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I run the whole situation through my mind again, but I can’t see any other way. I have to find out if Frida betrayed the Tempes. It wouldn’t be the worst thing I’ve found out about her lately. The murder is much more serious, but this deception still bothers meimmensely. It would mean that nothing, absolutely nothing that I thought I knew about Frida was true. It would mean that she didn’t just make a serious error as a result of some delusion, but that she made a cold, calculated decision to spy on the Tempes, to undermine them, and to join the Noctu. And that she was prepared to gather dying breaths for them. The idea is too much for me. I have to find out the truth. As soon as possible.
“Come on. Give us the ring,” Frances urges me impatiently. “It belongs to the Noctu anyway. It shouldn’t be in the hands of a Tempes.” She holds out her hand, but I shake my head.
“No way,” I say, turning to Noah. “You once said you’d take me to the Odyss and show me your world. You said you know your way around well enough that nobody would see us. I guess the time has come to put that to the test.”
Noah holds up his hands apologetically and shakes his head. “No, Teresa, I really can’t. Not in the shrine. If someone found us there... I hate to think what might happen.”
“Noah, I have to be there,” I urge him. “I need to see it with my own eyes.”
It’s true. Obviously, I trust him, and I know he wouldn’t lie to me. If I gave him the ring, I could count on finding out the truth. But for me, it’s imperative that I see it. Seeing her name on the ring may be the only way for me to accept the truth.
Noah looks at me in silence. I can tell he’s thinking hard about this. Then he sighs and nods. “Okay, we’ll take the Tolin path. It’s mostly unused, and there are a few places to hide if someone shows up. If we go soon, there’s a good chance there’ll be no one at the shrine.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Frances snarls. “What if someone shows up and figures out that she’s a Tempes?! This is total madness.”
“None of the Noctu knows every member. If we behave normally, maybe nobody will notice that she’s not one of us.”
“Uh, there’s one pretty obvious visual clue,” says Frances, nodding at Yoru.
“Nobody will see us,” Noah ventures, but he doesn’t sound convinced.
“I’ll leave him here,” I say quickly. “If that helps us to pass unnoticed in the Odyss, I’ll do it.”
It’s a big vote of confidence in Noah because I know I’m putting myself completely at his mercy. I’ll be dependent on him in that other world because without Yoru, I’m totally defenseless. But I don’t hesitate for a second.
Noah nods. “That’s not a bad idea. But are you sure?”
“Definitely,” I reply.
Frances snorts and rolls her eyes irritably. “You seem really determined to die.”
“Noah knows what he’s doing,” I retort. “I trust him.”
She snorts again and folds her arms in front of her chest. “Yeah, well maybe you shouldn’t in this case. What if one of the fallen picks up her scent? The other Noctu won’t recognize what she really is. But the fallen can detect it.”
“We just have to summon a door. That will get us close to the temple. From there, we continue on foot because the doors don’t work inside the sacred sites,” he explains. “Once we’re near the temple, not much can go wrong. The fallen aren’t tolerated there, so they stay away from the place.”
“Okay. I guess that’s settled then. When do we leave?”
“Preferably right now,” Noah suggests, and I nod.
“You’re both insane! I can’t believe I’m going on this suicide mission with you,” Frances mutters to herself.
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “You want to come with us?”
“Do you seriously think I’d leave you and Noah alone together? Maybe I’ll be able to intervene and stop him from digging his own grave.”
“Gee, thanks!”
His expression makes it plain that he’s reluctant to bring Frances with us. But if he refused, it would just lead to more arguments, and we’re running out of time.
I bend down to Yoru and try to explain the situation. “I have to do something important, little guy. And unfortunately, I can’t take you with me. You need to hide around here somewhere and wait for me, okay? I’ll be back soon.”
I almost think I can see the doubt in the little fox’s eyes, but he turns around and trots toward a building.
I straighten up and watch Noah take out his key and open a door. Here goes. I’m about to go back to the place where Ty lost his life.
Chapter 22
