Any other day, I would have been glad to see a little girl, but this one...she seemed strange. Her face was unusually pale, her eyes unusually keen. Her hair seemed to float gently, as if there was the faintest sigh of a breeze in the stillness of the hallway. The little one's hands clutched the railing, her wide eyes fixed on me like a trapped mouse. Before I could think, she leapt from the bottom stair and ran toward the doors to the outside. The right-hand door opened and she twisted through the crack.As I saw her disappear, I came back to myself.

"Are you all right?" Cassiopeia asked, noting the far off look in my eyes."Yeah," I said slowly. "Cassiopeia, do you—have you ever seen any children around here?""No, I can't say I have," the woman shook her head, "Have you?""I saw a little girl. She was in the back hall, down there," I pointed to the crystal doors, "but she ran into the courtyard when she saw me."

The question flew out of my mouth before I could stop it. He seemed surprised at my offer. I felt surprised, too, especially because my mask didn't twitch like it usually did whenever I asked a question. "I'm not certain if it is necessary that you help," he answered slowly."I know you don't want to crowd him out, but old people can feel safer around younger ones," I insisted, "and I'm good at small talk."He hesitated for a moment, th

My heart was pulled to both extremes. I wished I could have asked Masquerade what was on his mind when he looked at me. But I knew entertaining the guests was probably more enjoyable for him than talking to me again. Besides, I was overreacting anyway, I told myself. He probably wasn't even thinking about me when his eyes got intense. After all, he calmed down as soon as he noticed I was looking at him. Come on, Jenna, calm down. One little thing doesn't mean he's crazy. Let the guy have his own thoughts. 

She held up the ace of hearts, and I looked over her shoulder. Slowly, the mist obscured the face of the card. This image was much crisper, but the angles were still awkward and odd. This place was darker than the last two memories."No, no, please! I have no money to give!" a woman's voice pleaded. "Here, sir, the last one," a gruff man said. The image thumped heavily, then grew still. It seemed whoever held the