Page 16 of The Dark Mirror (The Bone Season #5)

16

SIREN

Terebell asked us to leave after that. Arcturus had done his part. Regardless of what Errai and Lesath believed, she knew as well as I did that he needed rest. I walked out with Nick and Maria, but soon found myself striding into the downpour, my only thought to get back to my room.

Nick reached me first. He almost took hold of my arm, stopping himself when I tensed.

‘Paige,’ he said. ‘Please, wait a moment.’

‘Just leave it,’ I said thickly. ‘I need to be alone, Nick.’

‘I respect that, but let us get you back to Domino first. I can’t let you end up somewhere you don’t want to be.’ When I slowed down, he released his breath. ‘Thank you.’

Rain was beading on my lashes, my nose. For once, I was too numb to feel it. While I stood unmoving, Nick opened his umbrella, right as Maria caught up. Seeing my face, hers softened.

‘Oh, sweet.’

Nick laid a gentle hand between my shoulders. I let it rest there as I trembled. ‘They did torture him.’ I could barely get the words out. ‘I knew it, I knew they would, but I hoped—’

My voice cracked away.

‘I’ll call Noemi,’ Maria murmured to Nick. ‘She can take us back.’

‘No. I want to go for a walk,’ I forced out. ‘Please, both of you. I can handle myself.’

‘You can handle yourself in Scion. I’m not leaving you in a city you don’t know. Not like this,’ Nick said. ‘Paige, reverse our situations. Would you leave me in this state?’

I looked up. When I saw the concern on both their faces, I had to shake my head. Nick held me to his side, and Maria linked his other arm, so we could all fit under the umbrella.

They guided me back to Cannaregio. Before long, I was cold in my jacket, glad I had them at my side, and grateful that I hadn’t run off on my own into the maze, even if I still wanted to be alone. When we reached the foyer of the Palazzo della Notte, Nick turned to me.

‘We’ll give you space now,’ he said, ‘but will you come and see me for that check-up tomorrow?’

‘Yes.’

‘All right. I’ll be in the medical room until noon.’

‘Sleep well,’ Maria said, her forehead crinkling. ‘Let us know if you want to talk.’

With a stiff nod, I went up the grand staircase. In my bathroom, I gripped the edges of the sink, tears running down my face again.

I went over every word Arcturus had said. Each time he had met or avoided my gaze. He hadn’t ignored me, but he was tying off the cord. I didn’t know what that meant, and I couldn’t find out without talking to him.

Something had changed in him since Paris. Even from a brief reunion, I could see it. He had already been tortured in Oxford. I couldn’t imagine returning to my dark room a second time.

When I thought of Cade, my grip tightened.

Another dreamwalker. Jaxon had always thought I was the only one.

I had been na?ve to believe his flattery. Now a dangerous opponent had reared his head, and I was unprepared. Cade was stronger, he was ruthless, and he was on the other side.

He must have been laughing behind my back when my gift was discovered in Oxford. I had tried my best to conceal my abilities, but Nashira had baited them out of me, while Cade had maintained his self-control, passing both tests without revealing his skills in possession. Whoever he was and whatever he was doing, he knew how to play a very long game.

I had never fully trusted him – not in Oxford, nor in Paris. He had unnerved me enough that I had shut him out of our plans for the rebellion. Yet later, I had flung that caution to the wind, allowing myself to be hauled into the H?tel Garuche on nothing but his word that he could get me out. Now I saw the madness of that choice, and why it had shaken Arcturus. I had put myself at the mercy of a stranger.

I thought back to the masquerade – my last memory, blurred at the edges. Cade had danced with me as if nothing was wrong, days after shattering my life with his deception.

Dreamwalking was a beautiful name for a brutal ability. It could render a person helpless in their own body. Cade had killed someone while inhabiting the Norwegian politician, Helen Githmark. Now she would be sentenced to life for a crime she would not remember committing. A crime he had committed in her skin.

If Cade had no limits, no moral compass, then he might be the single greatest threat the rebellion had ever faced, more dangerous than Ménard or Vance.

And I might be the only one in the world who could stop him.

I had the range to sense him and the means to be his match, in theory. To do that, I would have to fully inhabit Black Moth, who had killed a man by cutting his throat. The day Cade possessed Arcturus, he had tainted my gift; I was already stained by it. I could fight dirty to settle this score.

A heavy fog rolled into Venice from the Adriatic Sea. By six in the morning, I was sitting in an armchair by the window, watching the streetlamps glow through a silver veil. I had forgotten to put on an aster patch before I slept, and felt as if the mist had reached into my skull.

Arcturus might be waking up soon. I had never wanted so much to be with him, and never been so worried about seeing him again.

