Page 82 of Better in Black
A picture formed behind her eyes. She knew she was right, somehow, like she always knew where Cortana was without looking; she knew it like she knew Julian had come to Psychopomp in secret because he was trying to protect her from facing the warped version of herself; she knew it like she knew her own vengeful heart.
“The sea caves,” Emma said.
And Julian nodded.
—
On a clear night at Leo Carrillo Beach, you could see the Milky Way. You could lay a blanket on the sand, then lie back, safely hidden from everything but sea and sky, and count the stars until you fell asleep. You could, if you were lucky, lie beside the person you loved, your body curved around his, your hearts beating together.
You could also, if you wanted, stroll to the water’s edge, to the spot where your parents’ bodies had washed ashore.
You could venture up into the hills and find the caves that hollowed out the bluffs. You could feel your way through the darkness to a place that had once held witness to the raising of the dead.
You could lose yourself forever, in the dark.
Or you could wait for the tide to rise, and the ocean to carry you away. She remembered an old fragment of poetry:Where beyond the extreme sea-wall, and between the remote sea-gates, / Waste water washes, and tall ships founder, and deep death waits.
Emma had almost drowned, not far from here, swept into the sea, destined to wash up on a far different shore. That was the night she and Julian had been together for the first time. Drowning inthe ocean; drowning in Julian. It had felt the same, in those days, their love an immense, beautiful darkness. An inexorable force pulling them down and down and down.
What they had now was better. Healthy. Calm. Safe. Love less like ocean than like air, lifting them up. She couldn’t start questioning that, just because Thule Emma implied thatsafe,calm,andhappywere just alternate words forboring.
But.
I knew your desire.
Yourneed.
DidJulianmiss it, the way their love had cut like a blade that could tear their universe apart?
The incoming tide was licking at their feet. Emma half turned. “Jules, do you ever think—”
But Julian laid his hand on her arm, gesturing her to be quiet. Emma looked ahead, to where the cliffs were honeycombed with caves that looked like pockmarks in the rock. There was a pale figure in the mouth of one of the caves. Emma’s Night Vision rune kicked in as she squinted: She saw the Other Emma clearly, her face a pale moon, framed by her black hood.
Seeming to see them, Thule Emma ducked swiftly, turned, and vanished into the shadows of the cave.
Emma started forward. Julian caught at her wrist, his fingers moving gently against the skin of her palm, writing out what he wanted to say.
I-T-S-A-T-R-A-P
Emma looked up at him. Her Julian, lit by the light of the moon over the ocean. “I know,” she said softly. “The tide’s going to come in. Fill up the cave.”
“She might drown,” Julian said. “On the other hand, Isuppose we don’t know the full extent of the power being Endarkened gives her.”
“And if she drowns,” Emma said, “there won’t be any answers about Livvy. Or Thule. Or anything.”
“Okay.” Julian closed his eyes. “Before we go in, we need a plan.”
It was so perfectly Julian, she could have kissed him.
Actually, never mind: She did kiss him. Then, “Let me guess, you already have one?”
He grinned. “I love how well you know me.”
—
Emma inscribed one last rune on Julian’s shoulder. Sure-Strike. She’d given him Night Vision and Endurance, and he had given her Speed and Stealth. They were ready.
“Should we send another message?” Emma asked. “Just in case?”
