Eden's Escape

by M. Tara Crowl

  “Who’s that woman staring at us?” Sylvana asked as they exited the building.

  “Who knows?” Brightly dismissed.

  “Heloise, do you recognize her?”

  Eden frowned. Heloise was the name of a genie alum, but in the course guide, her portrait was of a woman with wispy brown hair, a round face, and a bashful expression. She must have done a total overhaul for her thousandth wish.

  Outside, Sylvana indicated a limousine waiting at the curb. “Our ride,” she said, opening the back door.

  Thinking fast, Eden jumped in ahead of the others, and slid all the way down the long leather seat. Brightly struggled to get in; the burn really seemed to be hurting him. Once he made it inside, he scooted all the way down, too. Eden had to slide off the seat and sit on the floor of the limo.

  “Back to headquarters,” Sylvana said to the driver. She reached up and slammed the divider shut, then settled back into her seat next to Brightly.

  Eden’s skin tingled with excitement. They were going to Electra!

  Hopefully the Loyals wouldn’t be annoyed that the plan had changed. But if they were, it wouldn’t last once she came back with the kind of valuable information she expected to find.

  It was too bad she didn’t have a way to communicate with them. She didn’t know how long she was going to be gone, and the Loyals would have to wait at Brightly Tech with no information about where she was. But Eden was sure that at some point Brightly would return to his office, and she could hitch a ride with him.

  She turned her attention to the back of the limo. Sylvana was using a mirror to reapply her lipstick. She snapped her compact closed and smiled beguilingly at Brightly.

  “David,” she said, “I can’t wait for you to see Electra.”

  The limo pulled up to a three-story building with columns and a white stone exterior.

  “Here we are!” Sylvana announced.

  They entered through a large glass door, opened for them by a suited doorman, into a high-ceilinged entryway with spotless white floors. In the middle stood a large marble sculpture of a woman in a one-shouldered robe, reaching one hand elegantly toward the sky. Eden couldn’t help noticing how much she resembled an Electric alum named Kingsley.

  Through the entryway was a desk where inquiring potential buyers spoke to receptionists. As they entered, the appearance of Sylvana and Heloise with Brightly caused a shift in the atmosphere. The receptionists sat up straighter and adjusted their chic eyeglasses. Guards stationed in discreet positions gave them respectful nods.

  Behind reception was an open area with a grand staircase on each side. Standing in the middle, you could look up and see the second and third floors. Everything was white with gold accents: white marble floors, white walls, gold banisters, a textured gold ceiling. Gold-plated signs informed visitors that the first floor featured a viewing of Paris Jewels, and on the second was twentieth-century Asian art. Several galleries were connected to the room, and well-dressed Parisians milled about.

  “Tonight, everything you see on this floor will be sold at the auction.” Sylvana’s heels clicked on the floor as she led Brightly into a gallery to the right. Heloise walked off in the opposite direction.

  Eden was glad Sylvana couldn’t see the way she was gaping. She’d thought Electra was only called an auction house so it could function as a front for Sylvana’s lamp hunt. She hadn’t realized the company actually purchased art or ran sales. Au contraire, she realized: Electra was a thriving operation.

  Glass cases as high as Eden’s chest displayed absurdly exquisite jewelry. Keeping up with Sylvana and Brightly, she peered into one with a long pearl necklace with a diamond clasp. Along with the sale date was an estimate of the price it would be sold for: three to four hundred thousand euros.

  “Originally that was owned by Princess Marie Leszczynska,” Sylvana told Brightly. “She married Louis XV.”

  “Exquisite,” Brightly murmured. “How did y’all get your hands on it?”

  “My friend Valentina sold it to us. When Princess Marie died, her son inherited it—and gave it to my friend’s…” She cocked her head. “Well, one of her ancestors. It’s been in Valentina’s family for the past two hundred years.”

  It was a good thing no one could hear her, because Eden burst out laughing. Valentina was a genie alum who’d left the lamp in AD 543. She certainly didn’t have any ancestors on Earth. The person the pearl necklace had been given to two hundred years ago must have been her.

