“What’s this salon she was talking about?” Baz asked Polina as they made their way toward campus, the sounds of fireworks and laughter slowly dying behind them.
“It’s this social justice club that Cordie’s brother started,” Polina said, cheeks warming as though unused to the attention. “A place for like-minded students to gather and discuss Eclipse magic, its place in the world, what we can do to fight against all these rules and regulations that limit our magic.” She gave Baz a sidelong glance. “It’s a wonder they even let Eclipse students come to the Bicentennial. As far as I know, you’re the only ones who came. I know things are far better in the Constellation Isles. You’re very lucky to study there.”
“We are,” Kai said with a note of fond yearning.
“There have been some strides made in Elegy in recent years,” Polina continued, “but we’ve got a long road ahead still. These academic salons are working toward change. You’ll see for yourselves tomorrow.”
They hopefully would notbehere tomorrow, Baz thought, his mind going back to Dovermere, the Hourglass, and the time magic he was trying very hard not to dwell on.
They found themselves going down the elevator to the same hall they’d left back in their own time.Thiselevator wasn’t as rickety as it was two hundred years from now. It was pristine and shinyand went down smoothly. The wards let them through without a fuss, recognizing in them the power of the Eclipse.
But the inside of Obscura Hall made Baz stumble.
Gone were the fields of gold bowing toward the sea; gone was the willow tree that led into the commons. The elevator doors opened onto a path lined with round, glass lanterns all lit by the glow of fireflies dancing within. They were in an enchanted garden, with marble statues overcome with lichen and archways drooping with delicate flowers lining the path that sloped down toward a quaint stone cottage. The sky above them was dark, just as Baz’s own illusioned sky had been.
“Is this your illusion?” Baz asked Polina. Obscura Hall was enchanted to reflect a scene from the most senior Eclipse student’s memory.
Polina blinked at him. “How did you know it was an illusion?”
Shit. “Oh, we have the same thing at Karunang.” Baz could only hope that was true—or that Polina would never find out otherwise.
Kai threw Baz a withering look that said,Smooth, Brysden.
Polina appeared unconcerned. “This is Thames’s. He’s a fourth year, I’m only a second year. You’ll meet him tomorrow, I’m sure.”
She opened the cottage door for them, and as they stepped inside, they found themselves in the commons proper. This corner of Obscura Hall was, by all means, the same as they’d left it that very morning, though much less threadbare. The sunflower wallpaper was pristine, gold filigree shining under the lamplight and the glow of the flames that crackled pleasantly in the fireplace. The sofas were in the same spots, bright reds and oranges and yellows, where in the present they were subdued shades of browns and rust. The curtains looked like they were the same, too, though not yet quite as moth-eaten.
“Up here are our dorms,” Polina said, leading them up the stairs. “I’m in this room. Thames in that one. You can have your pick ofthe others.” Her cheeks flushed as she met Baz’s eye and said, “If you need anything, don’t be shy to knock.”
“Th-Thank you,” Baz stuttered.
“Of course. Good night.” Polina fluttered her lashes prettily at him before she disappeared inside her room.
Baz had the odd thought that she might have beenflirtingwith him, though for the life of him, he couldn’t see why. He met Kai’s gaze. The Nightmare Weaver lifted an amused brow.
“Shut up,” Baz muttered before heading back downstairs.
The two of them sat by the fire, waiting for Polina to fall asleep so they could slip out the secret door—which was still there, thankfully—and into Dovermere. If Baz were to close his eyes, he could almost imagine he was in the present. The sounds were the same. The smells. The sofa was firmer than he remembered, but with Kai here by his side, it still felt like home.
It hit him then that they had truly gone back in time, and he didn’t know if he wanted to burst out crying or start laughing at this strange twist of fate.
“What do you think happened to them?” Kai asked, lost in the hypnotic flames. “Virgil, Nisha, Vera…”
“Keiran?”
“Yeah. Or whatever the fuck was wearing his face.”
They hadn’t had the chance to speak of it yet—of the fact that Keiran had beenrevivedright before their eyes. Baz didn’t know how to feel about it. Ever since he’d watched Keiran die, he’d been pushing all his guilt way down. Guilt at robbing Keiran of his parents. Guilt at being the reason why Keiran had done everything he’d done at all, because all of it had been to see his parents again.
He wasn’t sure if Keiran had survived the sleepscape this time, but if he had, perhaps this could be a second chance for him.
But it wasn’t reallyhim, was it? There was so much they didn’tknow about Reanimator magic, so there was no way to tell how much of Keiran would be, well, Keiran.
And what if this soulless version of him wanted revenge?
What if, with all pretense of civility shed at last, Keiran meant to come after Baz?
Or Emory?
