Kire23

Just as I had miserably expected, Julia's face went stark white and her lips parted. The trepidation in her gaze and the way she seemed to shrink in fear made me reach for her.

"You think this man is from Persia?" she asked with panic in her voice. She gripped my hand tightly, as though she worried I would disappear before her eyes.

"I don't know for certain," I said as calmly as possible.

She blinked, her eyes narrowing as she thought a moment in silence. "Daroga?" she questioned, drawing out the single word.

I had forgotten we had once spoken of him in the middle of the night, when the nightmares of my father's heavy hand had been replaced by an equally violent time in my life.

"Is that who you think this is?"

"It could be," I answered vaguely.

"What would he want with you?"

"I don't know," I said, growing impatient.

"Why now? Why…why would he be looking for you?" she asked, sounding more concerned with each passing moment.

"I have no idea," I answered, my tone becoming harsh.

"But you suspect?" she persisted.

"If it's not him, it would be…" I paused in the middle of my sentence once I noticed the alarm on Julia's face.

"Oh my God," she said breathlessly. "How many others would be looking for you?"

Quite honestly, most of the people I had met in Persia had died before I left that wretched place.

"If I am correct, then there could be two brothers."

Julia's hand fell away from mine and she took a step back. "Two men?" she gasped. I couldn't tell if she was more upset or relieved.

The melancholy in her gaze made me regret being truthful. I turned away from her and stared at the dark, heavy curtains, unsure of what to tell her. My stomach churned, my heart racing as I thought of that wretched palace and its wicked, heartless ruler. There will be no mercy. Not ever.

In ways I had not considered, there was still no mercy.

"A surgeon and his brother, who was a laborer," I answered at last. "Most likely," I added, attempting to shrug off my comment.

"A surgeon?" Julia echoed.

I couldn't gage her tone as to whether she was curious or concerned. I recalled the first time I had told her of my time in Persia, of how difficult it had been to share even the vaguest details.

"He was educated," I said, unsure of how to describe Kamil. Physically he was an imposing figure, but despite his size and his wits, he submitted all the same to the Sultana. There was no matching or besting her wickedness. The people beneath her held favor only briefly. No matter what, the Sultana tired of her slaves and found them easily discarded.

I had aided in their demise—and many of these men had helped build the tools and devices that would end their lives.

In all honesty, I was surprised Kamil and his brother had survived all these years.

"Then why wouldn't you tell me this in the first place?" Julia asked, startling me out of my thoughts.

"Because out of all the moments in my life, the time I spent in Persia is the most horrid of all," I said, raising my voice. Pausing, I took a deep breathing, more angered with myself than with Julia's questions. "They were employed by…by her," I told Julia.

Even without referring to that woman by her title, I still shuddered at the very thought of her.

"Who?" Julia asked, issuing a questioning look.

"The Little Sultana," I muttered.

Employed was a rather flippant way of describing the situation the three men found themselves in well before I was brought to the palace. Indebted or enslaved were more suitable terms for their lives.

When I gazed at Julia, she gave a solemn, knowing look as though she understood at last what I meant. I turned my head to the side, silently questioning her.

"So then they're not here to seek revenge," Julia said as she hugged herself. She sounded quite convinced with her conclusion.

I hadn't ruled out anything just yet, but I shrugged and decided not to argue. If she convinced herself that there was nothing to worry about, then so be it. I felt as though I had upset her enough for an evening.

However, I should have known my wife would not settle for a mere shrug of my shoulders. She silently reached out to me and frowned.

"Erik, I know you don't want to speak of that time in your life, but I'm worried," Julia said. "Please, just tell me your thoughts," she pleaded.

"There's nothing to tell," I replied.

She looked sternly at me, though her anger was fleeting. Her expression softened and she sighed. "Over the past five years, when have I ever turned my back on you or passed judgment? Answer me that."

My shoulder's dropped. "You take this as an insult," I started. "That is not at all my intention."

Julia turned her head to the side and crossed her arms. "If I kept secrets from you, what would you do?"

