“I repeat, OH MY GOD, why me? What have I done to be subjected to this?”
“Been born as my niece, so suffer. Now, Seren is here, does that help us?”
Deryn tried very hard to focus, but between trying to stay warm, trying to stay upright after staying warm this long, and everything else going on around her, it was difficult.
“I dunno. Maybe? If I do my thing, if I unleash the Fire, she might sense it, as I sense her. Maybe Ceridwen is with her. Then they will for sure open the circle, like she did for Rhiannon in October. What are the odds of all three of them being there?”
Victoria’s smile was proud, pleased.
“I’d say very, very high. They love you very much, Deryn. We all do.”
Deryn felt tears well in her eyes and tried her best not to let them fall. The last thing she needed was ice on her face.
“Okay, good. Let’s hope and assume they all might be there?—”
And then she felt… Her. Through ice, through cold, through the thick door of the freezer, Deryn felt Paloma on the other side. She didn’t know how she knew. But she did. The hand she placed on the icy metal was suddenly enveloped in a warmth she had not conjured. And no, it wasn’t magical… But it was her.
“Paloma… She’s there too.”
“Oh, child, where else would she be? It would not surprise me if she were the one who started the banging. Surprised she hasn’t yet broken this door down. Hell, surprised she hasn’t razed the entire place down to get you out of it.”
“Us, you mean?”
Victoria did not lift her eyes to the heavens. Her tone was disgust itself.
“Yes, us, whatever. My god, lesbians. Next thing, you’ll tell me that you think she likes you as a friend.”
“What was that?” Deryn was certain she had misheard her aunt.
“Never mind. Get us out of here, and I’ll explain. Or maybe she will.”
Deryn laid both hands on the door at the height of her chest, hoping that maybe Seren would feel her, and pounded once to show her position. When she felt the Water push back at her, she knew she understood. She swayed on her feet, Victoria’s grip on her shoulder the only thing keeping her standing at this point, and tried to focus on the door, on her Fire. Her magic ran rampant under her skin, fighting the exhaustion and the cold. She was so damn tired.
Then she felt the circle. She could see her sisters in her mind’s eye, just outside the door, Seren’s hands on it, and Ceridwen and Rhiannon holding her, chanting. Speaking words old as language itself.
She recited them—stumbled through them, more likely, since she was certain she’d be on her knees any moment now—and then, when she knew she could stand no longer, she hit the door one more time before letting the Fire burn.
25
PALOMA, PURPLE LIPS & BETS (RHIANNON AND SEREN’S)
She was speaking to Ceridwen when she felt it. As if the light had gone out somewhere inside of her. Her hands got colder, and chills ran up and down her spine. The room had not changed—Ceridwen stood just as relaxed next to her. But Paloma could swear she could see her breath.
Something is wrong. Something is terribly wrong.
She must’ve spoken because suddenly Ceridwen was looking at her, touching her. And when their hands collided, Paloma knew she was not imagining it.
“Your skin is like ice. What’s happening?”
“I don’t know. I can’t feel…everything is so cold, and it’s as if something inside me shut off. I can’t explain it.”
Paloma looked at her fingers: they were trembling.
“I can.” Ceridwen pulled her out of the fray of the large ballroom where the party was taking place. A second later, the Headmistress was by their side.
“Your lips are turning purple. What’s happening?” Magdalene Nox’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. Paloma just stared at her. The bicolored eyes looking back were filled with concern.
Ceridwen took Paloma’s hands in hers.