  Brightly admired it. “Why’s she sellin’ it?”

  Sylvana shrugged. “It’s good to keep the market moving. There are always more beautiful things.” She smiled at a large man with a bushy beard as he walked past. “Ça va, monsieur?”

  They moved on to the next display, a ruby ring with a diamond-covered band. The card identified it as being from the collection of Marie Antoinette. “This is one of my favorite pieces,” Sylvana mused. “It reminds me of the old days in centuries past. Paris used to be so much more elegant.”

  “I’d have to say I wouldn’t know,” Brightly said.

  “Well, naturally. But, you know, that’s what I imagine,” Sylvana said, beaming a thousand-watt smile as she tossed her hair. “Don’t you think?”

  They looked at a sapphire-and-emerald brooch before moving on to the next gallery. “It’s going to be a good sale tonight,” Sylvana said. “I hope you’ll agree to attend, and sit by my side.”

  “By your side?” Brightly’s voice went up an octave.

  “Yes.” Sylvana caressed his arm. “Would you be my date for the evening?”

  A goofy grin spread across Brightly’s face. “I’d be honored!”

  Eden shook her head, repulsed.

  Heloise was in the next gallery they entered. She was speaking in a hushed voice to a handsome dark-skinned man as he inspected an ornately designed diamond bracelet.

  “Can you excuse me for one moment?” Sylvana left Brightly looking at a pair of yellow diamond earrings, and nodded to Heloise to step aside with her. Eden followed so she could hear their conversation.

  “Is everything ready for tonight?” Sylvana asked Heloise.

  “Yes.”

  “Where have we placed Mr. Yurislav and his guests?”

  “In the last skybox.”

  “Wonderful. Make sure their champagne is well chilled. He is interested in the bracelet that belonged to Maria Theresa.”

  “He may have to contend with Mr. Modi.” Heloise nodded toward the man she’d been speaking to, who was still eying the same display.

  “I’d love to break two hundred thousand euros on that.”

  “I’d say that’s likely.”

  “Where is Madame Renegal going to be seated?”

  “Third row middle.”

  “Good.”

  “And Monsieur Brightly?” Heloise asked. “Where will he sit?”

  “Between you and me.” Sylvana’s eyes flashed.

  “Très bien.” Heloise’s pouty lips curled up in what Eden supposed was a smile. “Seems like everything’s moving along?”

  “I think it’s safe to say he’s ours.” Sylvana looked over at Brightly, who stood over a glass case across the gallery. She motioned that she’d be back in a moment, and he gave her a dopey grin. She turned back to Heloise and cringed. “I’m going to speed things along,” she whispered. “I’ll take him to lunch and see what I can learn.”

  “Sylvana,” Heloise said admiringly, “you’re very good at what you do.”

  “What can I say?” Sylvana smirked. “Au revoir.” She and Heloise kissed each other on both cheeks.

  Eden thought she might gag. All three of them were despicable. But it was clear that Sylvana was up to something—and Eden had a front-row seat to the action.

  Sylvana approached Brightly and touched his arm. “Shall we move along? I’ve taken the liberty of making us a lunch reservation.”

  “Are you familiar with Avenue Montaigne?” Sylvana asked Brightly as they moved dow
n the gray stone sidewalk. Brightly limped along slowly, leaning on his cane. Unbeknownst to them, Eden was following closely behind.

  “To tell you the truth, I don’t get out much,” said Brightly. “Most of the time, I’m stuck in the office.”

  “But that’s tragic! You’re in Paris!” For once, Eden had to agree with Sylvana. Living in this city and spending your days in that office seemed like a waste. “Let me introduce you to my favorite street in the city.”

  It was a nice street. It was lined with rows of trees, with expensive-looking retail stores behind them. Eden recognized some of the brand names from her stroll up Fifth Avenue the first day she’d arrived in New York.

  They reached a tan building with seven stories of windows. Beneath each window was a small round balcony adorned with a red geranium plant climbing over its black iron fence.

  “Here we are,” Sylvana said, approaching the door. Above it were the words GRAND HOTEL PARIS in gold. Eden followed, taking the space behind Brightly’s in the revolving door.

