Her mind whirled around the possibilities. She could learn his motive. She could find out who he was going to target next and throw the police off the trail in advance for the sake of the wish. She could procure his help in testing her code before implementing it, to increase the possibility of success.
But all of that related to the wish. And the wish was not what was important to Jo at that moment.
“I need you to do some research.”
“Me?” The man seemed surprised, albeit a little intrigued. “What information would you want me to gather? I didn’t realize the wishing wasn’t full-service.”
“You offered to help,” she pointed out. “And it will increase the speed and efficiency at which your wish is granted.” She took another sip of her coffee, hoping he didn’t call her bluff.
“Very well, what is it that you wish for me to research?”
Jo leaned forward, back straight. Her mind was moving fast, faster than it had in a long time. There were many things that she wanted to process and find out information about. But she went with the first thing that came to mind.
“I need you to pull up information on mythologies. Specifically, cross-reference different cultures—both modern and historical—looking for references to sacred arrows, goddesses of the hunt, and wars between divinities.”
“How is this going to help with my wish?” he asked, rightfully skeptical.
“It’s a magic thing,” Jo answered ambiguously, hoping he would accept the explanation at face value.
He did, at least for a moment. “Very well, but I have something I would like to ask of you in return.”
“Are you trying to barter?”
“I have a sneaking suspicion you’re using me for something not related to my wish.”
“What do you want?” Jo asked, rather than confirming or denying that particular suspicion.
“You said there were more of you . . . I would like to see someone else.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re fascinating. Seeing you shows me there’s much more out there—others who look like humans but are categorically not.”
The way he said it made him almost sound . . . lonely. There was a sort of desperation to the idea that there were other people out there who weren’t human, but were equally sentient. Equally worthy of life and their own autonomy.
“If you do that,” he added. “I’ll look up whatever you want.”
Jo knew all she had to do was reemphasize her request’s importance to the wish, and he would cave. Every whisper of her magic assured her as much, as if highlighting the places she needed to push to get him to break and give in. But instead, she found herself agreeing.
“All right, I’ll bring someone else back.”
“When?”
“I’ll do it now.” No time like the present. Furthermore, the time on the wish was counting down steadily. As soon as it was granted, she would lose access to the Bone Carver as he lost his memories of her and the Society altogether.
“Then I’ll get to work as well.” He took another long sip of his coffee and stood.
Jo started for the front door, not even worrying about the Door appearing over top. She felt level once again, in control. Perhaps that was an illusion. But it was the most reassuring thing she’d felt all day.
She had a plan of action. But more importantly, she had a source of information—real information and research—outside of the Society and away from Pan’s seemingly omniscient gaze. She would’ve exchanged a lot more than bringing another member of the Society to the Bone Carver for that.
Now, the only question in her head was who it would be.
Chapter 16
Signatures
Being back in the Society almost felt jarring.
