So, um, where are we? Lough asked, looking around. Some of the other paranormals around us were filing to the many doors lining either side of the stairs, while others were trudging upward.
Were on the Conclave, said Sip. The safest place for paranormals.
Public is the safest place for paranormals, I said. I have a bad feeling about this place.
Come on, said Sip. Its only for a night. Tomorrow well be back at Public. Tonight we get to feast and listen to the Conclave.
Thats what we get to do, said Lough, craning upward to stare at the ma.s.sive chandelier in the middle of the foyers ceiling. Youre going to start a fight with the President of the Paranormals.
Sip shrugged. Only if I dont like what he has to say.
Im sure h.e.l.l find that to be a relief, said Lough. Meanwhile, how do we know where were staying?
Were staying in the galley, said Sip. All the teenagers and college students are.
This place doesnt have a galley, said Lough. It isnt really a ship. What ship looks like this? Its twice as big as it looks.
Actually, its three and a half, said a voice to my left. I felt pinp.r.i.c.ks of anger as I recognized it.
Suddenly standing next to us was Michael Mound, a short, plump pixie with a wide mouth and bright red cheeks that gave him a deceptively jovial air. He held a black cane and looked like he thought of himself as very important.
I reacted on instinct, grabbing Sip just as she lunged forward. Mound, who did not appear to be expecting so strong a reaction from a paranormal so small, took a quick step back, his eyes widening in surprise.
You, Sip snarled, clenching her hands at her sides. I held onto her upper arms as tightly as I could without hurting her.
Mound raised a quizzical eyebrow. It is a mark of just how young and unformed you are that you would react so strongly to me. Shouldnt we be able to have an honest and productive discourse?
Your discourse is neither of those things, said Sip heatedly. Im fine, Charlotte. If I kill him I wont do it when there are witnesses around.
Thats not really comforting, said Lough, folding his arms and glaring at Mound.
Mound gave a small chuckle. Such big words.
You must be Lough, said Mound, extending his hand. I dont know that weve had a formal introduction.
Lough stared at the outstretched hand, beefier than his own, and didnt move.
Mound finally dropped it. Very well, he said.
Other paranormals were streaming past us, some looking at us curiously while others were too busy finding their way around. Mound held onto his cane more tightly.
I had wished, Ms. Quest, that we could have a respectful discussion. I see thats impossible.
Stop accusing Lisabelle of things she isnt doing, and Ill think about it, said Sip through gritted teeth.
Mound shook his head. Im afraid Im not wrong about the darkness mage. Its a sad truth that her darkness is overwhelming. Theres just nothing else for it.
Theres no truth to that at all, said Sip, sounding appalled, which is exactly why we cant have an honest discourse.
Mound shook his head. As the leader of the Sign of Six, a fledgling organization if ever there was one, you really should learn to treat your enemies better.
Are you my enemy? Sip demanded.
I a.s.sumed you thought of me as such, said Mound, shrugging indelicately.
Yes, said Sip slowly, as she started to turn away. Im just surprised you noticed, buried under all the lies that youve heaped on top of yourself.
With that the three of us walked away.
Id really like to run into some friends now, said Lough. First Dobrov and now Mound. Next thing well see Camilla.
I would love to see Camilla right now, said Sip, cracking her knuckles. That would feel good.
Lough and I raised our eyebrows at each other. I had never seen Sip get so angry, or react so strongly to being challenged. Lisabelles being gone was hard on me, and I knew it was hard on Lough, but I had to remember that Lisabelle was Sips roommate, and Sip had stayed in that room at Public all summer without her friend.
Now her shoulders were shaking with anger. How dare he say such things about Lisabelle? she demanded.
Sip, said Lough gently, Lisabelle went over to darkness. Its not something these paranormals can understand.
Sip stuck out her chin. I dont need their understanding. I need their cooperation. And theyd better not hurt Lisabelle.
I think its pretty clear none of us can hurt Lisabelle, I said. Thats what has everyone so worried.
Sip ignored me.
We went down to the galley, which was one ma.s.sive room that looked the way the floor of Astra had when I arrived back after Golden Falls: covered in sleeping bags. Sip sighed, led us to an empty corner, and stared around darkly.
Trafton and Rake were already there, and they waved when they saw us.
Im going to go say hi, said Lough. Ill be right back.
Well get stuff set up, said Sip, sighing.
As I watched my friend, I could see the struggle clearly reflected on her face. The lines were etched in sadness.
Are you okay? I asked.
She didnt answer, she just unpacked some objects that looked like miniature sleeping bags from a small sack and tossed a bit of dust on them. I had no idea what she was doing, but as I watched, the bags grew to normal size.
Increase powder, she said, seeing me looking. Its a pixie thing, usually used for tricks, but they figured out it was useful for packing too, so they make a mint selling it.
Cool, Ill remember that. Then I repeated my question: Are you okay?
Sip set down the bag she had been resizing. I dont know, she said. No, I guess Im not.
She sighed and took a deep breath before continuing. I hate hearing all the bad things paranormals are saying about Lisabelle, and I hate that its my fault. Her lower lip trembled and she busied herself again with the bags.
Sip, I whispered. She made a choice. I was there when they took you. There was nothing you could do.