I stood silently before her, unable to offer a suitable answer. At last I sighed. "I would take it as an insult," I agreed.

The conversation remained stilted as Alex and Lissy stormed down the stairs and raced through the house. Lissy burst into the room first and I managed to reach out and stop the door before it smashed into the wall thanks to her exuberance.

Dressed for bed with an enormous hat and a trail of ribbons, she looked as though her head had been all but consumed by an octopus.

"Where in the world did you get that?" Julia asked, sounding far more appalled than I had anticipated.

"From one of your hat boxes," Lissy proclaimed proudly.

Alex strolled in behind her with a shiny black cane and a straw hat suitable for the beach. Neither of the items belonged to me and I hoped they weren't artifacts from that bastard Louis.

"Monsieur Leach gave these to me," Alex said before I could ask. "He has all sorts of fascinating hats and clothing from his extensive travels. He said I could keep these."

"Alex…" I started.

"Look!" From his trouser pocket, Alex produced a monocle and squinted through the piece of glass on a brass chain. With one eye closed, he blinked at me through the small orb and grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "He said obtaining this took death-defying measures," Alex whispered. "I wonder if it belonged to a bear! Or perhaps a leopard!"

Julia issued a quizzical glance in his direction but wisely decided not to question him.

"Wild animals indeed," I scoffed.

"Well, what else would take death-defying measures? This is real treasure, Father! A relic! Valuable, too, I think!"

"Nothing more than an exaggeration, I'm sure," I said blandly.

Alex shrugged, seeming unaffected by my comment. "He promised to tell me tomorrow evening if I am on my best behavior."

Julia placed her hands on Alex's shoulders. "You won't disappoint Monsieur Leach, will you, Alex?"

He shook his head and looked around the room through the eyepiece. "Of course not. Oh, I cannot wait to hear about his travels! Father, he said he once had tea with the Prince of Monaco and a sheik from Arabia!"

Alex had always dreamt of faraway places and travel. He was quite smitten with the thought of Egypt and fascinated by the notion of different languages and customs.

"Where would you travel if you could visit anywhere at all?" Alex asked. He was incredibly animated—much more than usual, especially given the late hour.

"I would travel to the sea," I answered.

My son issued a knowing, appreciative smile. "You're only saying that because that's where we're going," Alex said with a laugh.

"I would go to the moon," Lissy chimed in. She looked apologetic for joining in the conversation.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Somewhere you can really visit," he reminded her impatiently. He looked to Julia. "Where would you visit?"

Julia thought a moment. "South America, I think," she answered at last. "Somewhere warm and exotic." Placing her hand on Alex's shoulder, she drew him closer and kissed the side of his head. "You and Lissy had better go to bed at once or we won't be traveling anywhere at all," she warned.

The children exchanged looks and gasped in unison. Lissy grabbed her doll, which she hugged to her chest, and turned on her heel. Alex galloped out like a horse, but she quietly exited the room, the ribbons from her hat trailing behind her.

"Good night, Mother, good night, Papa," she said with a dainty wave before retiring for the night.

Watching her tiptoe from the room was strangely calming. She seemed so delicate, yet she always seemed to keep pace with Alex.

Once the house stilled, Julia turned and looked at me, her face unexpectedly ashen. "These men from Persia," she said, keeping her voice low. "What would they want with you?"

"I don't know," I answered, disappointed that the conversation continued. That was the unfortunate truth. I hadn't expected for our paths to ever cross again.

"But you're afraid they would do you harm?" she persisted.

That was not my fear at all. Once Julia spoke, she seemed to register her misunderstanding. She exhaled sharply and immediately brought her hand to her lips.

"Are the doors locked?" she questioned, her voice quivering.

I immediately drew her closer and wrapped my arms around her, my deepest instincts coming into play. With my chin resting against the top of her head, I closed my eyes.

"Every window and every door is secured," I assured her. "They will not do harm to you or our children." Before Julia could ask, I added, "I made certain the Lowrys and Madame Giry were safe as well."

"What about you?" she asked with her face pressed against my chest.

"I will protect you," I said, which I suppose avoided her real question.