The Knaveheart's Curse by Adele Griffin Read Free Book Online Page A

said Carlyle as he swirled the cloak off the dummy. “It took two yards of cloth and four hours of effort. But your sneakers look shabby for this cape. I suggest a trip to the Elcris Shoe Emporium.”

“No, thanks,” said Maddy. Yick, those Elcrises were everywhere.

Carlyle flung the cape over Maddy’s shoulders.

As the fabric settled in a purple velvet column from Maddy’s neck to feet, a long-lost sensation rippled through her. Yes, this was how she was supposed to feel. When the Livingstones had fled to the New World, they’d left too much of their familiar culture behind. Maddy loved her modern, New World comforts, but the cape whisked her back down the dim halls of Old World memories, reminding her of what she’d once been.

Powerful and predatory.

“Perfect,” she said, hopping off the pedestal and fishing out her von Krik necklace for payment.

“Ahh!” Carlyle reached out and grasped it. “Exquisite!”

Maddy frowned. Perhaps it was the way the beads winked at her, as if they knew a secret, but something didn’t feel right about relinquishing so rare a treasure.

Was it foolish to give up the only prize from the ashes of pureblood vampire Nicola von Krik?

She had taken the necklace because it was pretty and because it was vampire loot.

But what if it meant something more?

What if it could help her slay Knave Nine?

Carlyle seemed to sense Maddy’s hesitation. His hand swept the necklace into the sewing table’s drawer, which he shut with a bang.

“Fun, fun, but now all’s done.” His fingers cinched Maddy’s arm as he escorted her from his shop. “You’re a funny little elf, but don’t come back unless I invite you,” he said, slamming the door.

Standing outside the tailor’s shop, Maddy’s heart raced with doubts.

“Here you go.” A man, striding past, had stopped and dropped something into the glass of water that Maddy was still holding since Carlyle had rushed her out so quick.

“What the . . . ?” She held up the glass. A quarter rested on its bottom.

Then she got it. She’d been standing on the curb so silently, in her hat, walking cane, cape, and sunglasses, that the man had thought she was a blind person. He had mistaken her drinking glass for a change cup.

Intriguing. Maddy smiled as she fished out and pocketed her quarter.
     

 

10
     

    BLIND GIRL’S BLUFF
    A few days later, Maddy slid into the booth at the Candlewick Café, where Lexie was sharing a Garden of Diva smoothie plus bee pollen boost with her best friend, Pete.

From the starry brightness in Lexie’s eye and the hang of Pete’s head, Maddy suspected it was a kiss-and-make-up smoothie. Over this summer, Lexie and Pete had been in a lot more fights and make-ups than usual.

Sometimes Maddy thought their quarrels had to do with the fact that recently Pete had become a hottie. And hotness, as everyone knows, tends to bring out a lot of emotions.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“You haven’t missed anything. Zelda’s just about to go on.” Lexie pointed to the back of the restaurant, where a high stool and stand-up microphone had been placed.

“I’m surprised you’re here at all, Madness. I didn’t think you were into acoustic.” Pete yawned and stretched. Now that she knew Pete was a werewolf, it made sense to Maddy why—when the moon was on the wane—he got tired so easy.

“Wake up, Pete. It’s only lunchtime.” Maddy snapped her fingers in front of his face. He was only here because Lex had dragged him. Truthfully, Maddy wasn’t at the Candlewick to listen to guitar music, either. She had bigger fish to fry.

All week, Maddy had been making tons of money from her great new scheme—pretending to be a blind beggar. Maybe she’d even earned enough to buy back the von Krik necklace from Carlyle.

Maddy knew the Candlewick was risky territory. For one thing, it was too close to home, and Maddy also had a hunch her parents wouldn’t approve of her scheme. But now that she was here, in the