I know you want to, Toby, but I need you to go back to the end of the street and keep an eye out for anyone approaching.”
He didn't want to; Dev could see it in the narrowing of his eyes and jut of his jaw.
“Trust me to get her out safe, Toby.”
“I do.”
“Can I take your scarf with me? I may need it.”
Nodding, the boy quickly unwound it from his neck and then left.
“No risks, Dev, you call to Eden if you need help, and I'll come,” James said.
Leaving their family looking grim, he and Cam walked along the building until they found some broken boards and a space big enough to slip through.
I'm coming, Lilly.
Lilly was dirty, hungry, and in the light of day, she had also been bloody angry. Now, however, the darkness was making her fear for her sanity. Moonlight helped, and showed her she was alone in the room, but still the shadows had appeared, and with them the fear.
Her hands and feet were bound, and she had been bundled into a cart and carried for hours—well it had felt like hours—to her current accommodation.
The small room she had been thrown into had nothing to sit on or look at. In fact, it was dark, damp, and airless, with only one window above her in the roof.
She feared for Bee and Wilson, and hoped they had survived the attack. Where was she? Would anyone come for her?
Looking up, Lilly tried to focus on the glass and the sky beyond, anything to force back the terror that was rising inside her. Could she see stars? Just one that she could focus on.
Biting her lip to stop the moan of terror, she inhaled a deep breath and slowly released it.
“You are strong, Lilly. The dark will soon give way to light, and you will be safe until then.” She forced herself to focus on those words. She was intelligent and knew that her fear was irrational, but it had been that way since she was a child.
Did anyone know, besides her staff, that she was missing? Who would come and find her? Toby, definitely, Wilson and Bee if they were unhurt. Mr. and Mrs. Davey, perhaps. Her brother? Definitely not. In fact, he would probably rejoice in her disappearance. A pair of green eyes slipped into her head and Lilly quickly banished them.
Lord Sinclair would come for her if he knew she had disappeared, because he was an honorable man, but who would tell him? Blinking several times, she forced the tears away. She would not think of him now, or the prospect that she would never see him again. It really was ridiculous how she felt about him, and all simply because he had been nice to her.
Liar, there is a great deal more to your feelings for him than that, a little voice inside her head said. Lilly pushed it aside.
Had she been kidnapped because of her interference with the missing children? It now seemed likely. If whoever was taking them had enough power, he could have her removed—as he had—successfully. Yet, she was still the daughter of a nobleman, so kidnapping her would not go unnoticed. Presumably she was a threat that made this worth doing.
Relief filled her as a key fitted into the lock on her door. She didn't care who walked through that door; whoever it was would take her mind off the dark and the thoughts spinning around inside her head. Lilly struggled to wedge her bottom into the corner of the room and lever herself to her feet. If she was to face her captors, it would be standing and defiant.
“I ’ave food.”
Not exactly a cheerful face, yet the man was not fearful-looking either. Short and round, he could be everyone's favorite uncle and not their feared jailer, and better still, he had a lamp. Lilly felt the muscles in her body slowly ease as light began to fill the dark spaces in the small room.
“Why am I here?”
“Not my business. Eat and drink or don't, I care nothing either way.”
“Charming. I bet you have trouble with the ladies,” Lilly muttered, wondering if she antagonized him enough, would he leave and forget to take the lamp with him. “It's not as if you have the physical attributes to fall back on either.” Lilly clamped her knees together to stop them shaking. She would not show this man she was terrified. Her grandmother had told her to never show fear when faced with adversity. “Attack, Lilliana, when others expect you to cower!”
“There's no call for you to speak to me like that!”
“Oh sorry, were the words to big for you to understand?” Lilly cooed. “I meant that you're ugly.”
She watched his face puff up and turn as red as Mr. Davey's nose on a chilly winter's day. Lilly wondered why she was antagonizing the man when she was alone, bound hand and foot, and totally at his mercy.
“I have ladies!”
A man's ego was so fragile, Lilly thought, looking him over slowly and hoping he couldn't hear the thudding of her heart.
“Come now, sir, we both know the women who spend time with you could not be termed ladies, even loosely.” She was pleased with her words, even if they were high-pitched and squeaky.
“My Rosetta is a lady!”
“I need you out here, Joe!” The words came from somewhere beyond the door.
“I ain't untying your hands now.”
With a final glare at Lilly, the man dropped the tray at her feet, taking the lamp with him as he left the room. As the door clicked shut, Lilly was once again plunged into darkness.
Slumping to the ground, she pulled up her knees. How would she ever escape from here? The food smelled bad and she had no intention of putting any of it into her mouth; the way she was feeling it would just come out again anyway. She felt the sting of tears begin to slowly fall down her cheeks and was angry for the weakness. Tears achieved nothing but a sore head and tired eyes, yet still they came. Lying on her side, Lilly gave up the battle, letting them flow in the hopes that exhaustion would help her sleep and, let her escape the darkness.