Journey of a Girl

Secrets We Keep: Chapter Seven

Credence found a tailor's shop, and after what felt like several laborious hours of pulling clothes on and off, she settled for a pair of green pants and a rosy blouse with puffed, frilled sleeves.

The pants had to be held around her waist by an length of rope, but there was a beauty to the blouse that delighted Credence when she first laid eyes on it. The exaggerated sleeves had to go, however, if she wanted to move around freely, so she took a pair of shears to the garment and said goodbye to the ostentatious arms. There was no mirror in which to view herself, but Credence considered that a blessing. She didn't imagine the outfit resembled anything close to flattering.

Not that it mattered, for there was no one she wished to impress.

She made a quick stop at Sally's tavern to grab Ma's book, then carried the clothes and book to the lake. The cool water eased her muscles, but her mind was still turning.

"How do I open the vault," she pondered out loud, "and get inside to the Queen?"

When she did, she would release the monarch, and the Queen would be so grateful she would no doubt help Credence escape the purple world. Maybe they could take down the Collector together.

Of course, all of it hinged on Credence finding a way to open the vault door.

Think, think, think...

She always arrived at the same answer, but it was the last one she wanted to accept.

Bargain with the Collector.

"I don't want to," she argued. "I'll never agree with—" She stopped herself from saying his name, fearing it would bring him to her. "With that monster."

She began singing to distract her mind.

After bathing, she left the water and wrapped a piece of linen she found in the tailor's shop around her shoulders, noting that if she hadn't thought to bring it with her, she would have been forced to remain unclothed while she waited to dry.

Where anyone could have stumbled upon her.

What would John do if he came to fetch me for dinner and found me like that?

The thought of what expression might paint his face made her bristle—

Then giggle and blush.

She dressed and settled onto a patch of grass near the water, then opened her book to the guide for enemies, hoping Ma might have something to say about vaults and locked doors.

'Find a common interest and exploit it...'

'Tip the balance of anger in their direction...'

'Do something to surprise them...'

These were vague and gave little help.

Where's the part about tricking them into giving up a key, she asked silently.

And what possible common interest could she share with the Collector?

How could she tip the balance of anger when a few words from him could send her into tears?

What could she do that would ever catch such a powerful being by surprise?

Ma's enemies must have been weak.

She never encountered a foe like mine.

Hadn't she?

Ma had been promised to him, too. Did the Collector treat her differently? Had she once been a captive in another purple world?