In Paris, we had come so close to overcoming all the barriers that had stopped us from committing to each other. The reserve, the mistrust, the uncertainty – all of it had faded there. He and I had made ourselves a bubble in that house, and it had burst, leaving us both vulnerable. His armour would be thicker now than it had ever been.

I went back to bed for a while longer. I had battled the exhaustion with the stimulant in Naples, and now the white aster was taking revenge. By the time I found the will to get up, it was almost ten.

The fog reminded me of Paris. I could dress more like myself in the cold, and that small comfort gave me fresh determination. I tucked a black turtleneck into belted woollen trousers.

Despite the red notice and the bounty, which must be there as a precaution, Nashira and Cade must really think I was dead. That meant I could get the jump on them. I would punish them for making a fool of me. I would make sure they never touched Arcturus again.

The grand fireplace in the bar had been lit, and a buffet had been set up for breakfast. If I was going to stand a chance against Cade, I had to keep my strength up. I piled my plate high before I took a seat at the table closest to the flames.

Maria came up with a plate of her own. ‘Do you want to be alone, Paige?’

‘You’re grand,’ I said.

‘I won’t ask how you’re feeling.’ She sat down. ‘Did you sleep?’

‘Not much.’

‘I did some tossing and turning myself. Deathwatch,’ she sighed. ‘At least Senshield sounded reassuring.’ She picked up a knife. ‘Warden did well. I wouldn’t have been that composed.’

‘He’s keeping a stiff upper lip for the Ranthen. You saw how they are.’

‘Errai is a nasty piece of work, isn’t he?’

‘Ignore him. He’s just uptight.’ I pushed my breakfast around my plate. ‘I should have realised Cade was a dreamwalker. There must have been signs.’

‘Maybe you forgot them.’ Maria dabbed chocolate spread on a pancake. ‘How are you feeling about not being the only one?’

‘I’m still digesting it.’

‘Tell me a little more about your nemesis. I’ve always wanted a nemesis,’ she added thoughtfully. ‘I suppose it should be Hildred Vance.’

‘Cade is from Brittany. He was in Oxford as a spy for Ménard,’ I said. ‘I didn’t know that when I met him, but I did get the sense that he was up to something.’ I shook my head. ‘He knew Nashira wanted to kill me for my gift. He was in the audience when she tried.’

‘Did he help you with the rebellion?’

‘No, but he didn’t hinder us, either. When he had a chance to betray us, he didn’t take it.’

‘And yet he does appear to be working for Nashira, despite knowing how badly she wants to be a dreamwalker.’ Her brow knitted. ‘A man with a dangerous ability and no apparent fear, willing to risk his own life to further her cause. This may be a problem, Paige.’

‘I’m going to stop him.’

‘You need your memories back first. Cordier could still be out there, and she’s dangerous. I know you don’t want to push Warden, but—’

‘He isn’t ready.’

‘You haven’t asked him.’

‘I don’t need to. I know.’ I stirred my coffee. ‘And what I’d be asking him isn’t … a small thing. He’d need to create a shared dream, to see exactly what I saw. It’s intimate.’

‘But you want to be intimate with him again, don’t you?’

I glanced over my shoulder, as if Terebell could be listening.

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘but I believed in his betrayal. I didn’t mount a second rescue attempt, even though I had the forces. I’d understand if he was hurt.’

‘I don’t know Warden especially well, but he doesn’t strike me as the sort of man who sulks. Some light brooding over a glass of wine, perhaps, but I’m sure he won’t hold any of it against you. You two just need to have a frank conversation, and not leave it too long.’ She waved her knife at me. ‘Now, eat your breakfast and stop overthinking, Underqueen.’

‘Fine.’

I finished my fruit and yoghurt. Ducos appeared a minute later, a thick folder balanced on one hip.

‘You know,’ I said to her, ‘I’m starting to suspect you’ve got a tracking unit in me, too.’

‘I assumed you would be hungry. I’m here to remind you about your debriefing,’ Ducos said. ‘See you upstairs at half past two. We’ll be in the Dogaressa Room.’ She considered me. ‘You were right about Capri, as you were about Versailles. Pivot is impressed.’

Before I could respond, she walked on.

‘I can’t work out if she likes you,’ Maria remarked.

‘She claims she does,’ I said.

‘You need to tell Command about the other dreamwalker. Now you’re an agent again, you can use their supplies and connections to track him down.’ She took a bite of pancake. ‘Ducos knows the Ranthen are in Venice, by the way. Pivot might well ask you to arrange a meeting.’

‘Why does everyone think I’m their secretary?’

‘Because you’re the resident expert in Rephs, sweet. You have a good idea of how to handle them.’

‘If I could handle Terebell, she’d like me a lot more than she does.’ I stood. ‘I’d better let Nick have a look at these bruises. See you and Ver?a for dinner?’

