What is Hidden (27 page)

So I ran. I ran out of the palace with no clear destination in mind. The lamplit streets were filled with the
middle classes, celebrating in their own way since they couldn’t procure an invitation to the palace’s Masquerade.

It was easy to maneuver through the crowds; no one paid any attention to a server this late at night. No one paid any attention to a server ever.

I didn’t know where I was going until I got there—my old neighborhood. What if someone saw me? What if Aiden sent someone to arrest me? This would be the first place they’d look.

Scowling and mentally beating myself up, I turned right around, trying to think of a place they wouldn’t look for me. Or really, trying to think of any place where someone kind enough would take me in.

Arianna.

It was worth a shot. She might be kind enough to let me in, but even if she didn’t, I’d be in the Lace District, a place with all sorts of hidden holes-in-the-wall. It might not be the safest place for a female like me, but thanks to Aiden’s defense lessons, I could probably defend myself long enough to get away.

I weaved my way through the crowded streets again until I reached the canals. People lined the edges, but the canal itself was deserted. Too many people in the past had imbibed a little too liberally and drowned while trying to spend their night of frivolity on the boats. I was surprised so many people were even this close to the edge.

Either way, it wasn’t good news for me. I needed a water taxi. It was too far for me to walk, and I was already growing tired from the sheer emotional exertion I’d been through.

But it looked like I’d have to walk until I found
something else. I walked a good ten minutes until I spotted an empty boat, tied up and unattended.

Promising myself to take careful note of my location so I could return the boat later, I muttered an apology under my breath, untied the boat, and steered myself down the canal.

By the time I’d reached my destination—after two wrong turns—I was exhausted. I prayed that Arianna would have pity on me and just give me a corner to sleep in. And maybe some food. I had some savings to pay her back later.

I struggled to find the same building Aiden had taken me to. We’d only visited it once, but it wasn’t that long ago. The main problem was everything looked so different in the dark. Lamps lined the street, casting eerie shadows in the alleys, and everything just felt so much more claustrophobic.

And then there it was. I wanted to cry with joy for finding it. I doggedly ran up to the door and timidly let myself in. On a night like tonight, odds were she was working, and I didn’t want to embarrass her into kicking me out on principle alone.

The building was noisy and bustling with life inside, a complete change from the quiet and refined place Aiden and I had visited. I could smell all sorts of delicious foods cooking in the kitchens, and people of all descriptions were laughing and talking in the interconnected rooms. I scanned the crowds, trying to find Arianna, but I couldn’t pick her out. If she was even there.

“Can I help you, miss?”

A young Lacie approached me, smiling politely.

“I’m looking for Arianna,” I said bluntly. I was too tired for pleasantries.

“I’m sorry to say that she is out at the moment. Is she expecting you?” Her polite smile remained glued in place.

“Not really. I’m a friend of a friend, though we are acquaintances ourselves. I was just hoping to ask her something.” I knew it had been too much to hope for.

“Well, can I assist you in any way, or is it something only Arianna can tend to?”

“I really just need a place to hide for a little bit. Just for a night, if that long. And I needed a kind ear.”

Her face turned sympathetic, and I could tell she could see past my vague words and really see how much I was hurting. “I’m sorry to hear you’re having troubles. I don’t know how late Arianna will be out tonight, but you’re welcome to wait here. You look terrible, I’m sorry to tell you, and I don’t want you roaming the streets. Any friend of a friend of Arianna’s is a friend of a friend of mine,” she said with a real grin this time, “and I’m finished for the night, so if you’d like to borrow an ear or two, mine are free.”

I was touched by her kindness. “Thank you,” I said earnestly. “Truly. But I think this is something only Arianna should hear. It . . . concerns the friend between us.”

“I understand. We are all entitled to our own business and secrets, after all. I know that as well as anyone. Can I bring you something to drink at least? You can wait out here. There won’t be much traffic through here, believe it or not.”

“Some water would be wonderful,” I said, feeling my parched throat. “And I’m sorry, but I don’t even know your name.”

“Oh, how rude of me,” she said softly. “My name is Tomoyo. I’ll just fetch that water for you. Please have a seat in the meantime.”

I sank into one of the plush chairs that adorned the reception area. It was heaven to be off my weary feet. I was sure I’d felt blisters forming all night in the unfamiliar formal shoes, coupled with the mad dash through the city.

Tomoyo returned with a large mug of water. “Here you go, miss. Are you sure there isn’t anything else I can do for you?”

From looking at her large eyes, I could tell that she was asking out of sincerity, not politeness. It made me want to cry all over again. And that made me wonder when I’d turned into such a crybaby.

“What you’ve done for me is already more than I could have hoped for,” I told her honestly. “I can’t ask for more. I’ll just wait.”

“If you’re sure . . .” She looked hesitant to leave me alone.

I assured her that I was fine, and she took her leave of me. The night’s events finally began to catch up with me and an overwhelming sense of drowsiness blanketed my body. Everything felt heavy as lead, from my feet to my eyelids.

I reasoned with myself that Arianna would probably be out late, and that she’d see me when she came in, whether or not I saw her. And I had a feeling Tomoyo would ask her about me regardless, or inform her that I was here if she did miss me. A small catnap wouldn’t be such a bad thing right about now, would it?

As soon as I’d curled up and gave myself permission to sleep, sleep came.

It could have been minutes or hours later that a gentle hand shook me awake, calling me back from the heavenly land of slumber. I didn’t want to leave—I was happy in my dreams. Nothing could hurt me there.

“My Lady . . . Evelina,” a voice called. “Wake up, sweetheart.”

