The Clockmaker and the Pirate - EVERMORE BOOK 1

Chapter 29 -- The Rivoli Castle, 7 August 1650

Mitch looks around coldly, his heavy breathing the only audible noise in the room. "Oh, please," he says, stepping down one of the stairs. "Don't let me stop you from partying."

He steps down more stairs, wincing ever so slightly, probably in pain but trying to hide it. He wants Kirstin to think that he's invincible. "Cmon, where's the music?" Mitch asks, in a voice that's almost like a taunt. "Where are the beverages? Where's the fun? Hmm? Don't let me ruin your night, by all means."

"Captain Mitchell Grassi," Kirstin says, the only one brave enough to stand up to him. "I'm flattered that you showed up, really. Though, and correct me if I'm wrong, I do believe you're missing something quite important?"

"Oh, be patient, wouldn't you? You'll have your prize by the end of the night, you'll see," he says, smirking. "The thing you desire may be closer than you think."

Kirstin looks at Mitch curiously, as if trying to see what game he was playing but evidently coming up empty-handed. "I hope, Captain, that you do not make me regret making this deal with you. For I still have something that you want," she says, fiddling with a rather large necklace that she wears around her neck. The Sapphire must be in there.

But Kirstin doesn't know that Mitch doesn't care about the Sapphire anymore. We may have the upper hand in this battle.

Mitch says nothing, staring into Kirstin's eyes longer than comfortable. It's almost as if he's trying to place a spell on her. Her cold eyes stare right back until the length and tension of the silence is almost laughable.

"Play the music, why don't you?" Mitch says, shattering the silence and causing several people to jump. "You're not the only one who came for a party."

For a moment, Kirstin remains still, staring at Mitch with her eyebrow raised. After a moment, she turns around to the orchestra, breaking eye contact. Mitch smirks.

"You heard him. Play the music," Kirstin orders.

The string players exchange a nervous look and then obey, returning to their previous piece tentatively. Kirstin turns back to Mitch with a dry smile. "I hope, dear Captain, that you won't let me down tonight."

"Oh, darling, I wouldn't dream of it," Mitch spits back. With these words, he spins around and walks smugly away from Captain Lewis, her icy stare following him all the way to his seat, which happens to be the one directly next to Lindsey, three chairs away from me.

For a moment, Lindsey, Avi, and I just sit in silence and awe and stare at the captain as he leisurely sits down and gazes around the ballroom. People seem to be avoiding us now, but, in their defense, a strange bleeding man just appeared out of nowhere. I don't blame them for being a bit frightened of him.

After a moment, Lindsey chuckles. "Nice work, Captain. With the way you were talking, I was almost convinced you had a plan."

"Me too," Mitch says, raising his eyebrow and reaching for a glass of champagne as another waiter comes around. The waiter flinches a bit as Mitch reaches out, and I notice the subtle smirk on Mitch's face when he does.

I try to think of something to say to Mitch, but my mouth has gone dry. After a sleepless night without him, one would think that I would have rehearsed numerous things to say to him in my head prior to this moment, but all of my words have escaped me.

So I just stare while he pretends not to notice.

"Hey, princess," Avi says, his deep voice vibrating through my mind and shaking me from my trance. He's speaking to Lindsey, obviously. He's standing up, reaching out his hand to her. "Dance with me?"