Hinata spent most of the day dodging beams of sunlight, wandering the floors of her new apartment, which was almost entirely unfurnished, except for the two beds and the dresser. The bed’s make was shoddy, and the mattress bag was lumpy, but it was a place to sleep and a roof to sleep under.

  The worst part, it was deadly dull. For a while, Hinata swung her chains, but the ceiling was so low, Hinata could only practice with restraint and difficulty. Soon, she became frustrated and took off her chain harness.

  There was nothing to do but wait for Plenty and Gwen to return, so Hinata chose to lie down for a depression nap and tried to ignore the growing ache in her stomach and behind her eyes.

  She stared at the black stone wall for a long time. Then she’d roll over and stare at the other wall. Then she’d roll over again to stare at the ceiling. When none of that worked, she bored holes out the back of her closed eyelids.

  Finally, Hinata slipped into a dreamy almost-sleep, when the slamming of a door and the shuffling of multiple feet brought her back to full consciousness. She jumped out of bed and reached for her chain harness, slipped her arms in, and secured the back. Then she pulled a single chain loose and held it taut between both hands.

  Hinata moved quickly and quietly to investigate the source of the noise. She stepped into the front room to see Plenty being carried by Winchester and the keeper from the other night. Plenty looked barely conscious.

  “What happened!?” Hinata rushed forward to take Plenty away from them. They released Plenty, and he fell into her arms. Meanwhile, Winchester leaned against the wall like he had just run a marathon.

  In a dazed, whispered mumble, Plenty said, “They took Gwen.”

  Hinata looked up with murder in her eyes.

  “Not us!” Winchester said with a defensive hand in the air. “We just collected Plenty before he got himself tossed down a mine shaft.”

  Against her shoulder, Plenty was listless. “What did you do to him?” she demanded.

  “Relax, I only calmed him down,” Winchester said, his voice thin with exhaustion. “He was hysterical when I found him. This was the only way I could drag him away. But I stopped pushing calm when we got through the door. Just toss some water on his face. He’ll be fine.”

  Winchester looked around the apartment disapprovingly. “Is there nowhere to sit?”

  Hinata scooped Plenty up in her arms. Either he was surprisingly light, or Hinata was much stronger than she previously thought. She carried him into the bathtub and splashed water on his face, and as Winchester said, Plenty came to his senses.

  He stumbled out of the tub, rubbing the water off his face. He seemed to remember Hinata was also in the room, grabbing her wrist urgently.

  “They took Gwen! They took her and they won’t bring me up there, and they won’t let her go!”

  Hinata was catching some of Plenty’s panic. “Who is ‘they’? Where is Gwen?”

  “Admissions!” he almost shouted. “The college. Upper Garden. I don’t know who! We went to the Admissions building, and then some guy came. He said he’d take Gwen up and come back for me, but he never came back! I went to the desk, and they said non-mages aren’t permitted in Upper Garden. They acted like I knew that already, but they lied!”

  Hinata took a ragged breath. “Our blackmailer carried you home. How does Winchester fit into this story?”

  Plenty was thoughtful remembering. “I was at the Admissions desk… I was yelling, and then those two appeared. Winchester said, ‘I’ll handle him,’ or something like that, and then I… I think he carried me back.”

  “You think? What, did he drug you?”

  “No, I think he’s some kind of mind-reader. Or feelings-pusher. I don't know. He did something to me, and I became calm. It happened on the ship, too, and during our negotiation. He can make people feel things. I’m sure of it.”

  Hinata was horrified. “What does he want with us?”

  Plenty looked afraid. “I don’t know. Let’s go ask him.”

  They left the bathroom and returned to the front room, but the clergymen had already relocated to the kitchen. Winchester was sitting on the countertop, examining his fingernails, while Darragh leaned on the coldbox.

  Their familiars were both absent, probably told to wait outside. Winchester looked vibrant and pleasant. Even with hair slick with sweat, Winchester looked handsome. Darragh looked severe, his thinning red curls brushed back. By his posture and the way he kept glancing at Winchester, Darragh was clearly the subordinate.

  “Where is Gwen? What is happening to her?” Hinata asked Winchester directly.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Winchester deigned to look up from his fingernails. “You’re welcome for saving your partner. That’s twice now that I’ve saved your family. You could really stand to show more gratitude to your rescuer.”

  Hinata clenched her jaw and fists. Then she took a breath and said, “Thank you for saving Plenty. Now, tell us where Gwen is. What’s happening to her?”

  “She’s where you think she is, where she asked to be: Upper Garden. No doubt, she's already met with Eve and was assigned some apprenticeship. Though I don’t know for sure. I could find out for you, if you like.”

  He acted so casual, so pleasant, so smug and arrogant. She wanted to wring his neck like a wet towel and drink what came out. Then she remembered she hadn’t had anything to drink all day, and maybe her judgment wasn’t so clear right now.

  Hinata took a half-step back, and Plenty answered calmly, “Yes, please do.”

  Winchester nodded agreeably and hopped off the countertop. “I’ll learn what I can. And I’ll have some furniture sent in. This is just depressing. But now’s the time for you to do something for me.”

