Free Lye Street by Alan Campbell, Dave McKean Page B

for a stool, a tin basin, and a white dresser with an oval mirror.
    She filled the basin with hot water and washed the angel's hair.
    Carnival endured Ruby's ministrations with closed eyes and a thumping heart. She crouched over the basin, trembling each time the old lady's fingers touched her scalp, shivering when warm water sluiced over her neck.
    Ruby hummed as she worked, and made occasional comments: "That's much better, dear," and, "You have such lovely hair under all that grime."
    There was a lot of grime. The witch changed the water three times before she was satisfied.
    Next the old lady took a brush from her dresser and teased the knots from the angel's wet hair. This took some time, for there were a lot of knots. After she had finished, she stepped back to admire her handiwork.
    "That will do, I think. Now let's see about those scars."
    Carnival's fear and confusion returned. Hair dripping, she backed away towards the door.
    Ruby gave her a tut-tut of disapproval. "If only your poor mother could see what a mess you've made of your pretty face," she said primly. "Still, a little liquid smoke and make-up conceals all manner of sins."
    Carnival swallowed. "You knew her?" she said in a cracked voice.
    "Your mother, dear, was my sister, which makes you my niece and me your aunt."
    Carnival didn't know what to say. Her thoughts spun. She had family among these mortals, among those she preyed upon? A wave of distress rose within her. It was a lie. It had to be a lie. The scrawled messages came back to her.

    LYE STREET. LIE STREET.

    "You look just as shocked every time I tell you," said Ruby. "And why should you be? Why shouldn't your mother be a mortal woman? Mortal women bear the temple archons, after all."
    "And my father?"
    Ruby glanced away. "Well..." she said. "Let's not concern ourselves with him right now. All in good time, dear." She opened a dresser drawer and took out a number of small pots, jars and colourful sticks, fussing over them nervously. "Clean hair is all very well, but if you're going to look like a proper noblewoman's daughter, I'll have to work a miracle. Sit down, for goodness' sake."
    She chose a pale powder which she said was made from Hollowhill lead, wood ashes, ox fat, and a handful of secret ingredients. She applied it to the scars on Carnival's face and arms with a small pad. And Carnival allowed her to. All manner of strange feelings tumbled through the angel's heart, but she sat quietly on the stool and let the witch work her miracle.
    "Now, a little red for your lips," said Ruby. "Do try not to lick it; it's made from ox blood." She smeared the stuff all over Carnival's lips.
    Carnival waited while Ruby applied further powders, fragrant talcum and scents. She permitted the old lady to daub her eyelids with shades of umber, then trim her nails with small silver scissors and paint them deep red.
    Finally the witch stepped back again. She studied Carnival for long moment, and then smiled. "You look almost human. Well... not human, of course; but, my goodness what a difference a little face paint and eye shadow makes. I think we're seeing the real you at last. No, no, stay where you are. Don't get up and look in the mirror just yet. I have one last gift for you. My master stroke."
    She hurried back into the study.
    Carnival sat alone on her stool, waiting. She looked at her hands and wrists, so pale and unmarred, the cracked nails hidden under a shiny red veneer, the scars disguised by powder. She wondered about the human mother she could not remember. Did she resemble that woman? Who would she see when she looked in the mirror? Her heart trembled with nervous excitement.
    She heard a click.
    A heavy metal grate crashed down over the door. It must have been hidden inside the walls of the townhouse. Now it blocked her escape from the room. Carnival leapt from her stool. She grabbed the bars and heaved at them. They would not shift. She turned sideways, tried to squeeze between two bars, but