Yet, Casimir cleared his throat and said, ‘You’ve no time. Salamander is in his study below us, waiting for the amendment to be passed in parliament. He is on the very edge of getting his magic back. You’ll need to stop him right away.’
‘We need to find a spirit who can help us,’ said Lio. ‘Thistlethwaite. Is she down there?’
‘Why would you need her?’ asked Casimir.
‘To break Theodora’s contract,’ said Dot. ‘We need a spiritolderthan Salamander.’
Casimir gave her a deadpan look. He seized her afflicted wrist, the magic of the Ancient Spirit made manifest. ‘What do you thinkyouare?’
Dot’s mouth dropped open.
‘Why inhell’sname did we not think of that?’ demanded Lio.
‘Quick,’ said Theodora, grabbing them both and tugging them toward the door behind the tank, but before they reached it, a blast of magic erupted from Acanthi and the three of them toppled over. The room now reeked of the witches’ magic: incense, gunpowder, woodsmoke, elderberry, hemlock and blackberry.
Opal, glistening and monstrous in her white scales, was on her feet. The blast had thrown Cate and Moira to the ground.
‘You took my memories,’ said Opal, glaring at Lio. ‘You took who I was.’
‘Go!’ said Lio, shoving Dot and Theodora toward the space behind the water tank. Casimir was beside them, doubled over, clutching his bleeding arms and chest. He opened the door.Theodora and Dot were almost inside when Lio let out a scream. He was ripped backward and out of sight.
‘Lio!’ cried Dot, leaping back into the room.
Opal was upon him.
‘Opal,’ shouted Lio, wrestling her, ‘we were trying to spare you.’
Theodora threw a repulsion charm at Opal. She toppled from Lio as Theodora and Dot flew to his side. They dragged him back toward the door, but Opal rose to her feet once more.
Lio took out his chalk and brought it to his hand.
‘Opal, stop,’ cried Cate. ‘They are not important. We need to break your contract.’
‘I no longerhavea contract,’ shouted Opal, glaring at her mother. ‘It ran out! Years ago! Casimir knows that, you imbeciles! And it doesn’t matter because I can’t fight the conduence. The only way out for me is through, Mother – I want Salamander’s magic. I want the talentyoutaught to Tessa.’
‘I will find a way,’ said Cate. ‘Please, let me fix it. Leave them.’
‘Leaveme,’shrieked Opal, lurching at Lio again.
Lio threw his hand in Theodora’s coat pocket and pulled out the bread knife.
‘Lio,’ cried Dot from beside Theodora, but the young man shoved his palm at the pair of them. A repulsion rune was scribbled there. Dot and Theodora soared behind the tank and through the door.
‘Casimir,’ said Lio. ‘Seal it.’
‘No!’ shouted Dot, scrambling forward.
Their eyes met for only a moment, but in it was held a small lifetime. Dot saw Lio looming in the shadows of Saint Penelope’s Cathedral. Lio furiously cleaning the tea shop. Lio teaching Rupert in the courtyard. Lio kissing her hand.
He smiled at her.
He nodded at Theodora.
And then the door was shut by Casimir and the two women were gone and sealed away.
Opal slammed into Lio, wrestling him to the floor.
‘Why did you bring this cursed thing?’ she shrieked as she snatched the bread knife. ‘Are you taunting me, Lio? Is this why you and Tessa turned me into this? Turn me back. I just wanted a talent. Why did you—’
