Page 21 of The Dark Mirror

Maria squinted. ‘What shape would you say it has taken?’

‘To me, it resembles an animal of some kind. You see the ears and muzzle?’

‘No, but my numen is fire, not metal.’ Maria sighed. ‘So the æther is being its usual clear and helpful self. Are we to be eaten by wolves, Nuray?’

‘The æther does not think or speak like us,’ Verca said. ‘You know, the shape … reminds me of something. I’m sure it will come to me. Paige?’

I studied it. I thought I could see the animal, but that might be because Nuray had put that idea in my head.

‘I’m not sure,’ I said. ‘It could be a wolf. Or a bear.’

‘Maria was the querent,’ Nuray said. ‘She should understand.’

‘I don’t,’ Maria said.

Nuray shrugged. ‘Fragile castings tend to indicate unlikely or possible futures. This one is strong, so it points to an old truth, or a certainty. I also had a brief vision, which is unusual for me. A flash of yellow eyes, bright as flame. Perhaps that’s what made me think of a wild animal.’

My chest tightened.

‘Paige, could you hold on to it?’ Maria said. ‘Sadly, this outfit has no pockets.’ I tucked the casting away, wondering what sort of tailor would forget about pockets. ‘It may look like a wolf, butRephs also have yellow eyes. Could this somehow point to another invasion?’

I looked at Verca and Nuray, then at Maria, my brow furrowed.

‘I told them about the creators of Scion. Off the record,’ Maria said. ‘They’re handling it.’

‘It’s true that we have not had nervous breakdowns,’ Nuray said, ‘but give us time, my friend. We have not yet seen these beautiful giants.’ She picked up her drink. ‘I am still convinced this is something you dreamed up on too much absinthe, Mimi.’

‘It was a shock,’ Verca said, ‘but I do believe it.’ She glanced at Maria. ‘I believe you.’

Maria was seeking my gaze, as if she was afraid she might have overstepped. I answered with a nod. It was her truth to share as much as it was mine.

Radomír returned at that moment, looking grim as a storm. ‘Yousry is not answering.’ He picked up his coat. ‘We should leave now. I have informed the doorkeeper of a vulnerability.’

Maria stood. ‘Are you saying he might have been detained?’

‘I take no unnecessary risks. Veronika, Nuray, come back to the Institute with me. Nina, stay indoors with Flora and wait for me to send you a message, please.’

People were starting to leave the bar in an orderly fashion, some through an opening behind a rack of wine, which led into a stone tunnel. Verca nodded to Maria, then went down the passageway with Nuray. Maria threw back her entire glass of absinthe in one go.

‘Don’t worry,’ she said, beckoning me. ‘This way. We’ll be fine.’

Maria led me away from the bar on foot. In the apartment, she turned on a lamp and shut the door behind us, hooking several chains across.

‘Radomír is probably overreacting, but we’ll let him do his checks.’ She turned the deadlock. ‘Yousry will show up.’

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. There was a lid across my throat, screwed tight, bottling the air in my chest.

‘I’ll make us a nice cup of tea. That’s what we need,’ Maria said, with conviction. ‘You must be worn out after all that talking.’ She made for the kitchen, then stopped. ‘Paige?’ When I didn’t say a word, she came to my side. ‘Paige, it’s all right. You’re safe here.’

‘I can’t breathe,’ I whispered.

‘Come and sit down.’ Maria got me into a chair. ‘Paige, tell me what’s going on in your head.’

‘It’s … too big. Too much.’ I looked at her. ‘Does Yousry know I’m in Prague?’

‘No. Radomír prefers to do things in person.’ She crouched in front of me and took me by the hands. ‘You say it’s too big. Do you mean here, in Prague?’

‘The free world.’ My chest heaved. ‘I feel like I’m not really here. Like none of this is real.’

---