Burnside nodded.
Farther down the beach, the dirigible came to a stop. They were hovering just above the boardwalk now. Night was yielding to morning, and the sky was streaked with light. Zani watched as the younger version of Burnside emerged from the water, still holding the bassinet. He was naked, aside from the bloodstone amulet hanging around his neck. His skin seemed to glow, still showing the sheen of scales.
Stealthily, he crept up the beach and under the boardwalk. He deposited the bassinet there, and quickly dressed himself in warm clothing that he must have stashed there earlier. He glanced over his shoulder. The couple was still headed his way. Young Burnside kneeled down and peeked into the woven bassinet. He bent to give the sleeping child a kiss on the cheek. And then he said something to her. It was difficult to hear over the sound of the waves crashing, and from such a distance, but Zani could just barely make it out.
“I’m sorry to leave you like this, Ondalune. But you should know, I’ll never be far. You can always call on your Uncle Burnie.”
He reached into the basket and withdrew the bloodstone.
As he stepped away, the child wailed. Young Burnside glanced once more at the couple and then took off jogging up the beach and out of sight.
It was only a few moments before the couple discovered the crying baby. No longer a mermaid, she raised her chubby arms and kicked her newly made legs as she cried.
“What is your name?” the woman asked the child as she bounced her. “Wherever did you come from?”
Zani turned to study the elderly man sitting beside her in the dirigible. “It must be so strange to look back on your life like this,” she commented.
“A bit,” he agreed, “but nice in a way, too. I was happy to help them. And living with an Ordinary family was the last place her father’s foes would expect to find Ondalune.” Burnside smiled wryly.
“Weren’t you afraid they’d discover she was a mermaid?” Zani asked. She couldn’t imagine how such a thing could remain a secret for very long.
“My sister figured it out before long, of course.” Burnside frowned. “She was furious. My half-sister didn’t care for my kind. She convinced everyone that her child was deathly allergic to ocean water. Even the child.”
“And the bloodstone?” Zani asked.
“It stayed safe in the Arcane Archives for a little over seventy years,” Burnside answered.
“Until it was taken by Larkspur Lathrop on Halloween in 1978,” Zani said. “The same night as your lecture. Amrita said she traded it for a clove cigarette.”
“Indeed.” Burnside nodded, folding his fingers together. “To some rather repulsive vampiric oligarchs who were visiting from abroad. But I think you’ve already made their acquaintance?”
“Briefly.” Zani wrinkled her nose, not wanting to dwell on thoughts of the nest she dusted. “Very briefly.”
“This leaves us with only one question now, no?” Burnside raised a brow.
“Where is that cursed stone now?” Zani asked. She took one last look at the scene outside the window of the dirigible. Already besotted, the couple wrapped the child up in a coat now. Younger Burnside was nowhere to be seen.
But there was one other figure on the beach. Crouching behind a sand dune, hiding in the shadows, she caught sight of a now familiar figure.
“By the wand! Is that Cosimo?” She gasped.
Burnside leaned out the window to look. “Huh! I think it is,” he said. “I hadn’t known he was here. But it makes sense. The stone would have summoned him. He’s never far from it whenever it’s on land.”
“Do you think he stole it back from me on the train, then?” Zani asked.
“No, I most certainly do not,” Burnside shook his head.
“Then who? Who else could have taken it?” Zani lamented.
“If only there was a way to go back and see…” There was a slight twinkle in Burnside’s eye now.
Her heart pounded excitedly. She hadn’t even thought to ask Burnside to take her back to the train. Especially since she knew how opposed Will was to the idea. She’d almost begun to agree with him that it was too risky. But if Will’s mentor was making the offer…
“Oh, Burnside, please? Would you take me? Are you sure it’s not too much?” Zani asked. Although she desperately wanted to go, she was growing increasingly concerned for his frail state.
“It would be my pleasure,” Burnside assured her. “And I’m tougher than I look.”
“You don’t think I’m tempting fate?” Zani asked. “Will seemed to think it was risky. But I know better than to intervene. I just can’t imagine who could have done it. My wards were flawless, and there was no sign of tampering. I need to know.”
