Page 75 of The Dark Mirror

Capri.

The island had two distinct peaks. It was as if a pair of giants had reached into the sea for lost treasure, leaving their backs above the surface. I might be looking right at Arcturus.

I might also be looking at his tomb.

In the house, I changed into a sleeveless top and cargo trousers. For the rest of the day, I lay under a fan and tried to conserve my strength. Nick checked the equipment, which I hoped we wouldn’t have to use. He had often dived in the Kattegat when he lived in Sweden.

It was almost five by the time Verca returned. ‘Good news,’ she announced. Maria sat up with a grimace, grasping her bandaged arm. ‘I found my old friend, a voyant who commands great respect here. He’s offered to help us reach Capri.’

I raised my eyebrows. ‘Just like that?’

‘I shared an apartment with him for the best part of my time here.’ Verca cleared her throat. ‘And he … may have been my fiancé. A hasty arrangement we broke a month later.’

‘Wait.’ Maria grinned. ‘Is this your Neapolitan merman?’

‘The very same. Federico Zitouni, the Sea King of Naples.’

‘Do I have competition, my love?’

‘Never, my love. Federico now swims in my past,’ Verca said. ‘But I am still fond of him as a friend.’ She jangled the car keys. ‘Come. He’ll meet us at the Antro della Sibilla.’

As we all returned to the car, I tried not to look at Capri. All this might be for nothing. Arcturus might not be there.

I would soon know either way.

Verca drove back along the coast. I put my hair in an updo, keeping it off my nape.

‘Tell me more about the factions,’ I said.

‘As I said, there are two large groups of voyants in Naples, the Figli di Partenope and the Vesuviani,’ Verca replied, speaking over the blustering wind. ‘The Figli are mostly hydromancers, and the Vesuviani are pyromancers. Naturally they are always fighting for territory, getting into scraps. Everyone else either chooses a side or tries to stay out of their way.’

‘Which one is Federico?’

‘The former. That’s why we’re able to visit the Antro della Sibilla, which the Figli de Partenope claimed for themselves a long time ago,’ she said. ‘The ruins are close to Lake Averno, a site revered by hydromancers. It used to be considered a gateway to the underworld.’

Maria cocked her head. ‘Will I be welcome, as a pyromancer?’

‘Federico will allow it.’ Verca shot her a rueful look. ‘I’m afraid he still harbours a flame for me.’

‘Ah, we’ll see whose flame is hotter.’ Maria gave her lighter a playful flick. ‘Won’t we?’

‘Verca, you should warn your contacts to leave Naples,’ I said. ‘They’ll be in danger once Scion establishes Orcus IV. There could already be Scion operatives sniffing around the city.’

‘Federico would sooner die than leave,’ Verca said, ‘but Napoli is a city of layers. Beneath its streets are many tunnels, dug through the volcanic rock – catacombs, quarries, secret passages. I will make sure the voyants here descend as soon as possible, preferably before we go to Capri. I hear that tactic has been working for the syndicates of London and Paris.’

‘Very well,’ Maria confirmed. ‘Even if the Londoners had to crawl through sewage for the pleasure.’

‘Don’t remind me,’ Nick said.

I shrugged on the shoulder holster from Domino, made for my preferred weapons, and fit my new revolver and knives into their places. For as long as Scion was nearby, I had to be ready for anything.

Half an hour later, Verca parked under an olive tree and led us on foot up a dusty path, alongside a hill of ruins. A hydromancer waited at the entrance to a cave, sleeves rolled up to show his lean forearms.

Federico was a sinewy man in his late forties, who I could well imagine sweeping Verca off her feet. Deep lines framed his mouth and scored his brown face. He wore his dark curls in a topknot and sported a trim beard, salted with grey.

‘Federì.’ Verca reached him. ‘Grazie che c’hê fatto venì ccà.’

‘Chesta è ’a casa toia, Verò.’ Federico kissed her cheeks, then took off his sunglasses, showing large hazel eyes. The skin around them pleated as he smiled. ‘Underqueen, I have heard of your deeds along the ley lines.’ Before I knew it, he leaned in to kiss me as well. I let him lead, certain I would go for the wrong side of his face. ‘Bemmenute. Welcome to Napule.’

---