‘Bells’ vitals are a bit off, so we’ll watch over them tonight,’ Nicole’s father said, putting some medical equipment back in one of his emergency cases. ‘She doesn’t seem to be having nightmares or visions though, which means her body should rest properly. I would guessthat because Remi wasn’t playing the real harp or using the real string, an essence of the song must have taken her over, but not the true scope of its power.’
Nicole thought of the blown-out windows of the cathedral as she took a seat on a padded bench at the foot of the bed where they’d put Bells and Remi, asleep together.
But one thing kept reeling through her head as she spent the rest of the night in vigil.
If just thetouchof a divine string had done this, what havoc would it wreak when all three were found and reunited with the harp itself?
And was it worth them finding out?
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Nicole
‘ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE OKAY?’NICOLE ASKEDREMI AS THEpair of them strode down the bustling street towards Manchester Art Gallery the next morning. ‘Shouldn’t you be resting?’
‘I feel like I have a killer hangover,’ Remi said, her voice slightly raspy. ‘But I’m fine. I needed to get out of the house anyway.’
Nicole chewed the inside of her mouth. Was it because Remi hadperformedthe song that she seemed all right this morning? Because she was a Siren and Bells wasn’t?
‘Areyouall right?’ Remi asked, shooting Nicole an arch look.
‘Me?’
For a ridiculous moment, Nicole thought Remi knew about her fevered moonlit moments with Kyan.
‘Yes. You’ve been in a state of panic since you brought us home last night and then disappeared early this morning,’ Remi said.
After watching over the girls until they awoke to find them both better than everyone expected, if exhausted, Nicole had returned to the Muse.
But the enigmatic creature refused to give Nicole any more clues. Nothing on the type of flower they were looking for, and no hint at a location. Even when Nicole offered her gifts, such as someone to come and paint her, or a new nightgown from one of her favourite designers – which cost over three thousand pounds – the Muse declined anything but her lost flower.
Meanwhile, Lawna had gone to Zixuan to discuss hiding the news about the cathedral, while her father looked after Bells.
Her sister claimed she was fine, but she had a jagged cut on her foot, a possible concussion, and mild ringing in her ears, which had also been slightly crusted with blood. Their father had insisted that she rest.
During the hour-long train ride here, Nicole had watched Remi for signs that she wasn’t as all right as she claimed. Her friend was too quiet and tense. Her eyes hadn’t lost their distracted glaze of guilt and concern all morning.
‘I was just trying to be thorough,’ Nicole said. ‘I thought I seemed relaxed.’
This was the first time she’d been in a city away from the family since they’d found out about the Wake. She’d tried to smother her anxiousness but clearly she was doing a terrible job.
Remi smiled. ‘You keep pressing that broken button to your thumb, and walking slightly behind me as if you’re my bodyguard. Come round here.’ As Remi grabbed her arm to pull her closer, Nicole realised she was indeed fiddling with her mother’s sleeve.
She’d pulled on the tweed jacket, hoping it might be a lucky charm and exhaled a laugh as they passed cafés and dodged a tram, scouting behind them frequently just in case.
‘Touché. But I won’t stop looking out for you.’
Remi slid her a glance, eyes amused.
‘And I know you,’ Nicole said. ‘You avoided my question.’
If anyone else were to look at her best friend, they’d see only the picture of elegance. But Nicole could feel the lingering distress in Remi’s energy. She didn’t have the same ease to her walk. She didn’t have that usual creamy scent of her night-time lip balm either, because she hadn’t had a chance todoa night-time routine.
And of course, her bandaged fingers scented of blood and herbs.
Remi curled them into her palms, now.
‘Are they okay? What happened last night?’
