Page 73 of The Dark Mirror

‘Arcturus could be on either of the islands. Both have been evacuated,’ I said, ‘but my gut tells me it’s Capri. Not only because that’s where the ship went, but because of the code name.’

‘Yes,’ Terebell said. ‘The name is clearly intended to taunt me.’

It could just as well be for her as for me, if Nashira had cottoned on to her search for Arcturus. Either way, I had to let her believe it.

‘The voyants of Naples can help us search the island, and the Domino Programme might equip us,’ I said. ‘I’m willing to do anything to get Arcturus back, but two specialist teams have already disappeared on Capri. Before we take the risk, I’d like to confirm that he’s there.’

‘How would you confirm it?’

‘He left a vial of his ectoplasm in my backpack in Oxford. When I drank it, it strengthened the golden cord. That’s what let me trace him to Camden.’

‘I have some of his ectoplasm,’ Terebell said. ‘I will give it to you in Naples.’ I nodded. ‘I will need time to bring some of the other Ranthen to Italy, to raise our chances of saving him.’

‘How did you get here?’

‘By a cold spot. We can use one to enter the Netherworld and another to leave, allowing us to circumvent great distances on Earth. The psychopomp led me to a cold spot in the Apennines. Itis a dangerous way to travel, but faster than moving by terrestrial means.’

‘I had no idea.’

‘There are many possibilities that exist beyond the limits of the mortal imagination.’

‘If you’ve been on the move for months, you haven’t been in London. Is the Mime Order all right?’

‘Yes. Pleione and Taygeta stayed behind,’ Terebell said. ‘I last heard from them in August. The interim Underqueen is surviving in her position, but she lacks your strength of character. The sooner we have Arcturus, the sooner we can all return to London, so you can relieve her.’

‘Eliza doesn’t lack strength of character. She’s just too kind for her own good sometimes.’ I reached into my pocket. ‘Nick and I can’t go back until January at the earliest.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because we still need to fulfil our obligations to the Domino Programme.’

‘What of your obligations to me, and to your citadel?’

‘Domino saved me from the Archon. They expect a return on their investment,’ I said. ‘More importantly, they’ve promised financial support for the Parisian syndicate, and possibly the Mime Order. Arcturus mentioned you’d lost access to your money since Alsafi … passed on. Now his human ally in the Archon is dead, too. Unless she hid or moved the money, it will have been requisitioned by Scion. And unless you have other sources of income, I need payment. You’re going to have to bolster Eliza up for a while longer.’

Terebell was silent for a while.

‘I had assumed as much,’ she said. ‘We have some coin and assets, but if you can obtain more, so be it. We will steady London until your return.’

‘Thank you.’ I gave her a map. ‘I’ll see you at the Antro della Sibilla. My friend has marked the location.’

‘I will be there at sunset in three days’ time.’ Terebell held my gaze. ‘This was a pertinent place to meet, dreamwalker.’

‘Why?’

‘It reminds me that one day, it will be your bones in a garden like this one. Not mine.’

She walked away, leaving me to stand alone, surrounded by the dead.

After a while, Ducos returned to the gallery and raised her eyebrows. I folded my arms.

‘Think you could help me persuade Command that Warden is worth saving from an island that’s almost certainly a trap?’

Ducos looked at me for a long time, then stubbed out her cigarette on the balustrade.

‘You are fortunate that I like you, Flora.’

11

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