Page 140

‘I can put an end to your wondering, dear sister.’ Carter smiled. ‘You are a sibyl, like me.’

Verca stared at her.

On the Meritshad classified sibyls as a hypothetical type of fury, the sixth order. In later editions, Jaxon had expanded on the idea, claiming sibyls would be able to enter prophetic trances, like their namesakes in the ancient world. Carter had made accurate predictions on her show. She had also been able to defend herself against the Rephs.

For years, I had thought I would never meet a sibyl in the flesh. As it turned out, I already had, more than once. If Verca was a sibyl, so were Renelde and Danica.

‘I had no idea.’ Verca released a long breath. ‘I was … starting to think I was alone.’

‘No one is alone.’ Carter took her by the hands. ‘You already have five sisters here, Veronika. I am both sibyl and berserker,’ she added, ‘but my sibyl blood seems to run thicker.’

‘Who are you?’

‘Antoinette Carter. I’m a founding member of the Council of Kassandra, and head of the Sibylline House,’ she said. ‘We’ve been hoping the remaining sibyls will eventually find their way to the Roman Forum. Lo and behold, the æther has brought you to our doorstep.’

Verca continued to stare at her, then remembered me with a start.

‘I would like to hear more,’ she said, ‘but I want my friend to stay.’

‘Veronika, I’m sure this must be confusing, but there is a good reason we don’t want amaurotics seeing the Forum just yet. I’d be happy to tell you, but I must do it in private.’

‘My friend knows about voyants, even if she is amaurotic. I’m certain she won’t—’

‘Your new sibyl is a poor liar, Antoinette. Let us hope she tells more enlightening truths.’ Jaxon stepped towards me. ‘This woman is no amaurotic. She’s taken alysoplasm.’

It was my turn to stare. Verca glanced at me, uncertainty leaping into her eyes.

‘She is also wearing a dissimulator, indicating a link to the Domino Programme. Clearly this intruder is more than she appears.’ Jaxon dealt me a cold smile. ‘Come, my dear. Do unmask yourself.’

This was a dilemma. For all I knew, this entire Forum Project might be another grand attempt for Jaxon to trap and sell voyants. I didn’t want to sacrifice my anonymity, but I couldn’t leave Verca with him.

A surge of defiance went through me. I reached for my hairline and started to peel off my dissimulator. Carter recoiled from the sight of me shedding my face. Once it had detached, I raised my chin.

‘Jaxon,’ I said. ‘It’s been a while.’

His smile widened.

‘Black Moth,’ he said, dipping his head in mock deference. ‘What an inconceivable pleasure to see you.’

‘Paige Mahoney.’ Carter raised her thin eyebrows. ‘You’re alive. And in Rome, of all places.’

‘I’ve heard that all roads lead here,’ I said.

‘For voyants, we certainly hope so.’ She grasped my shoulder. ‘I’ve hoped to make your acquaintance for a long time, Paige. I’m glad to meet a fellow survivor of the Imbolc Massacre. Éire go brách.’

‘Éire go brách.’ I returned her respectful nod. ‘How did you know I survived Dublin?’

‘Jaxon told me.’

My attention flicked to him, then back to Carter. Despite her delicate build and papery hands, her grip was strong.

In London, her long hair had been crimson, worn loose as she fought off multiple Rephs. Now it was the brown of strong tea and arranged in a plaited crown, with a few wisps swirling down to frame her face, which had tanned and freckled since I had last seen her. She wore a pressed coral shirt and white linen trousers, belted with a length of braided leather. A small gold pendant shone between her prominent collarbones.

It was strange to be this close to someone who had shared the worst experience of my life. I had been six years old during the Imbolc Massacre, while Carter had been a celebrity in her early forties, but we had only been a few streets from each other when the soldiers opened fire.

‘We feared you had died in the airstrikes on Paris,’ Carter said, ‘but held out hope, given the bounty on your head.’ She let go of my shoulder. ‘You can’t possibly have known Jaxon and I were here. I presume you came to Rome for some other reason, Paige.’

‘I’m here on behalf of the Domino Programme,’ I said. ‘I assume you know about it.’