‘Ver?a has gone to see her family in Trieste, but I’ll be there,’ Maria said. ‘In the meantime, I’d better keep resting the arm. I want to help you beat the stuffing out of Cadoc Fitzours.’

‘I appreciate the enthusiasm.’

Leaving her to eat, I went to the coffee machine and filled two cups, which I carried to the medical room. Nick looked up from a screen.

‘I thought I’d bring coffee,’ I said.

‘Thank you. I need it.’ He took the cup I offered. ‘How are you feeling today?’

‘The same, with fewer tears.’ I shook my head. ‘I’m sure I never used to cry this much.’

‘Paige, you’ve been through so much over the last year. It was going to get on top of you at some point. Besides, sometimes it’s good to let it all out.’ His face softened. ‘You didn’t get a chance to speak to Warden by yourself. Why don’t you walk back and check on him?’

‘I’ll wait until tomorrow.’

‘You’re avoiding him.’

‘No. I’m giving him space,’ I said. ‘He looked like he was ready to keel over yesterday.’

‘I don’t think I understood what he said about Deathwatch.’

I sat on the examination couch.

‘You know the Rephs used to live in the Netherworld,’ I said. ‘The psychopomps would lead spirits there, so they could come to terms with their deaths and move on to the last light. But over time, humans treated each other so badly that Earth became overcrowded with spirits, and the psychopomps couldn’t handle it. The Rephs call that point the ethereal threshold, and when it’s reached, the veils between worlds begin to destabilise.’

‘I remember this. You told me in London.’

‘Well, here’s what you don’t know. The ruling family, the Mothallath, came to Earth to deal with the problem,’ I said. ‘They managed to lower the number of spirits – but something happened while they were here, which caused the decline of the Netherworld. Apparently, voyants also appeared around that time. All this started a civil war.’

‘Okay,’ Nick said, his brow furrowed.

‘The veils eventually became so thin that the other Rephs were able to make the crossing to Earth,’ I said. ‘Now the Netherworld has fallen, and the Mothallath are gone. That means the number of restless spirits on Earth is only going to keep climbing, and we can’t use the threnody to banish them all to the last light. There are too many.’

‘And Nashira is keeping a sharp eye on this, but we don’t know exactly what that could mean. That’s what Warden was saying.’

‘In a nutshell.’

‘You need to ask him more.’

‘I will. Just … let him have a couple of days, Nick. You’d give him that if he was human.’

‘You’re right. I’m sorry.’ He turned back to his laptop. ‘I know you’ve already sat through a lot of prodding and poking, but I need to reassure Command that you’re fit to work after the last assignment. It’s standard practice. Can you show me where you’re hurt?’

I nodded and took off my jersey.

Nick examined the bruising and checked for breaks, asking before he touched me. When he was done, he sent me to the body scanner. I held still as a band of light passed over me.

‘Go on,’ I said. Nick studied the results. ‘How bad is it?’

‘Nothing is broken, and I can’t see any spinal or cranial injuries. You were lucky,’ he said. ‘I’m more concerned about the old scaphoid fracture in your left wrist. I’ll need to speak to a specialist, but I suspect the tissue in your bone is dying – avascular necrosis, to use the proper term. At this point, it probably needs surgery. How long since you fell on it?’

‘Over a year.’ I stepped away from the scanner. ‘Will surgery fix it?’

‘It might help with the pain, but you should have had a cast on it for months after the break.’

‘Arcturus did his best.’

‘But you could have told me how much it was hurting in London,’ he said. I pressed the sore hollow at the base of my thumb. ‘You have to start taking better care of yourself, Paige.’

‘I haven’t exactly had time for a spa retreat, Nick.’

‘That isn’t what I mean. You can’t help that you’ve been under stress, but you can’t run on coffee and nerve.’

‘I’ve been trying to rest.’

‘You’ve been sleeping more because the white aster hasn’t given you much choice. I want you to do it of your own accord.’ He closed the scan results. ‘I need to think about how I’m going to report this to Command. If I give you a brace for your wrist, will you wear it?’

‘I promise. By the way, do they have contraceptive injections out here?’ I asked. ‘My period came back in Paris. I don’t want it to surprise me when I’m in the middle of something.’

‘Yes. They have one that lasts for six months.’

Nick went to one of the cabinets and brought a syringe back. He gave me the dose in my upper arm.

‘Thanks,’ I said, reaching for my jersey.

‘You’re welcome.’ He disposed of the syringe. ‘Now, let’s get you that brace.’

Once Nick was done with me, I found a workstation and accessed Protean. The splinted brace on my left arm kept the wrist straight, but allowed me to use my fingers as I searched for news on President Sala.

