Daniel's gaze returns to his phone. He begins typing something on it. Not even the corners of his eyes stray from the screen, and I get a prickling sense that he's sending a message related to me.

"Hey, what's your name?" I ask, crossing my legs toward him.

No response, not even a flicker of his eyes toward.

"Do you... know of any good restaurants around here? I'm a little lost. This is my first time in Seattle, and I have no idea where I'm going either." I force a laugh. "In fact, I don't even know where I'm staying. Are you staying at an expensive hotel? Maybe I can check it out." Heat burns my cheeks as I suddenly realize the implication of what I just said. "I mean, I would pay for my own room. I have a credit car—"

"What are you doing here?" he growls.

"Huh?"

"You're that girl who bought the angelfish back in—" He snaps his fingers. "— Bellecrest."

My brow furrows. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've met before."

"Not formally. But certainly in passing." He regards me with suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

I shrug. "Just going to the opera."

His eyes narrow, and I realize my mistake. Shoot. He must think that I'm part of this weird, messages and fantastical treasure hunt.

Which I am. He isn't wrong to presume so. It just makes it harder for me to play a naive bystander.

"Who do you report to?" Daniel's voice drops to barely a whisper, and I have to lean closer to hear him.

"No one," I say.

He shakes his head. "No way. I don't believe it. Too much strange stuff has been reported in the last week. You're working for someone."

I have to play my cards right here. Whatever I do, I must uncover where his pass is, or at least find out which hotel he's staying at.

"Look, I don't know what's going on here," I say. "But I'll give you the fish on one condition: that you tell me why you want it."

"I can't do that."

I squint. "Not even a little bit? Not even a semi-explanation, even if you don't share it all?"

Daniel regards me with suspicion. Reluctantly, he nods. "Fine. You have yourself a deal." He leans forward and slides back the partition. "Can you take us to the nearest restaurant?"

"There's a steak restaurant right by the Grand Star Hotel. Will that do?"

Daniel's eyes lock on mine. He heard the driver's slip just as loudly as I did. Now I know where he's staying.

"That will be fine." He sighs, leaning back in his seat. Turning to me, he asks, "is the fish with you in Seattle."

I mime zipping my lips and tossing the key on the cab's floor. He rolls his eyes.

"Just be forewarned: if this is a trap, you'll be seeing real angels, not fishes."

🕸 ✩⋆｡°🕸｡°⋆✩🕸

The restaurant is loud inside, filled with well-dressed diners seated at tables with spotless, oyster-colored tablecloths. The hostess seats us at a two-person table by the windows. I'm grateful that it's not in the middle of the restaurant. It feels too much like a way to draw people's attention, even though most wouldn't take a second glance at us.

I glance over the menu, picking the first item that looks good. A waitress brings us water, then we both order. That's about the quickest time I've ever spent selecting a meal at a restaurant.

I suddenly remember what Tabitha told me when she shoved me into the cab. What did she mean, saying that I only have one hour? What's going to happen if I don't have his keycard in one hour?

She only said I must find out where he's staying. I have that information, so should I go?

I don't know which room he's in. Besides, his ID might be in pocket.

My head swirls with too many thoughts and possibilities. Maybe there's something more I can be doing to get a hold of the keycard. He probably won't tell me his room number, but surely there's something that can help. Besides, even if I leave, where do I go? Back to Tabitha at the hotel? I suppose I can call a cab...

"The fish?"

My eyes snap up from the basket of complimentary breadsticks laying on the table. "Huh? Oh yes. The fish." My head swims its way back to the present. "But you first. Why do you want the fish?"

Daniel's eyes dart out the window, to the many cars parked outside. "It's... special."

"That's obvious."

"It contains something special. There's something inside the fish that I must get a hold of."

"Why?"

Daniel sighs. "Does the name Wacairyn mean anything to you?"

Surprise ripples through me. I wasn't expecting him to be so honest with me.

"No."

"Back many, many centuries ago, during the height of the Wacairyn Empire, there were certain... devices made."

"Okay..."

"Very powerful devices that certain people are trying to get a hold of. Should they fall into the wrong hands, dangerous powers could be unleashed on the planet."

"That sounds pretty far-fetched." I force a laugh. Daniel remains deadpan.

"I'm serious. We can't let even one piece fall into the wrong hands. There's too much... potential for disaster."

"Who's 'we?'"

Daniel takes a sip of water. "The person I'm assembling the artifacts with."

"Just one person?"

Daniel's eyes narrow. "Why do you ask?"

I shrug. "No reason. Just that, if it really involves the safety of the planet, it seems like a tall order for just a couple people."

"It is a tall order. But that's my job. Our job. We are protecting the planet from the device inside that fish."

