She didn’t expand on the danger, and it wasn’t clear if she was referring to danger from her or Staviti.
“Well,” Willa started, moving a little closer. “I was hoping to stretch my legs. Just a short walk. I’ll be back before you notice me gone.”
The soap in Pica’s hand exploded; I quickly swung Emmy behind me so that she wasn’t pelted with the shards. Rome did the same with Willa, taking the full brunt.
“Whoops,” Pica trilled. “Must have squeezed it too tight.”
Everyone was on alert then, Abil’s sons manoeuvring themselves into defensive positions, fanning out around their girl. Pica wasn’t acting in a threatening manner at all, but we all knew she would give no warning if she was about to attack. Her randomness was a skill she’d developed: it gave her an edge in battle.
Pica stepped forward, turning her head to examine her ‘Willy boo’, and then she nodded. “Yes, some fresh air is exactly what you need. You’re looking pale.”
Willa didn’t argue, she just pushed her way past her bodyguards and smiled brightly. “You’re so right Pica. Ilovehow right you are.”
Pica’s return smile was broad and genuine. “Yes, love. Always love.”
Then she was gone, back to whatever crazy world she inhabited in her head.
The tension drained from the room and I allowed Emmy to return closer to Willa, now that Willa was no longer a target.
“Let’s go, before Pica changes her mind,” Yael said in a low voice. “And I for one vote that we don’t return, because this place is driving me crazy.”
He wasn’t actively using his Persuasion, but there were tendrils of it in those words. He was desperate to get away from the love dungeon that Pica had created here for them. Willa quickly hurried about, pulling on some shoes and tying her hair back. Emmy and I waited near the door.
When we made it outside, we walked in the direction of the spot where Pica had chosen to build Willa’s house, passing through an elaborate garden. It really did look as though we were all setting out for a walk … except that I grabbed onto Emmy and Coen grabbed onto Willa as soon as we were out of sight, and the eight of us stepped immediately through a pocket, leaving the platform altogether.
We hadn’t discussed where to meet, but we all ended up in the same place anyway. It was where the panteras usually gathered—almost like a central meeting place for them. It was a short distance from the cave that housed the Mortal Glass, so the reason for their chosen gathering place wasn’t such a surprise, if you thought about it. They were the guardians of many things in Topia, and the glass was one of them.
A wave of cold hit me as I glanced around at the clearing, blinking to try and clear the spots of white from my vision.
“Oh my gods,” Emmy whispered, her voice small beside me. “It’s snowing!”
She sounded equal-parts horrified and excited, and I watched as she ran to the huge, twisted tree by the bank of the river running through the clearing. The Abcurses were also watching as Willa squealed something and did the exact same thing. The girls huddled beneath the cover of the tree together, clutching at each other, looking out at the falling snowflakes.
“It’s snowing.” That had come from Aros, his tone astounded.
I wasn’t sure if this was a good sign or a bad sign, but I knew one thing for certain: it had never snowed in Topia before.
“You don’t have to hide,” I yelled out to Emmy and Willa. “This isn’t like the acid-snow in Minatsol, it won’t cause you any harm.”
They ventured out cautiously, and it was then that I realised we were completely alone.
“Where are the panteras?” Rome asked.
“Maybe they’re taking refuge from the snow,” Emmy supplied. “Is there shelter anywhere near here?”
“The cave,” Willa muttered, already turning and marching off.
I caught Aros and Siret passing an amused glance before following after her. “Wrong direction, Rocks,” Siret said gently, his hands landing on her shoulders when he caught up to her, turning her the right way.
She didn’t even bat an eyelid—just continued in the same determined march, though facing the right direction this time. I slowed behind their group, preferring to walk with Emmy. She seemed nervous, so I wrapped my hand around hers, twisting our fingers together and giving her hand a squeeze. She looked up at me, apparently surprised by the gesture.
“I don’t want you running away,” I grunted.
“Oh …” Two fine little wrinkles appeared between her brows as she frowned. “I don’t really know how to do the disappearing-and-reappearing thing that you guys do, so …”
“Travelling through pockets,” I supplied. “I’ll teach you.”Just as soon as I’m sure you won’t use it to run away from me.
“Thank you.” Her voice was low, soft, genuine. My hand twitched, and I fought the urge to drag her home and exploit the sudden pliability I could sense from her. It was infuriatingly appealing that all I needed to do to win her over was offer her information.