She had a long and detailed entry on Omnia. Her official picture showed a woman in her early sixties, thick black hair rippling down to her shoulders, a confident smile on her face.

Beatrice Sala (born 27 March 1997) is an Italian politician and former archaeologist who assumed office as President of Italy in May 2041. She previously served as Minister for Health (2031–2034) and Minister for Culture (2034–2041). She is known for resuming the controversial reconstruction of the Roman Forum (see Forum Project ), and for her strong opposition to the Republic of Scion .

A vocal critic of Scion, as Ver?a had described. I dug up a few articles. There was speculation on what sort of illness was keeping her from her public duties, but the media seemed far more interested in the Prime Minister, and Rinaldi appeared to be going about his business as usual.

The golden cord gave a sudden tremor. Arcturus had woken, then cut himself off again.

So be it. He was entitled to his privacy. I looked back at Omnia, but the cord had shaken my concentration. I returned to my room for a jacket before I left the building. Perhaps some fresh air would do me good.

For an hour, I explored the city on foot. The rain had stopped, and the fog was thicker in its wake. Venice was silvered and mysterised by it; I could barely see the tops of some buildings. I wondered if the Netherworld was anything like this – there and not there, adrift in itself. I found a public garden to the north, then went to see a landmark called the Bridge of Sighs. At last, I chose a bench on the Riva degli Schiavoni and watched boats passing by.

All the while, I thought of Arcturus. I could have gone anywhere in the city, but I had strayed to the district where he was staying. I wished I had the courage to go back to the apartment.

There had been fog like this on the day Scion took him. The day after our overture.

In Paris, I had accepted that I wanted to be with him. I had been ready to become his partner in all senses of the word; to commit to something more concrete than whatever had been flickering between us since Oxford. Paris had been the final step in a long realisation that we should fight to make it work, even if it always had to be a secret.

Arcturus was my counterbalance. We had made a formidable team in Paris. He had proven his loyalty time and again, and now he had been punished for it. The card has weight , Liss had told me, showing me the Lovers. This will be a pillar of your life.

There was no one else who fit the description. It was him.

It had always been him.

Another sprinkle of rain came down, dewing my hair. I headed back to the Palazzo del Domino.

At half past two on the dot, I knocked on a door marked stanza della dogaressa . Ducos let me in. It was smaller than the Blue Room, housing a round table and a few upholstered chairs. Pivot sat in one of them, wearing an elegant navy shirt over matching trousers.

‘Flora. Welcome back,’ she said. ‘I’m told your assignment was a resounding success.’

‘You could say that,’ I said.

Beside her, a third amaurotic, sallow and stocky, scrutinised me from behind a pair of gold wire spectacles with a top bar. His suit was the same greyish brown as his receding hair.

‘This is Spinner, one of my colleagues in Command,’ Pivot said. Spinner gave me a curt nod. ‘He would like to hear exactly what happened on Capri.’

‘Have Nick and Ver?a already spoken to you?’

‘Not yet.’

Spinner folded his arms, while Ducos stood by the door, her files gathered to her chest. Under their watchful gazes, I recounted almost everything that had happened in Naples and Capri, seeing no reason to spare any details, except for the fact that Arcturus had been dead (for all intents and purposes) when I found him. That would be hard to explain.

‘These creatures you mentioned, the Buzzers,’ Spinner said. ‘What exactly are they?’

‘Buzzers come from the same world as Advena sapiens ,’ I said. ‘They eat flesh and spirits.’

‘Right.’ His mouth tightened. ‘You say they came through a gateway. A cold spot, was it?’

‘Scion can draw Buzzers towards certain places. In this case, they used them as a trap. That’s the reason your investigation teams disappeared. The Buzzers would have overwhelmed and killed them.’

‘So you’re saying Scion planted a biological weapon on the island.’

‘I … suppose.’

‘And now your associate is safely in Venice,’ Pivot said. ‘Was he privy to any useful intelligence?’

‘Yes. He was able to identify the nature and aims of Operation Ventriloquist.’

They all looked at each other.

‘Operation Ventriloquist is a covert attack on the free world,’ I said. ‘The Suzerain is using a dreamwalker – someone like me – to possess, threaten and blackmail politicians, forcing them to let Scion do what it wants. He’s the weapon Wells mentioned. I’m convinced that’s why Rinaldi and Sala allowed Scion to take the islands, and why Sala has vanished.’

Spinner pressed his lips together.

‘I see.’ Pivot drew her data pad towards her. ‘Can you explain in more detail, Flora?’

Over the next hour, I told them as much as I could about Cade and his role in Operation Ventriloquist. I ran them through the mechanics of dreamwalking, and how I thought Cade had used his abilities to cow the Norwegian government into submitting to Scion.

