The Dream Thief, Kari Kilgore [reading well TXT] 📗

more than a little nervous now, and he had to force himself not to look over his shoulder. That oath of secrecy he'd taken when he got the job at the Columns was burning in his mind, brighter than the sun.

"Well, you might want to look around a little bit," Andy said. "A whole lot of kids I know, kids from right around here, have had parents or brothers or sisters heading out your way over the past few months. And none of them had much of a history of crazy in the family, either."

Karl blinked, and before he could stop it his mind was spinning through the names and faces he'd come across since his own birthday three months ago. No one he knew, not personally. He had an idea the Director kept that from happening for a very good reason.

But now that he thought more about it, he had seen a few more family names that he recognized than usual. And since families tended to stay in the same neighborhoods...

"You have seen something," Andy said.

"You know I—"

"Yeah, I know. Listen, I'm not asking you to say a word. I'm just asking you to take a look around. That's all. I'm not the only one who's getting a little worried. No one's sure if it's the newest Builds, something that went pear-shaped during a big push on a new project, or maybe something in the water. Hell, it could be something as simple as a bad batch of Crumble, not that that wouldn't be a disaster. But I'm getting more than a little bit worried. Our whole family could get caught up in whatever this is."

Karl tried to let that roll off his shoulders, knowing Andy didn't mean to hurt his feelings like other people in the family sometimes did. But it did hurt, just a little.

When he was back here, surrounded by the handsome old houses and breathing in the sweet scent of lilacs from this street, he never forgot for even one second that he was no Builder. Everyone in his family could get caught up in something going wrong.

Everyone but him.

"Sure thing," Karl finally said. "I'll keep my eyes open, okay? Don't worry so much. You'll be old before your time."

Andy closed his eyes, and his shoulders sagged. He nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Karl. I appreciate this. You better run, or you'll miss the last train out. Don't want to end up in Mother's clutches overnight."

Chapter 2

Loretta Schofield placed a black leather bag on the cafei table in front of her. Like everything else in this massive house, the table was the finest available—for any amount of rittern. The expanse of deep brown oak was carved into an elaborate scene complete with elves, dragons, and the mysterious robed figures of Alterra’s distant past. In properly devout fashion, the glittering Crown rode high in the sky, and Jonah the whale god swam in his heavenly ocean surrounding the land. A perfect sheet of glass covered the whole thing, the shimmering effect creating an even stronger sense of fantasy.

She tried not to shudder at placing such a horrific object, far more suited for nightmares than fairy tales, on top of it.

Mrs. Roma Norwood was one of her wealthiest, and therefore best, clients. The chubby woman, just shy of old age but doing her best to fight it, opened the bag and pulled out a glass case with brass fittings. She let out a deep sigh and cradled the hideous thing Loretta had just given her against her substantial bosom.

"I simply cannot understand how you're able to do this over and over again, Ms. Schofield."

"It's my pleasure, Mrs. Norwood," she said. "This one was difficult to locate, but I hope it's everything you were looking for."

Loretta had long ago stopped wondering why people wanted the things they did, wanted them so badly that they'd pay a fortune for something they only dared show a few others. Friends and neighbors as caught up in this sick mania as they were. As long as they paid well, and paid reliably, she didn't care.

"And you've never seen another one like it?" Mrs. Norwood said.

The woman stared at Loretta, her eyes heavily painted and made up, but pretty enough. That kohl and powder did help distract from the thick layers all over the rest of her face.

"No, Mrs. Norwood. Neither I nor any of my suppliers have ever seen anything like this before." Loretta leaned closer, the black leather around her waist and torso creaking. "None of your neighbors will have, either."

Those eyes were wider for a second before proper Mrs. Norwood leaned back into a most girlish fit of giggling.

"Oh dear, you've once again read my mind," she said. "If we're to be on such intimate terms, please do call me Roma. May I ask you a question? About a silly rumor I've heard?"

"Of course you may, Roma," Loretta said, bracing herself for whatever nonsense was to come. "One of the ways I keep my trade healthy is by keeping up with what my neighbors are most excited about."

Mrs. Norwood leaned forward and whispered.

"I've heard some of my friends talk about special items that come all the way from Aerohead, hidden away in the haunted houses there. That's why they're so rare and take so long to find. Do your treasures come from there?"

Loretta smiled, amused by the question. She'd started that little rumor herself a long time ago.

"You know Aerohead is dangerous," she said, shivering. "I imagine anyone brave enough to venture to that lost city would find wonders without number. If they survived."

She winked as she looked up at Mrs. Norwood.

Roma Norwood covered her mouth and giggled again before getting to her feet in a rustling, perfumed bundle.

"I'll just go speak to Mr. Norwood about the payment. May I take this little treasure with me? You know how seeing a thing helps men to understand the value. Poor dears."

Loretta inclined her head, and her smile was genuine. Neither