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with false promises. . . .
Nell was right. Whoever these girls once were, they are dark spirits now, in league with Circe.
"Where are they going?" Felicity whispers.
"The Winterlands, I fear," I say.
"Should we stop them?" Felicity asks.
I shake my head. "We have to let them go. We have to save Ann, if possible."
Felicity nods. It seems a terrible choice, but it is made. And so we watch them go, some of them holding hands, some singing, all on their way to certain doom.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
BY THE TIME WE REACH THE FAMILIAR ORANGE sunset of the garden, the silent, miserable walk in our soggy boots has worn blisters on our heels. They pinch and bite with each step. But I can't think about that now. We've got to save Ann--if she is still alive.
"Gracious, what happened to you?" It's Pippa. The blood has been washed from her cheeks. She no longer looks frightful but calm and beautiful.
"We've no time to explain," I say. "The water nymphs have Ann. We've got to find them."
"Of course, you wouldn't leave Ann," Pippa mutters. I let it go. "I told you not to come to me for help."
"Pip!" Felicity barks. "I swear to you that if you fail us now, I will never come back to see you as long as I live."
Pippa's startled by Felicity's sudden fury. "You would do that?"
"I would."
"Very well," Pippa says. "How do you propose we fight them? There are only three of us."
"Pip's right. We need help," I concede.
"What about the gorgon?" Pip asks. "She helped us once before."
I shake my head. "We don't know that she can be trusted just now. In fact, we do not know if any creature of the realms can be trusted."
"Who can be?" Pippa asks.
I take a deep breath. "I shall have to go back for help."
Felicity's eyes narrow to angry slits. "You said we wouldn't leave Ann behind. That it wouldn't be like . . . like last time."
Pippa looks away.
"I'm thinking of Miss Moore," I say. Pippa's incredulous. "Miss Moore? What can she possibly do?"
"I don't know!" I snap, rubbing at the sides of my aching head. "I can't go to any of our families and tell them. I'd be locked away forever! She's the only person I can think of who would listen."
"Very well, then," Felicity says. "Bring her in."
It takes magic and concentration to make the door of light appear and to make my way fast and undetected through the London streets. I'm taking a terrible risk to do so, using a power that is unpredictable, but I've never been more desperate. The magic does nothing to shield me from the London rain, though. By the time I reach Miss Moore's flat, I am dripping wet. Fortunately, Mrs. Porter is out, and it is my former teacher herself who answers.
"M-Miss M-Moore," I chatter, chilled to the bone.
"Miss Doyle! What ever is the matter! You're soaked. For heaven's sake, come in."
She leads me upstairs and into her rooms, putting me before the fire to warm myself. "I am sorry for this, but I must tell you something. It's urgent."
