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“But the world moves on and these are tumultuous times. We must adapt and persevere. And that’s much easier to do when you have lots of money, believe me.”
“I believe you,” Izzy said.
“Now, you will both come with me,” the Bookseller instructed.
“What?” Izzy asked.
“It’s nothing sinister. But since I’ve gone to the considerable expense of arranging an auction, I want the merchandise to be safe. If you want me to sell your book, you will stay with me for the next twenty-four hours. No contact with the outside world, no secret messages to potential bidders. None of that. It is no reflection on you, I hope you understand. I am a careful woman.”
Lund looked at Izzy, asking a question.
“I don’t know,” she said. Then she looked at the Bookseller. “But I think I like her. I like her much more than the bald man. I’m okay going with her if it means we’ll be safe.”
“Safe as you’ll be anywhere else,” the Bookseller said. “Come on.”
They walked out of the hotel together and climbed into a car that was waiting for them.
Stranded
Cassie gasped in terror and fell forward out of the chair onto the ground in Bryant Park. A young couple passing by turned her way, but Drummond gave them a smile that was both reassuring and apologetic. “She’s okay, just a bit lightheaded.”
He helped her back into her seat as the couple continued on their way.
“Do you see?” Drummond asked. “Do you see why we have to keep it from her?”
“That poor woman, Lily... what did she do to her?”
“I don’t know,” Drummond admitted. “But if I had to guess, I would say it was the Book of Despair.”
“The Book of Despair,” Cassie repeated.
Drummond nodded. “It was owned by a family in St. Petersburg, in Russia. It was kept in a church, of all places—perhaps because a church is where people go when they are in despair. But we’d heard stories, before this night, before she attacked us, that the family had gone missing, and nobody knew what had happened to the book. I didn’t know if I believed them or not, there were always stories of books going missing, books being found. But the woman took it, and she killed the family. I don’t know this for sure. But I feel it.”
Cassie shook her head.
“Lily was such a bright, vivacious woman,” Drummond said. “Sheloved her food, and she loved to show people Hong Kong, her island. When she laughed, she laughed with her whole body.” He shook his head slowly. “To do that to her, to make her despairing to the point that she wanted to end her own life in the most horrible way...”
“She saved you,” Cassie said with certainty. “She knew that if you tried to help her, you would also be affected by the book.”
Drummond hesitated, unsure. Cassie saw that he wanted her to be right, that that was how he wanted to remember Lily.
“I believe it, Drummond,” she said. “I believe she saved you. I could feel how guilty you were that you didn’t do more.”
He looked away, his eyes on the ground as if embarrassed that so many of his inner thoughts had been revealed in his memories.
Cassie put a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t need to feel guilty, Lily didn’t want you to die like she did. I didn’t know her, but I know that. Isawthat.”
Drummond nodded, accepting her words. “Thank you,” he said quietly, avoiding her gaze.
A sudden wave of emotion—terror and horror—washed over Cassie as the memories forced themselves back to the front of her mind: the image of evil passing across the woman’s face as Drummond had watched, the brutal crunching of bones before the bloody remains of Yasmin fell to the cold ground. She dropped her head between her knees. “It was so horrible,” she murmured. “I wish I hadn’t seen...”
“I’m sorry,” Drummond said. “I carry those memories with me. I know how awful they are. I wasthere.But now you know why I want to keep the library from her, why she should never have the Book of Doors.”
“But to destroy it?” Cassie asked, looking up at him. “Is it the only way?”
She could see the question tormented him, as if she had given voice to what was in his own mind. “What happens if that woman gets to the Fox Library, if she gets all of the books?”
Cassie shook her head, eyes on the ground.
