Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos-Theo 1 by R. L. Lafevers, Yoko Tanaka Read Free Book Online Page A

he stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled his left foot. "Well, I ain't all that hungry. But it'd be a sin to let it go to waste, wouldn't it?"
    "Oh, absolutely. Probably a mortal one."
    "Well in that case..." the urchin said. Then, with much eye-rolling to let me know he was doing me an enormous favor, he snatched the pasty and gobbled it up in two enormous bites.
    Which gave me a smashing idea. "I'll give you another pasty if you keep following the bloke after I'm gone and see where he goes," I offered.
    Again, he shuffled his feet and tried to look bored, but the effect was ruined when his stomach growled. "'Spose so. Since I got nuffin' better to do." He wiped his nose on his sleeve.
    "Right then. Here you go." I handed him another pasty, feeling back in charge now that a bargain had been struck and the situation dealt with.
    He stuffed the meat pie into his jacket. "When I finds out, should I come by yer museum?"
    "Oh. Er, no." I wasn't sure Flimp, the watchman, would let him in. Besides, however would I explain him? "But I'll be at Charing Cross Station again tomorrow. Around the same time. Could we meet then?"

    "See ye then," he agreed.
    I watched him slip off into the shadows between the buildings. Frankly, it felt good to have someone on my side for a bit. Even if it was only a pickpocket. At least
someone
was covering my back.
    I squared my shoulders and started walking down the street. I tried very hard not to think about being followed, but it was difficult. Doorways loomed like gaping maws, and the windows seemed to watch me as I passed. The streets were deserted, except for the old lamplighter who'd begun to light the lamps, which glowed feebly against the thick puddles of fog that descended upon the streets. The sludgy fog also did odd things to the sounds of the street, making the steady click of boot heels behind me all the more noticeable. I couldn't be sure, but it sounded as if they were drawing closer.
    Just as I was preparing to run the rest of the way back to the museum, I heard the rattle of a carriage. I glanced over my shoulder. I knew that brougham!
    I weighed my options: being followed through the streets of London by a menacing stranger or catching a lift with Grandmother Throckmorton. It shouldn't have been such a difficult choice, but then, you don't know my grandmother.

    I took a step toward the carriage, waving at the driver. It took him a moment or two to recognize me but then he pulled over. When the carriage had stopped, I rapped on the door. Inside, a curtain was yanked aside to reveal the arrogant beaked nose of my grandmother.
    She frowned at me, scrunching her mouth up tight as if she'd put too many lemons in her tea.
    I glanced over my shoulder. The footsteps had grown silent. Had my pursuer given up? Or was he waiting in a doorway somewhere just outside my line of vision? Would he follow Grandmother's brougham? Would Sticky Will follow
him
?
    The driver jumped down from his seat. "Hello, miss," he said as he opened the door for me.
    Grandmother poked her head out. "Well, hurry up then. You're letting all the cold air in. You can explain yourself once you're inside."
    I clambered in and perched myself on the edge of the seat opposite Grandmother Throckmorton. It was never a good idea to get too comfortable around her.
    She thumped her cane on the floor of the carriage. "I demand to know what you are doing out here unchaperoned."
    I squirmed on the seat, suddenly aware of how grubby I must look. "Father sent me round to pick up something for dinner."

    "Unattended?" She was well and truly shocked, as I knew she would be. "And just where is your governess?"
    She had left months ago. Bored out of her mind, she'd claimed. She had been hoping for tea parties and dancing lessons, not clattering around in an old museum.
    But if Grandmother Throckmorton knew that, she'd find me a new governess by luncheon tomorrow. "She, um, went to visit a sick relative," I said.
    Grandmother peered