‘He might have intimidated an Italian politician before Sala and Rinaldi,’ I said. ‘To demonstrate his powers.’

‘There is a possible Italian counterpart to Helen Githmark,’ Ducos said. ‘Umberto Bianchi, the Mayor of Turin. After the police received an anonymous tip-off, a large quantity of drugs were found in his family home. Bianchi claimed to have no idea how they had got there, but there was footage of him making the deal. He’s awaiting trial as we speak. He was outspoken against Scion, advocating for Italy to help defend the Iberian Peninsula.’

‘He’s your man, then, and he’s innocent. He did technically move the drugs, but he’d have had no memory or control of his actions.’

‘What about Grapevine?’ Pivot asked. ‘Does your associate know anything more about the network?’

‘He confirmed that it serves the Suzerain. The head of the organisation is a member of her family, and reports to her directly. She goes by the name Vindemiatrix Sargas.’

‘Is she Advena sapiens , then?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘That’s all my associate could get.’

It wasn’t quite true – there was the threat of Deathwatch – but these three were amaurotic. Trying to explain the intricacies of ethereal technology would be hard, especially when I didn’t know a great deal about it myself.

‘It’s more than enough,’ Pivot said. ‘He has saved us a great deal of time and risk.’ She consulted her data pad. ‘So far, there is no evidence that Scion is aware of any of our operations on Capri. Your identification and extraction of a source was efficient, and reflects a more considered and mature approach to danger than you showed in Versailles. Well done.’

I nodded. Even if I was never going to be a model agent, I was glad I was keeping Domino sweet.

‘All of this is well and good,’ Spinner said, ‘but we’d like to speak to this supposed non-human ourselves.’ His accent was a nasal twang I had never heard before. ‘When can he be here?’

Even if it was an accurate description, the way he said non-human got my back up.

‘Warden is recovering from seven months of captivity and torture,’ I said. ‘He isn’t in any state to be questioned.’

‘I’m afraid I must insist, Agent Blake.’

‘You’ve no right to insist. I work for Domino, but I’ll thank you to remember that Warden doesn’t owe you anything.’

‘Flora, you have been straightforward with us. I will return the courtesy,’ Pivot said, with a pointed glance at Spinner. ‘While we have some limited knowledge of Advena sapiens , we have never received concrete evidence of their existence, other than what Widow reported from Paris. We need to confirm with our own eyes that we are not chasing shadows before we decide on what action to take.’

‘It would be useful to establish a formal relationship,’ Ducos said. ‘And understand the role your allies play in the Mime Order.’

And the more they understood about the Mime Order, the more likely they were to fund it.

‘Domino has been leaking like a sieve,’ I said. ‘Can you guarantee that Warden will be safe?’

‘We would put stringent measures in place to ensure his privacy,’ Pivot said. ‘The Palazzo del Giorno will be off limits to all operatives for the night. It will only be the three of us who see him.’

‘Do you want to see him specifically, or any Reph?’

‘Wait.’ Spinner leaned forward. ‘You’re saying there’s more than one in Venice?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I know the leader of his faction.’

‘Then by all means, bring them both.’

‘It’s not my decision,’ I reminded him. ‘They don’t answer to me.’

‘Of course not,’ Pivot said, her tone placating. ‘We only ask that you extend the invitation.’

Terebell would probably be willing, for the sake of gaining more support and money for the Mime Order. I was less sure about Arcturus, but I could pass the offer along.

‘I can do that much,’ I said.

‘Thank you. We await their decision,’ Pivot said. ‘In the meantime, we must decide on your next assignment. As an ace, you have a say in your own deployment. You also know this dreamwalker personally, along with his modus operandi. What does your instinct tell you?’

‘I’d like to go to Rome and look for him. If he has the same range as me, he needs to be within a mile of someone to possess them, so he must have been in Italy when he framed Bianchi. After that, he would have found a way to Sala and Rinaldi. All signs point to him being there. I could try to see the Prime Minister, to offer him my support.’

Spinner shook his head. ‘From what your associate and the whistle-blower said, Rinaldi could be under surveillance, or communicating with Scion. My doublet will keep tabs on him, but direct contact could give the game away.’

‘I agree,’ Ducos said. ‘We don’t want to show our hand too early.’

‘If you say so.’ I looked between them. ‘Have you had any luck finding President Sala?’

‘Unfortunately not,’ Pivot said, ‘but Rome was the last place she was seen before her disappearance in September. Perhaps you will pick up her trail as you search for Mr Fitzours.’

‘I’ll do my best.’

‘Make sure you prioritise the dreamwalker. If you believe you can neutralise this enemy asset and put an end to Operation Ventriloquist, we can arrange your transport and accommodation,’ she said. ‘I will need a day or two to agree your timeline and objectives with my colleagues. Widow will advise you on the next steps. In the meantime, your associate is invited to join us here tomorrow evening.’