I blinked my eyes open until they could focus on the person standing at my side.

“Arianna?”

“Yes, sweetie. I just got here, and I should have known I’d see you here. Please, let’s take this up to my room. We have much to talk about.”

I tensed, wondering if Aiden had gotten to her first and that she suspected me now too.

Then I realized I was being ridiculous. Hadn’t I come here for protection? Or was I really going to start second-guessing everyone I came into contact with? Any hope of me trusting anyone again was completely shattered; did I have to become a paranoid fool as well?

“There will be none of that,” she scolded me gently for my hesitation. “I don’t know anything of what happened to you. I just know that it had to have involved my lord and that bigger things are going on than you know.”

I just blinked at her.

“My room,” she prodded.

I was too weary to object. I followed her up the stairs and realized as we ascended to the second floor that the boisterous party had quieted and the sky outside was starting to lighten.

If the night was over, why did I still feel like I was surrounded by darkness?

“N
ow before we have any
conversation,” she began, pointing me toward a chair and lighting the lamp on the bedside table, “I want to make sure we have all our facts straight. I’m going to assume nothing, and things will go much easier and smoother if you’ll do the same.”

I nodded my agreement, and she sighed. “Now, I realize that in doing this, I may inadvertently tell some of his secrets, but the risk is worth it, I feel. If everything turns out all right, I feel he’ll be thanking me.

“I’m aware of my lord’s true identity,” she said succinctly. “Are you?”

“As of tonight,” I replied glumly.

“And you aren’t pleased with the knowledge?” She sounded confused.

“That part didn’t bother me so much. It was when the tables were turned that the true displeasure happened,” I said.

“I don’t understand. Are you something other than you appear to be?”

It was all or nothing. “I’m in hiding. My home was
attacked by the Chameleon a couple months ago. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to, so I snuck into the palace and worked as a server. I’d known Aiden from before, but only as a boy from a noble family. I thought he was just another noble, one that was my dear friend. After that attack, I couldn’t stay where I was. Because he—the Chameleon—marked me. And I needed to find justice somehow.”

“When you say marked . . . ?” she trailed off.

I wasn’t going to show her. That was far too personal, even for this conversation. But I could tell her. I nodded and held my fingers below my right eye. “He marked me with his own brand.”

She gasped, piecing it together. “And my lord . . .
no
.”

“Yes,” I said grimly. “He believed his eyes rather than his common sense. Rather than me. He told me who he really was, and I spilled my own secrets. But instead of acting like a rational person, he turned on me.” I left out the part about the marriage proposal. This situation was already too much of a mess.

“Then this next bit of information may make more sense to you,” she said. “He’s gone missing. He was supposed to make his announcement at midnight, but he was nowhere to be found.”

“He ran away?” I asked, shocked.

“No, that’s not it,” she corrected me. “The king himself went to fetch him. But in my lord’s chambers, instead of the prince himself was a single piece of parchment. Nothing was written on it. Nothing save a Mark.”

I gasped. “You don’t think—”

“I do think. I almost know,” she said, her face tight.
“We both know that the Chameleon was going to infiltrate that Masque somehow. I’m guessing you never saw him?”

I shook my head, my mind still reeling at the possibilities of what could be happening to Aiden right at that moment. “What do they plan to do?”

“We don’t know. There have been no demands, no ransom, no threat. It’s turned into a waiting game.”

I groaned. “Well, what are we supposed to do, then?”

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “I was hoping you’d have something to add to this equation. We’re clearly missing something, but no one knows what.”

“Is there any other information about him that you or Aiden might know that I don’t?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. The most we’ve got is rumors and theories.”

“That’s better than nothing. And it’s all we have right now. Tell me.”

She spent the next ten minutes detailing everything she’d ever heard, no matter how ridiculous or absurd it seemed. But nothing seemed absurd enough to be true. Logically, none of the theories made sense.

“Maybe we should go back to the palace,” I finally suggested with a heavy heart. I might be infuriated with Aiden, but I didn’t want to see him hurt. I just didn’t want to see him, period.

“I think that’s our only option at this point. The Masque is over now. They kept as many guests as they could for as long as they could in hopes of finding something out that way, but everyone has an alibi. No one’s there now except palace workers and guards.”

Something struck me. “What if it was a palace worker who did it? Someone who went under disguise, like me?”

“What would be the point of stealing a mask for the ball, then?” she pointed out.

“I don’t know, but didn’t I essentially do the same thing to move around freely? I snuck into the ballroom. I’m sure anyone with half a brain would have been able to do the same.”

“Has there been anyone suspicious that you’ve seen?”

“Not really, but I work with the girls in the kitchens. The Chameleon is a man, remember? I think he’d have to be somewhere where I wouldn’t see him too. He wouldn’t risk being recognized by me.”

“Did he know you were there?”

“I don’t think so. Maybe he did?” I groaned. “I don’t know. Let’s just head back and keep thinking on our way.”

She agreed, and we continued to strategize as we made the trek back to the palace.
Strategize
was perhaps too strong a word, though, because nothing we planned would really work. We had too little information. In order to help Aiden, we needed more.

I’d planned to take Arianna down to my room so she could see how I’d snuck into the ballroom, but when we reached the doors, one of the guards called out to me.

“Hey, you! Evelina, right?” It was Matteo, the guard I had met on my first day at the palace. He looked grim as he beckoned me.

“Yes?” I asked, nervous. Too late I realized that perhaps the smarter action would have been to run, if Aiden had given the order to arrest me on the grounds that
I
was the Chameleon.