  Dread hit Hinata like a falling sword. She’d known this was coming. They would be in his debt until one or all of them died. “What’ll it be?” she asked, resigned, terrified.

  Winchester appeared to ponder something. Then he said, “I was curious about you. So after we met, I went to the Archives, and I read everything I could find on the Vulpen Islands. But there were some notable discrepancies. Older reports mention four islands. Modern reports only list three. There was no explanation in the Archive. When I asked Winnie, my familiar, she couldn’t explain it, either. It was like she forgot something, but that’s impossible. Familiars remember everything. Then I asked my mother if she knew anything about Vulpex, and she flat told me to drop it. It was like a threat or a warning…” Winchester’s eyes narrowed as he seemed unsure whether to posit the question. But he couldn’t resist. “What do you know about this?”

  Hinata leaned against the wall. Over forty years had passed, yet the pain never left. Plenty took her hand in his.

  “Your mom was right,” she told Winchester. “This isn’t the kind of secret you want. This is the kind of secret that could get you killed.”

  Winchester was silent for a moment, seeming to appreciate the gravity of the moment, but he couldn’t possibly... Could he? Hinata always assumed Garden folk were fully convinced of Adam’s godhood. Might this one be different? He was young and ambitious. Maybe he could be convinced.

  “Darragh, wait outside,” Winchester ordered.

  Darragh looked offended, like he wanted to protest, but he did as he was told. When the door shut behind him, Winchester demanded, like a prince, “Tell me.”

  Hinata sighed. Like peeling a scab.

  “There used to be five Islands: Inari, Crescent, Lona, Minao, and Safo. When Adam “discovered” Vulpex, he destroyed Inari, home of the kitsune. That’s why older reports listed four islands. Forty years ago, Adam was betrayed on the Island of Crescent. In the attack, Adam lost his hand, and he lost two Blessings. His assailant escaped but left witnesses. So Adam killed all the witnesses and reduced the entire Island of Crescent to a cloud of dust and sand.”

  Winchester’s eyes were wide with horror, and his mouth was agape. “How do you know this?” he finally asked.

  “Because I watched it happen. My sister and I barely escaped. Her illusions shielded us, made us invisible.”

  Winchester ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair. His eyes were darting back and forth with ideas.

  “Adam isn’t invincible…” he whispered. “Two Blessings lost… Do you know where they are?”

  Hinata shook her head.

  Winchester squinted. “You’re lying. You know something. There’s something… about a bug?”

  Hinata said, “I’m not lying! I don’t know where they are. I know Adam’s attacker took the Blessings to Nod. I know he was in league with Lilith. I assume she has the Blessings now.” She was mixing truths with lies and hoping Winchester couldn’t parse them apart.

  He looked frustrated, but also like his mind was blowing up. “Alright, fine. We’ll circle back to that topic another day. Because I’ve figured out what you’re really here for. You’re here to steal another one of Adam’s Blessings.”

  Hinata’s throat clamped shut. She couldn’t even breathe.

  Plenty said, “That’s insane. No one can move against Adam. We’re just here so Gwen can get a good education.”

  “Yeah, sure, whatever you say,” Winchester said smoothly. “Don’t you worry. I’m good at keeping secrets. Which is a pretty good segue for our next topic of conversation. You both work at Strangers now. That's good. And you, Ma’am, were seen getting friendly with Xavier Gato. As it happens, the Gato family is another well-kept Garden secret. They have no known magical affinity, yet they’re among the most powerful clans in Lower Garden. I want to know how that’s possible.”

  “‘Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to,’” Hinata said. “That’s what the manager of Strangers told me when I asked what happens behind closed doors. Even if we get this information, and I’m not saying we can, what do you want it for? Do you realize how dangerous this information is, or might be? You’re dancing awfully close to the fire.”

  Winchester frowned. “Look, I’m young, and I’m about to step onto the grand stage. I’m making a name for myself. Rival families want to take me down before I become a threat. My first move on the grand stage is an important one, and I intend to know the rules of the game and the field of play before I make a move. If there are pitfalls, I want to know where they are.”

  Hinata asked, “And you think the Gato family is a pitfall?”

  “Maybe. More likely, they’re covering for someone else, or they have some valuable secret. There’s no simple explanation for their scope and influence. No other Lower Garden family has the clout and fear that the Gato family enjoys, and no one knows why. The easiest explanation is blackmail. They invite powerful people over, promise them privacy, but then secretly watch or overhear. Familiars aren’t allowed in Strangers, but maybe the Gato family has a few small familiars hidden in and around the compound.”

  “If no one knows, how do you expect us to find out?” Plenty asked.

  Winchester shrugged. “I’m not saying you have to find out tonight. But keep your eyes and ears open. Go every night until they trust you. It’ll take some time. In the meantime, I’ll check in on Gwen. But you shouldn’t worry. I’m sure she’s fine.”

  Hinata felt a stomach pain, and then a dawning realization hit her.

  “No, she’s not fine,” Hinata said, suddenly worried. “She has no access to blood. Gwen is going to turn violent if she doesn’t drink soon!”