“Whatever you can manage to create, any sort of shield, is appreciated,” Prospero said stiffly. She extended her hands toward Ellie. “May I?”
“Oh. Right.” Ellie ignored the offered hands and wrapped her arms around Prospero’s waist, taking the excuse to hold her tightly. “Let’s go.”
“You’re very forward, Miss Brandeau,” Prospero muttered, tensing as she did so.
So Ellie slid her hands down to rest on the curve of Prospero’s bottom. “Nice of you to notice.”
Prospero smiled, not quite a laugh, but it was something. The desire to protect her, ease her moods, be there for her was springing from something deep inside. Yes, they had a problem shoving them apart, but love overcame. Of that, Ellie was certain.
In the next moment, they were standing in the wooded space adjacent to the barrier, which was entirely absent. There were about twenty guards standing around, most of whom looked more tense than Ellie was used to seeing in Crenshaw. The sight of strangers raising weapons aimed at them made Ellie freeze.
Prospero turned so her back was to the guards. Loudly, she called, “We are here to patch the barrier.”
“You don’t need to always put yourself between me and whatever threats there are,” Ellie said as quietly as she could.
“I always will, Ellie, as long as there is life in my body,” Prospero swore. “I cannot be everything you want me to, but in this…” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I will protect you.”
What have I forgotten? Can Imakeher tell me?
Ellie looked beyond Prospero to the openness that was there. It was a step between this world and the rest of the world, as if there were some barrier like those that divided nations or states. There was nothing to mark it. No walls. No fences. Simply, on this side was the magical world, and over there was the start of somewhere mundane.
On the stretch of road immediately beyond the edge of Crenshaw was a truck that looked oddly familiar. Before Ellie could stop herself, she said, “Someone ought to have the transmission checked on that.”
Prospero tensed so completely that Ellie felt as if she were embracing a statue. “Why?”
“I… don’t know. I just remember the sound of gears grinding,” Ellie said softly. “The jerk of it… Why do I know that?”
“Excellent question,” Prospero muttered, turning her head and looking away.
“You weren’t driving… when I was in the truck. I can’tseewho was. It wasn’t you, though.”
“Correct.” Prospero pulled away again, stepping back three paces so Ellie couldn’t reach her, and suggested, “If you can work on the barrier, let’s do… that.”
Her gaze dropped to a patch on the ground that was sludgy and dark, and for a moment, Ellie thought that it was a by-product of the rift until she noticed the way Prospero’s eyes turned glassy and her jaw tightened.
“Is that blood?”
“Yes.” Prospero walked away, as closed down as a person could be, and it occurred to Ellie that she was scared. Despite her ferocity and problem-solving persona, Prospero was afraid.
She gestured to the guards. “Miss Brandeau needs space to work. Take ten.”
“Lady Pros—”
“You can stand between us and the town, but not between her and the”—she waved her hand awkwardly—“opening.”
“If the escaped witches return,” a guard began awkwardly, “you’ll be in the line of fire.”
Prospero sighed. “And do any ofyouwant to be between me and one of the witches who shot Lord Scylla?”
“Not me,” one woman said. “Give a call if you need us.”
The guards retreated. As a group they stepped behind Ellie and Prospero, who marched closer to the edge of the magical world.
“Do you think they’ll come back?” Ellie asked, trailing behind her, startled by how loud the crunch of sticks underfoot seemed in the empty woods. There was no wildlife anywhere, no birds, no small mammals in the trees, no serpents in the path, no frogs hidden under leaves.
“They haven’t left.” Prospero frowned. “They’re back there.” She looked toward the overgrown woods behind them. “I wasn’t sure how your control was, and if there were more vast serpents in wait, I thought—”
“The escaped witches. Will they return?”
