A P

the Ward estat

on was silent, its inhabitants l

tasteless and odorless, which I had spent the afternoon brewing. The ingredients were simple: a specific type of mushroom I'd found in the forest, crushe

n to the central tank. Within an hour, every tap, every water dispenser, every coffee machine in the manor would be d

ards took their water breaks. One by one, they slumped ov

went t

n's room. Her door was locked, but the simple tumbler

her walk-in closet. It was a temple of designer clothes and handbags. I knew Jaclyn. S

he inner pocket of a ridiculously expensive purse. I pocketed them. But that

lf of the most valuable pieces, leaving the cheaper items behind.

master suite. Arthu

l wealth, would be here. The novel had mentioned a hidden safe. I had spent the d

am of the hidden door. It opened with a faint click. Beyo

lt, placing my ear against the cold steel. I didn't have my old tools, so I'd improvised. I held a thin piece of metal against the dial, feeling for

isfying thud of the last tumbl

velvet trays of jewelry. And there, tossed in a corner

he sight of it, so carelessly discarded, made my blo

n to empty

icates. This needed to look like a thief who was in a hurry, one who took what was easy to carry and sell. I left just enough to ensure they'd suspect each other-after all, how could an outsider

eft, I stood over their bed. They slept soundly, oblivious. It would have been so e

inside the ventilation shaft, hidden behind

d nausea washed over me. I gripped the edge of the table, my knuc

s a familiar sensation, one I'd di

n in this body for nearly two weeks. The ori

mach, the one that was

ing, world-altering

I'm pr