6:3 – Act 2
The silence after Dan stopped reading stretched like the fine thread of a spider’s web, elastic, glistening, a trap waiting for prey. Siobhan drew a steadying breath through her nostrils then leaned slightly towards Nona.
“Did it happen that way?”
A look of fear, quickly chased away by determination that had probably seen her rise through the ranks of dealers and thieves, crossed Nona’s face. Her nod was terse. “Yes.”
“Exactly like that?”
Dan fell back at Nona’s glare, making a gesture with his finger to Siobhan, back to himself, back to Siobhan. Siobhan nodded and repeated to Nona, “Exactly like it read in the story?”
“Close enough. Maybe a word or two different.”
Siobhan didn’t think to question Nona’s recall. Remembering information, recipes, and details was common stock in every alchemists’ mental toolbox. Siobhan slashed a glance to Dan. He fed it back to her, adding a slight shrug.
Hopefully he was thinking what she was; that they needed to contact Jake and Diana and ask questions regarding Diana’s family history and also ask Mal a few questions. The story of Jack and the Beanstalk had less obvious things to check than dead mother, stepsisters, and stepmother who used Cinderella as a drudge, but it was still worth getting a background for Mal.
Back to the matter at hand. Siobhan turned her attention back to Nona. “Can we see where she was taken?”
“You think she was taken?”
“Do you doubt?”
Nona’s gaze went inward. “No. She’s a good girl.”
“And the story.”
Nona nodded. “And the story.” The look she focused on Siobhan was ruthless, so much that Siobhan pulled back defensively. “Get my girl back.”
“It would be stupid of me to make promises to you that I may not be able to keep. What I can promise is that my group is dedicated to fixing this problem and we will not stop until we do so.”
“And if my girl doesn’t fall under the umbrella of your problem?”
Siobhan slanted a glance to the papers Dan held, then back to meet Nona’s stare with one of her own. “She does.”
Enter The Woods 