Opal collapsed and did not stir, now oozing white liquid all over her silky, black dress. Theodora crossed the room to her, the bread knife in one hand, and felt roughly at Opal’s throat.
‘She’s alive,’ said the witch, glaring. ‘What should we do with her?’
‘Didn’t you say she was a bargaining chip?’ asked Dot.
‘Given her state, I’m no longer sure,’ said Theodora, gazing at the tattoos now mottled by Opal’s monstrous scales. ‘Perhaps Salamander will want to study her – she’s your antithesis now, Dorothy. A failed experiment in using the Ancient’s magic. However, perhaps he could capture any of the acolytes to study that.’
‘What if she wakes up?’ asked Dot, leaning against the wall. ‘I don’t want to be the one to suggest it, but the smartest choice here may also be the least comforting.’
‘For the second time,’ said Theodora firmly, ‘I will tell you that plotting murder does not suit you, Dorothy.’
‘I didn’t mean—’
‘I hate her more than you do, Dot.’ Lio scrubbed his fingers through his hair. ‘Believe me, I do. But I don’t think any of us want to live with the memory that we were the one who killed her.’
‘However,’ said Theodora, sighing, ‘she’ll become an acolyte. Perhaps it would be a kindness?’
‘You will commit the act, then?’ asked Lio. ‘Drive that knife into her just as she did to Rupert?’
‘You’re asking a lot of questions and not offering a lot of solutions,’ said Theodora.
‘Because I don’t want to do the type of thing she would,’ Lio fired back.
Theodora looked down at the cursed blade in her hand. She weighed it. ‘I cannot do it,’ she said at last. ‘Can either of you?’
Lio shook his head. So did Dot.
‘Perhaps she does not deserve to have her blood on our hands,’ said Dot. ‘But, truly Theodora, what would Salamander want with her? A specimen for his research?’
‘If we took her to him, afflicted like this, she would become his caged pet, wouldn’t she?’ Lio grimaced.
‘I do not know if I can condemn her to that,’ said Theodora.
‘She happily condemnedyouto that,’ said Dot.
‘Ah, but Salamander will not put me in a cage,’ said Theodora. ‘He’ll use me for other means. Wards, probably. I’ll be like Casimir. I’ll appear quite normal, and have absolutely no control of myself the moment Salamander wants my magic.You,Dorothy, he may well chase down until the end of time. He’s had a taste of the Ancient Spirit’s magic now and you are the ideal link to her. Look at the acolytes scuttling all over this city. You are rare and he will be after you.’
‘You were so sure she could run off to Seafarthing and be safe,’ said Lio, hands in his pockets.
‘I was bloody wrong,’ said Theodora. ‘I’ve seen Opal, now. I’ve seen the Ancient Spirit’s power in use. With the proper access to Her magic, Opal and Salamander flooded the whole of Alliaster. It only cost Dot the top part of her shoulder. What will happen when Salamander wants to take one of her legs? Her heart? We must end this.’
Dot stared at Opal’s crumpled frame. Disdain weighed heavy in her belly. Opal’s chest rose and fell, minutely. Rupert’s never would again. Yet, Dot could not bring herself to place this woman into one of Salamander’s cages. They might yet free Opal from the magic. They might yet find a solution that did not turn Dot’s stomach.
‘Let’s bring her with us,’ said Dot, nodding to the prone body on the floor. ‘We can lure Acanthi and tell them that Salamander did this and that he plans to cage Opal. Let’s create that distraction you suggested.’
‘We could use that time to find your contract,’ said Lio to Theodora. ‘And Thistlethwaite.’
Theodora nodded. She threw out a hand to the Grand Magician’s study, and in flew a small silver mirror.
‘Let’s show Cate,’ she agreed. ‘Perhaps then she will have cause to act.’
Theodora cast the scrying charm at once. The silver of the mirror shone with sudden, sparkling light. The witch held the mirror up to Opal.
‘I was quite clear,’ came the voice of Cate, ‘that you were never to scry me again.’
‘Find a mirror, Cate,’ said Theodora, holding the looking glass as if it would explode at any moment. ‘You will want to see what has become of your daughter.’
It took only a matter of seconds. Cate’s face appeared in the round sheet of glass. She and Moira were on the rooftop of Hemmington’s, still. Dot watched the older witch’s face contort.
