Page 33

‘Evženie told me the memories can return, but it takes a long time, even in mild cases. Apparently, recent events will come back to you first. I have a way to speed things up.’

‘Really?’

‘Well, I hope so. I used blue aster to stop the whiteout. Have you ever tried it before?’

‘No. I promised a friend I’d never touch ethereal drugs.’

‘The purple sort is dangerous, but blue and pink are not. In fact, they can be very useful.’ She pulled her bag into her lap. ‘Many people don’t understand what each one does.’

‘Go on.’

‘Purple aster distorts the dreamscape. We can’t usually change the way it looks, so this can be thrilling, but over time, it makes the user anxious and paranoid. White aster leaves a kind of dust on the dreamscape, which builds with prolonged use, burying memories, disturbing the spirit. That’s why they’re not just addictive, but harmful. It’s also why you’re so tired. Your spirit can’t reach a deep state of rest with all that dust in its sanctuary.’

‘What about pink and blue?’

‘They strengthen the silver cord, with different results. Pink seems to improve the connection between the spirit and the body, which is why it is often used as an aphrodisiac.’ She unzipped the bag. ‘And blue improves the connection between the spirit and the dreamscape. This makes you feel safe and grounded, and can serve to clarify recent memories.’

‘So you can use blue aster to counteract purple and white?’

‘To some extent.’ She handed me a small tin. ‘I didn’t want you to have to smoke, so I had the essence infused into patches. It should fortify your silver cord. If nothing else, you’ll sleep better.’

‘Thank you.’ I tucked the tin away. ‘I appreciate you looking into it.’

‘You’ve been a good friend to Maria,’ Verca said. ‘That makes you my friend as well.’

Now I had stopped moving, I could no longer hold off the exhaustion. When Maria returned, I wrapped myself in the blanket, and the three of us lay close together. Within a minute, I was out cold.

I woke with a sudden and inexplicable sense of danger. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see Harald, his face illuminated by the green light from his watch, aiming a pistol at my face.

‘Come with me,’ Harald said. ‘If you please, Underqueen.’

I had never been so angry to be right. I reined in my spirit, tasting blood. ‘Who are you?’

‘Someone whose instructions you must follow,’ he said. I sat up. ‘Don’t try to use your spirit, or Nina and Veronika will die. I will shout the order before you have time to stop my tongue.’

Maria and Verca were a wall away. They must have got up in the night and been ambushed in the other room, or the disturbance would have woken me. Harald took a step back, levelling the pistol at my head.

‘Please,’ he said, ‘put your jacket and boots on. And keep your hands where I can see them.’

My legs hurt from the climb. Once I had done as he said, he walked me at gunpoint to the next room, where six muscular strangers, all wearing ski masks, had restrained Verca and Maria.

‘What the hell is this?’ Maria said through gritted teeth. ‘Harald?’

‘I am taking Paige.’

‘Over my dead body.’

‘Stay calm, please, Nina. Nobody needs to get hurt.’ Harald checked his watch. ‘I’m sorry you and Veronika had to be involved, but now you are here, I may as well take you all to Scion. I doubt they will refuse two agents from a hostile organisation.’

I lifted my chin. ‘You work for Scion, then?’

‘In a manner of speaking. I’ve been searching for you since I lost track of Eléonore.’

It took a moment to sink in.

‘Cordier,’ I managed. ‘You know her?’

‘Not as well as I thought.’ Harald kept his pistol trained on my face. ‘I am not here to answer questions, Paige. All you need to know is that your escapade is over.’