  Inside, the white marble floor was patterned with inlaid designs in gold and soft blue. In the center was a dramatic display of white and red flowers on blocks of white marble that stood taller than Eden. To the left and right were long wooden concierge desks.

  Eden looked at it all in awe. Though she didn’t care much for this over-the-top luxurious style, she couldn’t help being impressed.

  “This is my favorite hotel in the city,” Sylvana explained as she led the way through the lobby, nodding to the hotel employees. Through the entryway was a hallway with very large paintings that looked like they should be hanging in museums. As they crossed it, a familiar dark-haired woman rushed toward them excitedly.

  “Sylvana!” Violet said as she approached.

  “Violet,” Sylvana said with disdain. “Can’t you see I’m with a guest?”

  Violet’s happy expression faded. “Sorry,” she said.

  Eden rolled her eyes. It was pathetic how Violet seemed to live for Sylvana’s approval.

  “This is V,” Sylvana said flatly. “She works for Electra too.”

  “Bonjour.” Brightly looked disinterested.

  “V’s the kind of employee who’s so dependable, you forget she’s there,” Sylvana said. There was a cruel glint in her eyes. “Like a reliable old dog.”

  Brightly laughed. “I’ve got a few like that too.”

  Sylvana sighed pityingly at Violet. “Now, leave us be!” She tossed her hair behind her shoulder and strutted off with Brightly.

  Eden hung back for a moment. Violet looked like she was about to burst into tears—and for good reason. Why did she let Sylvana treat her that way?

  Violet hurried off in the direction of the restroom. As Eden watched her go, she felt a pang of pity for her.

  But she couldn’t be distracted. She rushed to catch up with Sylvana and Brightly, who were now in the restaurant in the courtyard.

  “All my employees from out of town stay at this hotel when they come to Paris,” Sylvana said as the maître d’ seated them at a table. “V and a few others are here for the auction.” Luckily there were four chairs, so Eden slid into one right between them.

  Sylvana and Brightly rattled off their orders to the waiter, who then left them alone.

  “David, I’m so glad we met this morning.” Sylvana batted her eyes. “It was so rude of me to show up at your office with no appointment—but when I found out you were in town, I just had to make sure you came to the showing.”

  “It’s been my pleasure.” Brightly sighed dramatically. “It’s helped take my mind off everything that’s going on.”

  Concern flooded Sylvana’s bright turquoise eyes. It might have looked genuine to most people, but Eden knew this charade.

  “Your daughter. I wanted to ask you about that. Are you okay?”

  Scorn flashed across Brightly’s face before he switched on a sad expression. He wasn’t nearly as good an actor as Sylvana.

  “I’m devastated,” he said. “Eden means everything to me.”

  Eden had to laugh. Even though his delivery was unconvincing, the very fact that those words had come out of his mouth was ridiculous.

  “I’m sure,” Sylvana said. “I can’t imagine how hard that must be.” She was playing along like a pro.

  The waiter brought over a few tiny plates of artfully styled appetizers. Greedily, Brightly snatched a few shells off a plate of escargot.

  “If you don’t mind me asking…how did it happen?” Sylvana nibbled delicately on a tart. “She was at home with you, and then when you woke up in the morning…she was gone?”

  “Pretty much,” Brightly answered, focusing his attention on the escargot.

  “Don’t you have security at your home here?”

  “Well, yes,” Brightly said. “Of course, it’s not as good as what we have in California, where we usually live.”

  Sylvana folded her hands and leaned forward. “Can I tell you something, Mr. Brightly?”

  Brightly met her eyes warily.

  “I’ve been looking for Eden too,” she said quietly. “For her, and for the lamp.”

  The blood drained from Brightly’s face. The words sent a chill through Eden too.

  The waiter appeared to serve their entrées: a steak, cooked rare, for Sylvana; and for Brightly, coq au vin: chicken cooked in wine, with mushrooms and onions.

  Sylvana picked up her fork and knife and cut a razor-thin slice off her fillet. The meat inside was nearly bloodred. She placed it in her mouth and closed her eyes in delight as she chewed.