‘I’ll speak to him in the morning.’

‘Very good.’

‘By the way,’ I said, ‘did you look into why the Grand Overseer might have a dissimulator?’ ‘Yes. As expected, he is not a known associate,’ Pivot said. ‘Sadly, I can only imagine that he obtained it from an imprisoned or executed agent.’ That did add up. Jaxon had no problem stealing from the dead. ‘Thanks for checking,’ I said. ‘Sorry I couldn’t kill him.’ ‘Not to worry,’ Pivot said. ‘There will be other chances to turn France against England.’ Ducos opened the door for me. We headed down the corridor, back towards the enclosed walkway.

‘Well,’ I said. ‘Spinner is a charmer, isn’t he?’

‘He is sceptical of extrasensory perception, which is the most popular term for clairvoyance outside Scion.’

‘He doesn’t think clairvoyance is real?’

‘No. He thinks Scion uses it as a convenient excuse for ridding itself of detractors and rebels, and that most of its victims are so indoctrinated that they come to believe it themselves.’

‘I could prove it exists. Just let me at his dreamscape.’

‘I do sympathise with him. There is no scientific evidence of clairvoyance. No explanation for why certain humans can perceive another layer of existence,’ Ducos said. ‘That’s why Spinner is sceptical. It’s also the reason he is so determined to see your associate. He believes Alice Taylan was deluded or mistaken about Advena sapiens .’

‘But Warden would be proof enough?’

‘Most likely.’ She opened the door on the other side of the bridge. ‘Spinner oversees our doublets, who pass valuable information on to our political contacts, the way Opseth did to Queen Ingelin. He will only inform them about Advena sapiens once he is certain they exist. Otherwise he fears our credibility might be called into question.’

I could understand that. If anyone had told me about the Rephs before I had ever set eyes on them, I would have assumed they were having me on. Eliza hadn’t believed me after I came back from Oxford. Seeing them had cured her doubt.

‘I will ask,’ I said, ‘but if Warden doesn’t agree to this, Domino needs to respect that.’

‘I’ll make sure of it.’

Ducos made her way down the grand staircase. I followed, intending to go to my room.

A siren droned outside.

I stopped in my tracks, chills running all over my body. At once, my stomach was in free fall, my fingernails were biting into the banister, and for all I tried, I couldn’t take another step.

Ducos stopped to listen as a long tone sounded. The note climbed once, then a second time.

‘They raised the floodgates too late again.’ She clocked my expression. ‘What is it?’

I swallowed. ‘Why is there a siren?’

‘It’s just the acqua alta. Were you not told about this?’

‘No.’

‘The Venetian Lagoon is vulnerable to high tides, which can flood some parts of the city. It happens every so often, especially in autumn and winter,’ she said. ‘People here are used to it.’

I almost laughed. Every time I escaped one body of water, another came rushing towards me.

‘The lower floors will be sealed in a few minutes, to stop the water coming in. It will be over by morning,’ Ducos said. ‘Let me know by noon about the meeting. We’ll be ready.’

She vanished down a corridor, leaving me rooted to the spot.

The tones continued. After a minute, I returned to my room, intending to lock the shutters and sleep until the flood had passed. Instead, I sat on the bed, so tense it hurt. I couldn’t think straight. Even with my fear of water, I shouldn’t be reacting this badly to a sound.

My breath came short. My palms turned clammy.

Before I knew it, I was grabbing my jacket.

I reached the door to the alley as a flood barrier was being lowered. Without stopping, I ducked under it and ran. So far, there was no water on the streets, though the Grand Canal had risen.

Around me, people were building catwalks or protecting the entrances to their shops. A few tourists stood ready with gumboots and cameras, some of them chatting with the locals. It was almost business as usual. Only I seemed to be stricken by fear.

It wasn’t only the thought of a flooded city. Some other dread was driving me, one that I couldn’t explain. It had to be something in my dreamscape. A memory I couldn’t touch.

When I reached Calle de la Verona, I opened the lockbox, fumbling out the key. Once I had opened the door, I almost collapsed in the hallway, my ribs aching. No sooner had I got up to the parlour than I nearly slammed into Arcturus. I flinched back in the nick of time, avoiding his chest by an inch. He looked me up and down.

‘Paige.’

‘Arcturus,’ I said.

He must have sensed me coming. Before I could speak, Terebell emerged from the parlour, dressed more informally than usual. I realised she could well have been asleep, given it was the middle of the day. She scrutinised my flushed cheeks, my wild hair.

‘Did you run here?’

‘No. I just—’ I stopped to catch my breath. ‘I just wanted to tell you about the siren.’