Sip glared at me, but I knew she wasnt angry with me. I should have fought harder. Lisabelle shouldnt have had to resort to . . . to . . . to that. To giving up her life. For me.
She prizes loyalty above everything, I said. She carried out her beliefs for her best friend. Im sure there was nothing more she wanted.
Sip just continued to shake her head.
I miss her. She hung her head.
I stepped forward and gave the little werewolf a hug. I miss her too, I whispered. But we cant fall apart. Well never get her back that way.
How are we going to get her back? Sip said into my shoulder.
Were going to destroy them all, I said. Every last Nocturn.
Chapter Eighteen.
Dinner that night was not what I expected. I thought there would be a feast, and there was certainly more food than I had ever seen in one place before, but it was set up on the deck of the ship, on long picnic tables, sort of like a pot luck supper. There were so many paranormals in the room that it took me until halfway through the meal to find Dacer. It should have been easy, since he was sitting with President Caid, but maybe I just didnt want to face that fact.
The president looked relaxed and happy, which only made me angry. I wanted him to look tired and drawn, and I wondered how Dacer could continue to support a man who had let so many paranormals die.
This food is amazing, said Lough with his mouth full. He had stuffed half a chicken leg into his mouth and was now reaching for cornbread.
Sip had spent the afternoon with her parents before joining us for dinner. Now, despite the excess of food, she didnt have much on her plate, just some slices of apple and cheese. But she hadnt even touched those; it was as if she didnt even realize we were having a meal.
Her eyes were locked on President Caid.
The sky is gorgeous, I said, trying to lighten the mood. Someone had performed magic to lock the warmth in, so even though we were outside in the wind, we were still perfectly warm as the ship chugged along. The sea looked calm and dark in the sunset, with just a few whitecaps forming in the wake of the ship.
Sip finally roused herself and looked at Lough and me as if she had just realized we were there. Were out here so that the water spirits can greet us, she said, explanatory as ever. They should start any minute.
Lough and I both brightened. I found the Strange paranormals fascinating, and I had been looking forward to seeing more of them ever since I had heard wed be on the water so that the mermaids and water spirits could join the Conclave.
Suddenly there was a burst of noise and we all jumped. As if a cannon had gone off, the noise ricocheted off the water.
What was that? I demanded, wide-eyed.
The start of the show, said Lough, pointing away from the ship.
He was right. A little way out over the sea there were bursts of fireworks shooting skyward just as the last of the daylight was disappearing from the sky. The paranormals were celebrating with a show like nothing I had ever seen before.
The fireworks were every color and shape imaginable. The first looked like a living tree, green on top with plentiful leaves and a brown trunk. The next was a silver star, quickly followed by a ma.s.sive red dragon.
Wow, I breathed. What sort of magic is this?
Decorative, said Sip, sounding unimpressed. What Vale tried to teach us while she wasted our time.
I nodded. I thought it was beautiful, and I suddenly had a new appreciation for decorative magic, which had seemed merely trivial before.
Just as I thought the fireworks couldnt get any more impressive, there was another large burst. At first I couldnt tell what it was, then I realized with a gasp that it was a mask.
Dacer, I cried gleefully. The mask was dripping in gold and diamonds of red and blue, strung on a strand of firework pearls.
Yay! Lough cried. I looked around at the faces of the other paranormals and saw that we three werent the only ones getting into the amazing display. Most of the other people at the long table were just as spellbound as we were.
Only Sip sat pa.s.sively, her mind obviously still elsewhere. But after a while, even she started to smile.
This was something worth protecting.
Chapter Nineteen.
At the end of dinner, a number of senior paranormals stood up to make speeches, among them a white-haired fallen angel with whom I had first come into contact when we were all at Vampire Locke for Lancas coronation. Saferous was dignified and high-ranking and he knew Keller well. I had tried not to think about the noticeable absence of Keller and his parents from this gathering, but I had every intention of asking Dacer about it later.
They probably offered to guard one of the locations we still control, said Lough comfortingly.
Just to avoid coming here? I asked skeptically.
Yes, said Sip. Charlotte, you still dont seem to want to realize this, but youre a formidable presence in the paranormal world. As the only elemental you have a very special standing. The Eriksons probably dont mind trampling on you in private, but doing it in public would be a different matter entirely.
I shook my head. I knew my friends meant well, but that just couldnt be true.
Instead of arguing, though, I turned my attention back to the speeches. But even then I was only half listening, because now Mound had caught my eye. He was talking quietly to Professor Zervos, who sat near the head of the most important table, his back razor straight and his black eyes snapping. I had no idea those two knew each other, but it figured. In fact, now that I thought about it, Zervos was probably the one slipping Mound all sorts of information about Public.
Caid was just about to get up and speak when a few paranormals started to point and cry and we all turned our attention back to the water.
Theyre here, Sip breathed.
And indeed, the water spirits were now floating alongside the ship. They werent very close, and they were small creatures, so all I could make out were hundreds of dots of wispy light as they surrounded the ship. It was a breathtaking display.
I honestly didnt think theyd come, said Lough, with a touch of wonder in his voice. I guess defeating the demons is important to them, too.
Its like hundreds of stars floating in the water, I whispered. How could the demons want to destroy something so beautiful?
But Sip wasnt looking at them; her eyes were on Caid. They dont appreciate beautiful, just like Caid doesnt appreciate loyalty, she said.