Something about the somber look in his eyes gives me pause. Tabitha told me that each artifact has powers imbued inside it, but I didn't really think about the implications of it. What would happen if Tabitha possessed the artifacts? She already has the ability to weave anyone's death. What else is she capable of?

Unease makes the ice cold water in my belly slosh around. I feel slightly queasy and grab a doughy breadstick from the basket to settle it. At the time, I struck this deal with Tabitha simply because I didn't know how else to salvage my life. But maybe I shouldn't be helping her.

But what else was I supposed to do? What else should I do right now? She knows my face. She can kill me if I don't fulfill my end of our bargain.

I asked for a chance to prove myself to her. But maybe proving myself isn't worth it.

"And what do you plan to do with these devices?" I ask, swallowing the bite in my mouth. The breadstick slides down in a lump, sitting in my stomach like cement.

"We lock them away so no one can misuse them."

I nod slowly, gnawing on the breadstick. So basically, they're ensuring that no one like Tabitha gets a hold of them.

"I told you everything I can," Daniel says. "Now where's the fish?"

There's a voice in my head telling me I should join forces with him and the order. Perhaps they could even develop a plan to defeat Tabitha. Then again, the order sent one of their own to my house. They will kill me if they need to. Should I really take that chance and trust them?

Anger clouds Daniel's face. "I fulfilled my end of our bargain. Now, it's your turn."

I set the last nub of breadstick down on the miniature plate before me. "Look, I—"

Daniel's eyes shoot open. He grasps at his neck while a sick, gurgling sound chokes from his throat. He cranes his head, gasping for air, then his body slumps against the back of his chair. His body slides against the wooden backing, so he's halfway under the table. All I can see are strained lines digging across his cheeks. Two brown eyes stare at the floor, unmoving.

I stare back, unable to process what just happened. Tears crowd the corners of my eyes, though I don't quite know why.

He just... collapsed.

No.

He died.

And then I know. Tabitha poisoned him. I reach a tentative hand across the table, lifting his limp hand, which has a watch wrapped around it. Two hands point to the time, fifteen minutes to eleven at night. It seems plausible that an hour has passed. Is this what Tabitha meant by giving me an hour?

I blink away my shock. I'll have to process things later. Now, I have to figure out what I'm going to do. After all, I'm sitting across from a dead man.

His pockets. Maybe I can see if he has his ID card on him, or even if he has his hotel key.

I duck under the table, cringing as I dip my hands into the pockets of his suit jacket. Inside the second one, I find a small chip, on par with my fingernail's size and shape. For a second, I debate if I check his pants pockets. Then, closing my eyes, I retrieve his wallet. Nothing is in the fourth pocket. His room key is in his wallet, along with cash, his driver's license, and other ID cards. I slip his wallet into my purse, then return to my seat, looking around.

A breath of relief escapes my lungs. As I scan the surrounding tables, the guests seem focused on eating their food, not on me. The wait-staff and busboys have their backs to me or are attending to a table.

This is good. I can slip out unnoticed, hopefully...

A waiter bursts through the double doors leading to the kitchen. Two steaming steak dinners are perched atop the tray balanced on his fingertips. He walks at a clip right toward my table.

Shoot. I avert my gaze, stand as calmly as I can, even though my knees are trembling, and head for the exit. My heart hammers in my chest. If anyone spots me, I'll be forced to stay and answer questions when the police arrive. I do not want another run-in with the police.

My pace somehow stays even all the way to the doors. As I step aside, allowing a couple to pass into the restaurant, a cry rises behind me.

"He's dead!"

"There was another guest."

"Where's that girl?"

I dart out the doors. My heels pound on the pavement as I run through the parking lot. My lungs burn, and my ankles scream from the pressure drilling into them, all while suspended in three-inch stilettos. But I keep running, passing shop after shop lining the shopping plaza, panting my way to The Grand Star Hotel at the opposite end from the restaurant.

I only allow myself to stumble to a halt outside the lobby doors. My hand flies to my chest, which burns from the exertion. It takes a minute to regain my breath, but at last, it feels less like dry ice steaming my lungs.

Surely no one from the hotel followed me here. At least I hope not. I crack open my purse, peering at the wallet and chip inside it. I need to get these to Tabitha.

I head into the luxurious hotel lobby, which practically glimmers with gold. Despite this glamorous world Tabitha has pulled me into, I have this remaining, nagging sense that there's a much darker side underneath all the polished alloy.

My job is seeming more dangerous than ever before. I knew Tabitha is a killer, but now, I think she could be something far worse. Two sides war inside me. On the one hand, I want to earn her trust, to not die like her former employees. But on the other hand, I question my involvement in her schemes. Perhaps it isn't worth it to earn her trust. Do I really want to be part of helping her with her malicious plans?