Ten for Dying

Chapter Fifty-two

Felix lay on a red-upholstered couch pinned down by the dark-eyed glare of a life-sized portrait of the late empress. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep while waiting for evening. In fact, he had intended to use Antonina’s invitation to linger to devise some method of questioning her further. But exhaustion had overtaken him. Unless…his gaze fell on his empty wine cup. Unless Antonina had given him something to help him sleep.

He felt his chest tighten and his heart beat faster. Though he had looked away he could sense the painted empress staring at him. Theodora’s image brought back the same wary reactions that her physical presence had caused. The aura of menace that had accompanied her alive seemed to emanate from the colored plaster. In reality the aura only existed in Felix’s mind and in the minds of many at the palace and in the city. Thus the empress lived on in the fear she had struck into those who had known her. Felix knew that very well, and yet…

He jumped at the touch of a hand on his shoulder.

“You are awake.” Antonina perched on the edge of the couch. “I gave you a little potion to help you relax. You’ve slept a long time. It will be dawn soon.”

How could he have been so stupid as to drink anything Antonina had offered him? Then again, he had used the potions and ointments Anastasia had obtained from her friend. Maybe Antonina had only wanted to help him. He didn’t remember. That frightened him.

He sat up. The garden visible through the window was brightly lit. But no, that was also a painting.

“Why did you come here, Felix?”

He looked down at his hands, glistening in places with ointment. “I explained…”

“You don’t think I believe you dared to come here because you had some eruptions on your skin, do you?”

“Some eruptions? Is that what you call leprosy?”

Antonina laughed unpleasantly. “Leprosy? Do you think I’m a fool?”

“I was told it was leprosy.”

“By who? A fool?”

“No.” Felix had never thought of Isis as a fool. He had concluded she had been mistaken because she was upset, or as a result of age. Or had she intended to get rid of Felix quickly by frightening him?

“You did hope to interrogate me, didn’t you?” Antonina said.

“What would I want to interrogate you about?”

“Really, Felix. Can’t you do better than that?” She looked fixedly at him. Her blue eyes resembled shining cutting tools, torture instruments ready to slice him wide open and lay bare every vein and sinew of any secret he might have inside his body.

“I did wonder about your servant, Tychon. Anastasia told me the poor fellow threw himself over the sea wall. My own head servant has just vanished, you see.”

Her next remark caught him by surprise. “How much do you know about the theft of the Virgin’s shroud, Felix?”

He tried not to look startled. Did she realize that was what had brought him here? And did that imply she had a connection to the matter? “What do you mean? Why do you want to know?”

Antonina smiled. “Don’t look so shocked. Anastasia told me about your investigation. Naturally I am interested. Her sister’s tomb, my dear friend’s tomb, was desecrated.” She nodded in the direction of the painted Theodora. Felix had an irrational fear that the dead empress would respond. However, she remained silent and motionless. Her implacable gaze did not waver.

“It was only an amulet and a few frogs,” Felix said. “A lot of frogs, I admit.”

“And there were demons involved?”

“If Anastasia told you all about it, why ask me?”

“She didn’t say whether you knew anything further about the demons, where they might have come from.”

“From the underworld, I imagine. Well, that’s why I asked about Tychon. Anastasia told me that according to witnesses he cried out that he was being chased by demons. Why did he think that? Were they the demons-or so-called demons-who stole the shroud? Was Tychon perhaps-”

“Where did the demons go after running out of the church?”

“I wish I knew. I’m not even certain the workers I spoke to at the church were telling the truth about seeing demons. I’m not sure if anyone has told me the truth.”

“Including me?”

“Why do you think I’d suspect you of lying? About what? I merely came here for assistance with these spots-what I thought was a serious condition.”

Felix’s heart beat faster and he began to feel hot. He’d hoped to grill Antonina but now he was the one on the grill.

“What about the dead man in your courtyard?” Antonina pressed on. “Who was he? Didn’t you recognize him?”

“No. Or do you suppose I was lying to Anastasia about that?”

“You must have seen the man at the palace, Felix. He was an aristocrat, I understand.”

“What does it matter to you who he was? Or what I know?”

She reached out and playfully tugged his beard. “I am a curious person, Felix. You know that. I don’t like secrets, unless I share in them.”

“Any secrets I might have to share, Anastasia has already shared with you, or so it appears.”

Antonina sighed. “I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit to you that I also wondered if there was a connection between the demons that Tychon thought were pursuing him and those reputed to have stolen the shroud. So you can’t tell me where these fiends went, or who the courier was, or why the relic was stolen or who stole it?”

“I wish I could. I would already have told the emperor.”

“Tychon was not the most honest of servants. I would hate to think he became involved in anything illegal. And I would not want anyone to suspect me of wrongdoing because of the actions of a thieving servant.”

“I can assure you, Antonina, I never suspected you of anything.”

“What a bad liar you are, Felix. Do you want me to arrange for that horse now? There is still time to slip out of the city before the sun rises. I would hate for you to be arrested. Anastasia is upset as it is with her sister’s death. I will send some of my servants as an armed escort, for your safety.”

Felix got to his feet. If he took her offer, would he make it as far as the city gates? He doubted it. “I appreciate your concern for myself and Anastasia, however my investigation isn’t done yet.”

Whether Antonina would have called her guards to stop him from leaving, Felix never knew. At that moment Fate intervened, in the form of an ape bounding into the room.

No, a demon, shouting weird incantations, waving a necklace in one hand, a wet sack in the other.

Antonina screamed for her guards.

The creature scuttled toward the painted empress. “I command you, Theodora, in the name of all the frogs of Heqt, to step down and obey!” it cried.

The invader stopped dead, its nose practically touching Theodora’s garments. The thing’s fish-like mouth puffed in and out, revealing jagged teeth. A finger poked at the painted plaster. There was nothing in the least magickal about the next words to issue from the puckered mouth.

Dedi pivoted and sprinted out of the room, straight past the sword-wielding guard who rushed in.

“Never mind that one!” Antonina shrieked. “It’s this man who attacked me!”

Felix had taken a step toward the door.

The guard raised his sword and rushed forward.

And crashed to the floor.

Felix stumbled over the prone body. Slipping and skittering, almost losing his balance, he flung himself into the hallway and stumbled after the nightmarish creature, whatever it was.

He didn’t pause to scrape the squashed frogs from the slippery soles of his boots.

Frogs!

The demonic creature had emptied frogs out of its sack, before chanting incantations at Theodora’s picture.

In his excitement, Felix hadn’t put things together instantly. Racing through the darkened back garden he realized he was on the heels of whoever, or whatever, had invaded the empress’ mausoleum.

The guard slumped beside the back gate looked up groggily, as if drugged, as Felix pounded past and into the street.

He had been steadily gaining on his prey as they fled Antonina’s property. Now it took him only a few more strides to catch up. He grabbed the back of the small figure’s tunic and pulled it to the pavement.

Half afraid he might find himself face to face with a demon, he forced the thing to face him.

“Dedi!” He recognized Theodora’s Egyptian magician from performances at court. “You have some questions to answer. You’re coming with me.”

“Where are we going?” gasped the little man.

That was a good question. But there wasn’t time to waste. Antonina’s guards would be after them soon. What choice did he have but to trust Anastasia, for better or for worse?

Felix yanked Dedi to his feet and began dragging him along the street. “We’re going to see a bear-keeper.”