Page 58 of The Dark Mirror

That gave me half an hour. As I rose, I heard two familiar voices. A moment later, Maria and Nick entered the bar. Maria took one look at me and bit down a grin.

‘Go on,’ I said. ‘I could use a laugh myself.’

‘Paige, you’re as red as your aura.’

I looked down. My shoulders and upper arms were scarlet, and a lighter flush had spread across my chest. ‘Great.’ I sighed. ‘Mind you, sunburn is the nicest problem I’ve had in a while.’

‘You two grab us a table.’ Nick shook his head. ‘I’ll get you some aftersun, Paige.’

‘I’ll have to skip dinner. I’m going out.’

‘This late?’

I nodded. ‘To the cemetery island. I’m going to try to send Terebell a message.’

Maria looked curious. ‘Through the æther, you mean, like we did in London?’

‘This is something more subtle. And experimental.’

‘Let us come with you, then. Any sort of séance will need a group of us.’

‘I appreciate the offer, but I need a psychopomp, specifically.’

‘Those odd little spirits that lurk around hospitals?’ she said, frowning. ‘I’ve never known a voyant to get close to one. I don’t think even Jaxon managed it.’

‘That’s why I need to go alone. They’re skittish.’

‘At least let me get you that aftersun,’ Nick said. ‘I’ll be quick.’

‘I can see you’re going to insist.’

‘Sit with me, in the meantime,’ Maria said. ‘I’ll tell you about my chat with Pivot.’

Nick left, while Maria and I went to the internal courtyard. Maria lit the candle on our table, piquing the interest of a few ghosts.

‘Pivot wanted my perspective on what happened in Bulgaria. Probably wondering why multiple agents are burning things down,’ Maria said. ‘To my surprise, she wasn’t angry. She also explained why I was asked to save Kostas in the first place. Domino usually prohibits rescue attempts.’

I was very familiar with that rule.

‘Kostas was the only survivor of a Greek sub-network,’ she continued. ‘Before he was captured, he was investigating a string of suspicious disappearances in Athens. The majority of missing people were voyants.’

‘Another Reph city?’

‘It seems possible, as I said to Pivot.’

‘Nashira must have sped up her plans. I don’t suppose your man caught wind of a code name for the prison?’

‘I wasn’t told, but this could be a lead, nonetheless. What if Warden is there?’

I considered it.

‘Nashira wouldn’t put him that far away. Not unless she’s there as well, which I doubt,’ I said. ‘She’ll want to stay as close as possible to London.’ I shook my head. ‘All that death and misery to get rid of Oxford and Versailles, and more prisons just spring up in their place.’

‘I know. The good news is that Pivot cleared me to return to Scion once I’m healed,’ Maria said. ‘The next crossing is in November.’

‘Let’s hope Eliza can hold on that long.’

Nick returned with the aftersun and a shirt with long sleeves. At least the hat had protected my face. ‘Keep your phone on,’ he told me. ‘I’ll check in later.’

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