We walked back to the mansion in silence.
The young man went inside with the drum. Vapour stretched with the satisfaction of someone who had completed a normal morning's work. I stayed where I was and looked at the trees and thought about what had stepped out of them.
He came back with two silver cards. Handed one to each of us.
It was heavier than it looked. Cold and smooth, no markings I could read, but it didn't feel like money. It felt like something else. Permission, maybe. Or membership to something I hadn't applied for.
I slipped it into my pocket.
I looked up. Celestine was on the balcony.
Standing fully in the shade despite the morning sun, which was not an accident and had never been an accident anywhere on this property.
Same face as last night. Same calm expression. No sign of the thing that had pinned me to the ground eight hours ago. Except in her eyes.
