Page 59 of The Vanishing Bookstore
‘We left it behind a couple of lifetimes ago and they found it, it’s on display.’
‘I want it back. It’s my dress and I think that when I last wore it, I felt powerful and I want to feel that way again. I think it will tie me to my past lives and give me more strength, which is a good thing, right?’
Lenny looked at Sephy. ‘I told you we should have sorted that out when we first realised they had it.’
‘How was I supposed to know she would want the dress, Lenny?’
Lenny rolled her eyes. ‘Are you forgetting how stubborn Dora is?’
‘I wish you wouldn’t talk about me as if I’m not here, it’s rude.’
Sephy nodded. ‘Sorry, dear, but you know it’s been a while since you’ve even thought about that dress. I could make you another.’
Dora shook her head. ‘I want that one, it’s mine.’
Lenny answered her. ‘Well then, we’re going to have to steal it back. Unless Ambrose can speak to the girls in the department and charm them into giving it back.’
‘Do you think they’re going to give out an authentic linen dress from the sixteen hundreds that was worn by the daughter of an English woman before they were hanged at Proctor’s Ledge? It’s steeped in more history than that spell book and if we tell them it’s our property, which technically it is, it will blow their minds and it won’t be long before Corwin hears about it. We can’t afford to give him the slightest advantage.’
‘But they don’t know about the spell book, do they, or that we’re still alive. We can only try.’
Lenny pursed her lips. ‘Dora, do you positively need that dress?’
Dora thought about it for a few moments then nodded. ‘Yes, I’m sorry but I think it’s the key to unlocking everything. I can remember how much I loved it, how I felt when I wore it. I’ve never felt that way about anything else I’ve ever owned.’
‘Then we’re going to have to steal it back, it’s the only way.’ Lenny stood up. ‘Sephy, get the spells and stuff ready for when we get back.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘To get Dora the damn dress back. Come on, Dora, we might need to enlist Ambrose’s help. He’s always maintained agood relationship with the people down at the museum, he can distract them while we take it.’
Dora felt bad; Sephy was breathing so fast she looked as if she was having a panic attack.
‘I’ll take the blame if we get caught, don’t worry, Sephy. Hades, you better stay here, I don’t want you to get in any trouble.’
Hades was busy drinking water from the tap and didn’t pay Dora the slightest bit of attention. Lenny pulled on her coat, and Dora did the same then followed her outside.
‘I can do this myself; you don’t need to come.’
‘No, you can’t. We’re going to have to cause a distraction and you can’t do both. Ambrose will go and chat to the staff while I pretend to pass out or something. When they come to help me, you grab the dress and walk out of there. I’ll use my power to shield you the best that I can so they don’t notice you.’
They headed to find Ambrose, and Dora wondered what she was getting them all into. But she needed that dress. All she could see when she closed her eyes was her younger self wearing it and feeling as if she could conquer the world. She needed to harvest all the energy she could and if a simple dress was the key to understanding everything then she had to have it back.
38
Ambrose was talking to a customer when Dora and Lenny walked into the apothecary, but he stopped when he saw them. Excusing himself, he called Margo over to take over and hurried to where they were standing.
‘Is everything okay?’
Lenny didn’t speak, leaving it to Dora.
‘Lucine is dead, and I need a favour from you.’
His hand cupped his mouth. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’ His eyes filled with tears and Dora felt a little piece of her heart breaking away and moving towards him.
‘Thank you. I know you are, but we didn’t come to tell you that. I really do need a favour.’
‘Anything at all, just ask.’
