Lissie dressed herself at the nurses station. She had the book on the table in front of her, but the nurse that helped her check her mask did not ask about it. She moved back into the castle, and down the stairs to the vault room.
Two of the Gallian mercenaries were playing Writ in the room before the vault itself. They waved at her without looking up from their game. “We left the key on the hook by the wall,” one of them said laying a tile on the board, “No one is going to steal treasure from our friend.”
She closed the door to the anteroom and their game, and then looked for the hook on the wall. The room was smoky with their cigars and the burning torches, but she found the key. The door to the vault was heavy, but easy to open.
“I do not itch, I am not hungry.” Niko was sitting on the floor in the center of the room crosslegged.
All of the walls were steel, but it was hard to make out against the stacked chests. The racks of sparkling gold and jewels. The wealth of Terndowns surrounded her, as worthless as a drawing of a feast to a starving man.
Niko’s smooth blue skin was marred by navy patches. It flickered, crystalline in the single candle’s light. His face was solemn. There was only a wrap around his waist. He looked so much more himself without all the frippery of clothing.
She looked down at her own heavy leather protection. She wanted to rip it off. She sat, hesitating to break the silence.
“Lissie, you should not be here. I do not weep, but I have begun to hear voices.”
That’s interesting, Nelli said. I always wanted to test it on a Giant, but they are so hard to catch.
“Whose voice?” Lissie sat the book in front of her on the floor. Between them.
“The man who owned me. He tells me to go deeper in the mine.”
She opened the book. “Maybe my voice can drown him out.”
He brought his face down to the word she was pointing to on the page. He sounded it out. “Hah-py? Hoppy?”
“You’re a fast learner.”
“I have a good teacher.”
They read the next words together. “Bunny. Wanted. Breakfast.”
She looked at the picture on the page. The bunny in his waistcoat was staring into an empty cupboard in his cabin. She turned the page.
“You should not be here.”
“There is no where else I can be.”
“Cora brought more of the cure this morning.”
“You look worse.”
“That is why she brought more. She made a lot of notes.”
Lissie looked down at the book. It was the same picture from the cover. The rabbit was standing in front of his cabin. She pointed a finger and Nikolai read with her. “Hoppy. Bunny. Knows. Where. To. Go.”
She didn’t tell him the ‘K’ was silent. She turned the page.
Niko put his hands over his ears. He rocked himself back and forth. “He tells me he will whip my father. He always whipped my father. No matter how hard I worked.”
Lissie held out her gloved hand and then went back to turn the page. She was the only one reading now.
“The best lettuce is in the farmer’s field.” The picture showed a farm at the end of a long road. Niko seemed to settle. “I bet the rabbits always thought you had the best lettuce.”
“Do you think they are still there?”
“They will be there long after us.” She turned the page.
The rabbit in his waistcoat was hiding behind a fence post now. “He won’t notice if I only take one.”
Niko stood up now, and Lissie stood up with him, she left the book on the floor.
He was pacing. “Please, please. Let us go.”
“Niko, you’re here, you’re in Terndowns. You’re with me, Lissie.” She pleaded. She didn’t know what else to say.
“Lissie, yes. The rabbits.” He moved back to the book.
She sat down next to him and turned the page. The rabbit was sneaking in the field of lettuce, and the farmer was sneaking up behind him. She read, “‘Hoppy Bunny, are you sneaking into my field to steal my lettuces!’”
Niko stared at the picture. “They do not come to visit that easily. The rabbit would run if you were that close.” He was smiling.
She turned the page, the rabbit was hiding a lettuce behind his back. She read, “Hoppy Bunny said, ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Farmer, I’m just so hungry.’”
Niko bent forward and turned the page. The corner froze and shattered. She helped him, and the page turned. The farmer had a big smile on his face, and was holding a bag of lettuce.
She read, “‘If you needed lettuce, you should have asked first.’” It was the last page.
Niko turned to her, and he was smiling. “Thank you Lissie. Thank—” He started coughing, and stood up.
I can help him. I can help you. Nelli was screaming in her head, but Lissie paid no attention.
Niko slammed into the door, denting the thick steel.
Lissie grabbed the book and stood. “Niko! You’re here! With Lissie!”
He looked at her. His crystalline eyes had gone red. His teeth snapped.
Lisandra, it is NOW or NEVER. He is going to kill you and me with you.
Lissie felt the hand on her heart again. She leapt out of the way as he charged.
Yes. Fine. Anything.