Alex in Wunderstrande: The Clairvoyance Clock [BOOK ONE]

Chapter X: Life's Lost Passions

At first, I wasn't sure I heard her correctly, but her tireless gaze assured me that I had. My eyes doubled in size, and I gulped from the sudden constriction in my throat. "Wh-what?"

"You didn't know?" Jayce said incredulously.

"You think I'd be reacting like this if I did?!"

"Cool it, kiddo," Jayce warned, looking around anxiously to make sure no one had heard my outburst. "I just think it's fair that you—"

"WHY WOULD WUNDERSTRANDE OFFER A REWARD FOR ME?"

She clamped a hand over my mouth. "Hush!"

Heart racing, I inhaled laboriously through my nose since Jayce still had a hold over my face. Though I tried piecing together what information I knew, no solution I came up with fit. Even paired with the memories from the air, I still found it difficult to fathom why Wunderstrande was even interested in me at all, besides the fact I was the general's nephew. Or perhaps, they, too, thought I was a lazy, good-for-nothing kid in need of a lesson. The unpleasant thought immediately reminded of the conversation I'd overheard back at MacMurray's Pub.

Leverage. That must have been the reason. Either that, or dinner.

I trudged back up the stairs to the flat in silence. Following closely behind, Jayce refused to say anything more ("That's it, that's all I know."), so naturally, I tossed and turned until dawn spilled its first rays over Sangamon.

Lucian shook my shoulder lightly, but it was in vain, for I was already awake.

"Are you all right?" he asked when I turned over onto my back, groaning miserably. "You look ill."

"Couldn't sleep," I answered him, pathetically rolling off the couch.

Ambrose, undoubtedly, had gotten adequate shut eye. The little Spyderr still snoozed, all eight of his legs in the air. How I envied him.

"Oh, Alex, you do look ill," Imogen said in concern. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Fine," I muttered in annoyance.

"Well. Someone's cranky this morning," Imogen replied, folding her arms.

When Jayce stepped into the room, our eyes met for a fleeting moment. She lost no time in diverging her interests elsewhere, busying herself with picking up dishes from the previous evening's supper.

Our dialogue from last night tugged at my consciousness, reminding me of just how much knowledge I lacked concerning the matter at hand. I debated bringing it up to Lucian, but Jayce's frequent warning looks convinced me otherwise.

My focus was hopelessly sidetracked even as we prepared for our trip across town to visit Lucian's professor friend at the university. Because my presence bore new weight with my high profile status, Lucian deemed it best that I travel in disguise. Oddly enough, Mechanical Man promptly displayed a decorative theatre mask and silk cloak, two items he swore he could not go anywhere without. Donning the theatrical getup, the seven of us (plus Ambrose) slipped out of the building and headed toward the center of Sangamon.