‘Yes. We are capable of perceiving sound.’

‘I mean that I wanted to tell you why it came on. It’s flooding, apparently. But nothing to worry about.’ My face was starting to burn. ‘I didn’t want you to think it was—’

Arcturus waited for me to continue, then finished my sentence: ‘An airstrike.’

I met his gaze, realising.

That was why. Even if I had forgotten the civil defence sirens, I must have heard them in Paris.

‘You ran here at full pelt to inform us that we are not under attack, and that nothing of note is happening,’ Terebell said, clearly thinking I was off the cot. ‘Will that be all, Underqueen?’

‘Absolutely,’ I said. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’

‘Stay.’

I stilled. Arcturus had spoken so softly, I almost thought I had imagined it.

‘Wait until the floodwater recedes,’ he said. ‘The tides are dangerous these days.’

‘Ducos said it could last until tomorrow.’

‘Then sleep here,’ Terebell said. ‘There are matters to discuss, in any case.’

Even if I made it back to the Palazzo del Domino before the canals washed on to the streets, I would find myself shut out by the flood defences. The thought of having to wade through any amount of water, after that harrowing swim, was enough to shorten my breath.

Arcturus stood aside. I hid behind my hair as I passed him, following Terebell.

In the parlour, I hung my jacket up and sat. Two glasses and a bottle of red wine stood on the table. Clearly a classic night in for the Ranthen. Terebell took the opposite couch.

‘Arcturus was intending to bathe,’ she said, explaining his disappearance. ‘He will join us.’

‘Where are the others?’

‘They have returned to Scion. Lucida is now our liaison to the Nouveau Régime.’ She picked up a glass. ‘As agreed, they will only tell our closest allies about Arcturus. He cannot defend himself in this state, and we must ensure that everything he learned retains its value.’

‘Nick said he seemed lethargic,’ I said. ‘How is he?’

‘When he lost the ?ther, the ectoplasm in his body vitrified. It quickened again when you revived him, but the ordeal has taken a physical toll. I do not know how long it will take him to heal, or if he will ever fully recover. There is no precedent.’

I tried not to imagine my blood turning to glass and back.

‘Arcturus helped me after the waterboard,’ I said quietly. ‘You lived through a war together. You were both scarred in Oxford. What can I do to support him?’

‘Do not concern yourself with his state of mind. That is something you, a mortal, cannot hope to understand. In any case, you will be preoccupied with your work for the Domino Programme,’ Terebell said. ‘Once he is able to travel, I intend to send him back to Scion.’

I kept my expression clear, but suddenly I felt as if I couldn’t draw a deep breath if I tried.

‘He’s more likely to be detected in Scion,’ I said. ‘Is it a good idea to send him back this soon?’

‘Scion is where our battle lies.’

‘In the end, but he can’t fight right now. While I work for Domino, I’m allowed to use their safe houses, like this one. He can stay here. Once my assignments are finished, we could go back to Scion together.’

Terebell assessed me. Her hand rested on the arm of the couch, snug in its tailored glove.

‘I will consider your proposal,’ she said. ‘Do you now intend to hunt the other dreamwalker?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I made Domino understand the danger. My next assignment will be to … neutralise him.’

‘Where will you begin the search?’

‘Rome.’

‘You possessed Nashira for a matter of moments at the Bicentenary. From what I recall, it almost killed you. Fitzours seems far more accomplished. How do you intend to get the better of him?’

‘Let’s not overestimate his abilities. Cade had to blackmail Arcturus, or I doubt he would have been able to keep a foothold in his dreamscape for long,’ I said. ‘But I do need to strategise. If Cade was born into a dreamwalking family, he could have years of knowledge on me, especially if he’s older. I wasn’t even certain I was voyant until I was sixteen.’

‘One of your kin must have been gifted. It does not spring from nowhere in humans.’

‘My mother died when I was born. It was probably her,’ I said. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to stop Cade.’

‘You must act with all haste. We cannot risk him serving Nashira for much longer. Either he will continue to win the free world for her, or she will kill him for his gift, as she intended to kill you,’ she said. ‘Given the severity of the threat, it may be prudent for all three of us to remain in the free world until he is dead. I am willing to assist you.’

‘I really appreciate the offer, but Eliza needs you. You should go back to London, so the Mime Order has one of its leaders, at least,’ I said. ‘I’ll take care of Cade.’

Once again, Terebell fell silent, her eyes burning.

‘Very well. I will entrust this task to you,’ she said. ‘Do not make me regret it, Paige.’ She picked up her coat and took four small vials from inside. ‘Take some of our alysoplasm. It will allow you to catch him unawares.’

I hesitated. ‘It will stop me from being able to sense him. Or to dreamwalk.’

