Page 67 of The Dark Mirror

I went to the window and opened the shutters, needing fresh air. Ever since Pivot had broached the subject of the islands, I had been mentally elsewhere.

‘We need to decide whether to risk staying in Italy any longer,’ Nick said. ‘If Scion does invade, we could be trapped here. Verca, I think you should leave as soon as possible.’

‘Yes. I will visit my family in Trieste,’ Verca said. ‘I’ll convince them to go to Prague.’

‘And I’m leaving in November, as discussed,’ Maria said. ‘As for you two, Domino will probably send you abroad, regardless of what happens next.’

‘I’m not going anywhere. Not yet,’ I said quietly. ‘Ischia is the location of the next voyant prison, or someone wants us to think it is. Wells was right. It does make sense as their next move. An island is much harder to breach or escape, and there’s a big city nearby.’

‘Orcus IV,’ Maria said, musing. ‘Does anyone know what that means?’

‘Orcus was a Roman god of the underworld,’ Verca said. ‘The name was also used for his domain.’

‘It’s an homage to the Netherworld, like the other names,’ I said. ‘They’re all realms of the dead in human stories.’ Arcturus had told me that. ‘What about Lugentes Campi?’

‘That one sounds Latin.’ Verca took out her phone. ‘Let me have a look.’

‘Maria, while you’re here, I’m going to change your dressing.’ Nick went to wash his hands. ‘How’s the pain?’

‘I can barely feel it,’ Maria said. ‘Some days I simply forget I was stabbed.’

Nick sighed. ‘You and Paige really are two of a kind.’

‘Lugentes Campi meansFieldsof Mourning,’ Verca said, reading off her phone. ‘Omnia says it’s mentioned by the Roman writer Virgil, who seems to have understood it as a part of the afterlifefor those who died for love, where they relive their suffering for eternity.’

Those who died for love.

‘Paige.’ Nick noticed my expression. ‘Come and sit down.’

‘Yes, and don’t look at my arm,’ Maria said. Nick unwrapped it, revealing a livid red cut below her shoulder, puckered by dark stitches. ‘I can see a plan taking form. What are you thinking?’

I closed my eyes. As soon as I voiced the possibility, I would start to invest time and hope in it.

‘Warden could be on one of those islands,’ I said. ‘It would make sense for Nashira to imprison him in a Reph-controlled area, but … it’s also a huge risk for her to build a prison off the shore of a country she doesn’t control yet, let alone leave a valuable captive there.’

Verca looked up. ‘Who is Warden?’

‘He’s part of the Ranthen, the faction of Rephs who don’t want to kill us,’ Maria said, wincing as Nick cleaned the wound. ‘Actually, let me rephrase. The Ranthen are the faction of Rephs whomaywant to kill us, deep inside, but have not chosen to act on that desire.’

‘Warden was my auxiliary in Paris,’ I said. ‘Scion detained him.’ I took a calming breath. ‘Capri is clearly not under threat from the volcano, and the populations of both islands will never be allowed to return. Thanks to Operation Ventriloquist, Nashira must be confident that Italy is about to convert, like Norway. She doesn’t care how flimsy the façade is, because it only has to last so long.’

‘I can’t understandhowthey are doing this,’ Verca said. ‘What is this weapon Scion has?’

‘I can’t say I have any idea,’ Maria said, keeping her eyes shut as Nick worked. ‘But whatever is brewing, we need to stop Italy falling to Scion. It could tip the balance for them.’

I gazed back out of the window, watching the lamplight ripple on the dark water.

‘I want to go to Naples and see the islands for myself,’ I said. ‘But first I’d like to speak to Terebell. Find out whether she knows anything more concrete about Warden.’

‘Terebell is the leader of the Ranthen,’ Maria said to Verca. ‘And the co-ruler of the Mime Order.’ Verca nodded. ‘Did your message reach her, Paige?’

‘I’ve no way of knowing. Even if it did, it could take her a while to get here,’ I replied. ‘It’s not as if Rephs can fly. I’ll give her a few days. Either way, I’m going to Naples.’

‘Even thoughtwospecialist investigation teams have disappeared?’

‘I’ll wager none of them could sense the island from a distance,’ I said. ‘I can.’

‘Then we’ll need to talk to Command,’ Nick said. ‘Let’s meet in the bar for lunch. We can let our thoughts steep, then formulate a plan.’ He secured the new dressing. ‘No matter how fast Scion moves, we can’t rush into this.’

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