Clockwork Phantom

Chapter 3-2

“What in the blazes is that?” Johann asked. He peeked around the curtain at the raven, which turned its head, its beak slightly open.

“I told you to keep the curtains closed,” Edward grumbled. He’d taunted Johann about his appearance, but the scientist’s hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes told Johann he was slipping into a worrisome state. Johann had never seen him this far gone, not even when he was finishing his degree or during the incident that drove him to a life of predictability at the cost of grave limitations.

Johann slid the curtain along the rod, and the demonic bird seemed to fix on the sound. It opened its beak wider, and smoke emerged.

“It breathes fire?” Johann asked.

“No, it is obviously some sort of steam-driven automaton,” Edward said with a look that expressed his low opinion of those who might believe in fire-breathing birds.

“Obviously. Why are we hiding from it?”

Another exasperated glance. “Because you don’t know what its makers have instructed it to do in response to certain stimuli.”

The furnace of anxiety that always had active coals flared to life in Johann’s gut. “Is it the Clockwork Guild?”

Is this it? My death at the hands, er, beak of a red-eyed fake raven?

“Doubtful. They don’t use steam in their works, at least not from what I’ve been able to ascertain.”

“Then who?”

“If I knew that, I’d know what to do beyond hide from it.”

The bird opened its mouth wider, and Edward squinted at it. Then he pushed his side of the curtain to the center.

“Close yours as well! How could we be so stupid?”

“What do you mean?” Johann complied.

“The light reflected off a lens in the back of the bird’s throat. I think it had some sort of camera in it, and it was trying to get a picture of what I’ve been working on. I hope we shut the curtains before it got a good image.”

“Of your devices or of us,” Johann muttered. “If the Guild gets a good look at my photograph, someone will recognize me.”

Now the only light in the room came from the aether device. With its illumination, Edward’s features were softened, and his physical flaws smoothed, and Johann couldn’t help but imagine how it would affect theatre productions.

“If you can get the theatre lighting working with this, you will be doing all the actors and especially the actresses a favor.” He recalled seeing Corinne in the light of day come morning. Without her cosmetics, she was not the beauty she appeared on stage, and he wondered just how much she had to put on her face before treading the boards.

“Perhaps, but one never knows.”

“What do you mean?”

Edward shook his head. “Nothing. Go now. I need to continue working on other things. When O’Connell gets back, would you send him up?”

“Right.” Johann found himself in the hallway. He scratched at his beard—damn itchy thing—and tried not to feel piqued. He’d never shown much interest in his friend’s experiments before, but he was honestly curious beyond the pressure for the aether lighting system to be working soon. Edward’s behavior had been stranger than usual too.

What is going on with everyone, and who is behind the raven? Surely it didn’t have enough time for a clear picture of me.

He shook his head, but his anxiety lodged in his brain. Now he would have to pick up his violin or find some other distraction before he’d be able to sleep that night.

The violin it is, then. I’ve had enough of neurotic people—male and female—for one day.

But part of him hoped Marie would poke her head in on his practicing.