  “What do you think of that, Mr. Brightly?” She smiled and patted her lips with her napkin.

  “I—I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” Brightly looked like he’d lost his appetite.

  Sylvana raised her eyebrows. “Really? You don’t know that Eden is a genie?”

  Brightly glanced around the restaurant nervously. But Sylvana went on.

  “You’re telling me you didn’t meet her when you rubbed an antique oil lamp?”

  “Shhh!” He eyed the other patrons to see if anyone had heard, but no one seemed to be paying attention.

  “Fine,” he whispered. “I rubbed the lamp.”

  “Aha! Now we’re getting somewhere.” Sylvana grinned and sliced off another piece of meat. “So, let me guess. You rubbed the lamp, and Eden the genie showed up and granted you three wishes. But you weren’t happy with the way she granted them, and you didn’t really get what you wanted. So now you’re trying to find her so you can have another chance.”

  Brightly shook his head slowly. “Not exactly.”

  Sylvana swallowed. You could see she’d been caught by surprise—something that probably didn’t happen often. “Well then, what?” she asked.

  Brightly leaned back in his chair. Now that his secret was out, he was beginning to look more comfortable. He picked up his silverware and started to cut his chicken.

  “Why should I tell you?” he asked.

  Sylvana’s eyes glowed. She licked her lips. “Because I could help you.”

  “Really?” he asked dubiously. “How?”

  “I know everything about the lamp. All its secrets.” She leaned forward. “If you can track down Eden, I can help you access the lamp’s power. Forget about three wishes—you and I could share unlimited wishes.”

  Ice-cold fear shot through Eden. She knew Sylvana was determined to obtain the lamp’s power, but the only way that could happen was if Eden removed her genie bracelet. In San Diego, Eden had been able to hold her off. But if Sylvana teamed up with Brightly, who had the world’s most advanced technology at his fingertips, things were sure to become more difficult.

  “I’m intrigued,” Brightly admitted, pushing his plate away.

  “I’m sure you are,” Sylvana purred. “You’re an intelligent man, Mr. Brightly.” She leaned forward. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

  He explained how he’d learned about the lamp from Regi
nald Clarke in Jamaica, then spent the past year trying to track it down. Once he got it, he said, he’d brought it to his lab here in Paris and rubbed it. And before he got around to making his wishes, Eden had escaped.

  He told part of the truth, but he left out a lot of details. For instance, he didn’t explain how he and his employees had performed medical tests on Eden. He also left out the part about the Veritas—as well as the fact that his scientist had placed a plasma shield around the lamp.

  “How did she escape?” Sylvana asked.

  “She used a laser to set fire to a bunch of oxygen tanks,” Brightly said. “And she burned my leg. That’s why I’m walkin’ with this stupid cane.” He scowled. “Then, while my staff were helping me and putting out the fire, she cut a hole in the wall and jumped. From nine stories up!”

  Nine stories up, Eden thought. So there was a level above where she’d been this morning. But how did you get there? The elevator only went to the eighth floor.

  Brightly shook his head. “I don’t know how she survived that.”

  “She’s immortal,” Sylvana said. “That’s how.” They both fell silent as the waiter arrived to collect their plates. Once he was gone, she asked: “So you didn’t make any wishes?”

  “No.”

  “And what about the lamp? I assume she took it with her?”

  “No, I still have the lamp.”

  Sylvana froze in disbelief. “You do?”

  “Yeah.” He sighed. “Doesn’t do me much good, though, without the genie. I tried makin’ a wish after she left, but it didn’t work.”

  “She has to be able to hear the wish,” Sylvana murmured. “But it doesn’t make sense that she was able to leave the lamp behind.”

  “Why not?”

  “Never mind.” Sylvana flashed him a winning smile. “Mr. Brightly, I want to help you. Together, we can make the lamp’s power our own.”

  “How?”

  “All we need are the genie and her lamp. So we’re halfway there—more than halfway, really, because I’m sure she’s still sneaking around Paris somewhere. In fact, I bet she’s closer than we’d guess.”

  Eden swallowed. Sylvana had no idea how right she was.