‘You will still have your criminal instincts. Arcturus told me how you tracked down the grands ducs in Paris. You possess the skills to locate Fitzours without relying on the ?ther,’ she said. ‘Once you have established where he is, you can restore your gift with fortified ectoplasm, which Arcturus will provide.’

Her sudden confidence in me was a surprise. I couldn’t bring myself to remind her that I would be looking for Cade in a free-world city, which I lacked the experience to navigate.

‘Okay.’ I pocketed the vials. ‘Speaking of gifts, I’ve realised I have no idea what yours is.’

‘I am what you would describe as an augur.’

‘Like your cousin.’

‘Kornephoros claims to have skinned humans for sport. I use my talents to mend bone and sarx,’ Terebell said, ‘though I can only heal Rephaim, and not from the wounds caused by poltergeists. I call it somatomancy .’ She tapped her fingers on the couch. ‘Arcturus tells me you met Kornephoros in Paris.’

‘I did. Big, isn’t he?’

‘Your observations are always illuminating, dreamwalker.’

‘I see you got the hang of sarcasm.’

She closed her eyes. ‘How Arcturus has not yet lost his patience with you, I cannot tell.’

‘I’m sure he has, at one point or another.’

‘No. He is precisely as tolerant of you as he appears.’ Her eyes opened. ‘From my perspective, you have begun to atone for your folly in Paris, but Arcturus may have some choice words for you, given your lack of faith in his loyalty. Since you are here, I will give him the opportunity to express them in private tonight.’

‘He deserves that.’

We sat in patient silence after that. I dared not hope that I was making progress with her.

When Arcturus returned to the parlour, he sat beside Terebell. Nick had been right. There was a clear and unusual stiffness to his bearing.

‘Paige,’ he said, ‘I understand you have aster poisoning, and no memory of your captivity. I believe I can help you.’

Hearing his voice was still an indescribable relief. I wanted to wrap myself in that voice, sleep in it.

‘I can’t ask that of you,’ I said. ‘Not when you only just … came back.’

‘You need not ask. I have offered,’ Arcturus said. ‘If not for your sound judgement and determination, I would still be imprisoned in my own dreamscape. I wish to repay that debt.’

‘You got me out of the H?tel Garuche. I owed you for that, if you want to keep count.’

‘Paige.’

The way he said my name was so familiar, it stopped my reply in my throat.

‘This must be done,’ Terebell said. ‘You will not succeed in routing Fitzours if your spirit cannot rest.’ She rose. ‘I will leave you for the evening, so you might begin. I intend to summon Pleione from London, to ask her more about him. She was his keeper in Oxford.’

‘Before you go,’ I said, ‘I have a request from Domino. Command wants to talk to you. In person.’

‘Why?’

‘They’ve heard about the mysterious founders of Scion, but they have no evidence that you exist, which they’d appreciate. Their support could be useful.’ I looked at Arcturus. ‘You told me the Ranthen wanted an advisory role on Earth. That you wanted to establish a fair balance of power, and to maintain an open and cordial relationship with humans. Is that still true?’

‘Yes,’ he said.

‘When do you want to start being open?’

He glanced at Terebell. They spoke a silent language I had yet to be able to interpret.

‘Revealing ourselves to human authorities beyond Scion could work in our favour, or against us,’ Arcturus said. ‘So far, we have chosen to maintain our secrecy outside the Archon, to avoid the possibility of human scrutiny and mistrust. Nashira rightfully feared that.’

‘Yes,’ Terebell said. ‘We are stronger than humans, but you outnumber us many times. As you pointed out yourself in London, the revelation of our presence would cause widespread consternation, if not worse. It could imperil every Rephaite.’

‘You told me Nashira might reveal herself once she has Europe under her control,’ I said. ‘With a dreamwalker in her pocket and countries falling by the month, that may be sooner than we think, especially if Italy caves. I think you need to decide whether you want to beat Nashira to it. It is going to happen at some point. It’s just a matter of who gets to shape the story.’

Terebell seemed to reflect on this. Arcturus let her think.

‘It may be wise to undermine her plans by being the first to reveal ourselves, at least to your governments,’ she eventually said. ‘In a limited capacity.’

‘Okay.’ I looked between them. ‘So you will speak to Command?’

Arcturus considered. ‘Do you trust them, Paige?’

‘I trust Ducos. She’s been promoted to Command,’ I said. ‘I don’t know the other two very well, but I’ve been assured they’ll protect your privacy.’

‘Ducos struck me as principled. I am willing, but I must defer to Terebell.’

‘I will think on it.’ Terebell swung on her coat. ‘In the meantime, concentrate on fighting the white aster, Underqueen. You will need your strength in the days to come.’

The door closed in her wake.