I wait to see if she will say anything more, but she returns her attention to the book in her lap, only after casting one last look at the photo on the wall. I am dismissed, once again. I creep out of the room, shutting the door behind me. I spot Marley on the staircase. He nods at me, a questioning look in his eye. I nod back.
This is it. We’re leaving. To save Murrey, reunite Alona and her maker and take on the Siren.
Marley looks to the kitchen door, I look to the study. Then we quietly sneak out of the front door together.
*
We are both panting as we sprint to the cottage. I whistle as softly as I can, a warning for Blue. We reach the door and I don’t bother to knock, flinging it open.
“Now or never, Alona,” I say as I enter with a flourish. “We’re leaving now, are you…”
My words fade away. The cottage is spick and span once again, but completely silent. I check each room, calling her name, but there is no sign of her.
“Ramya?”
I return to the hearth at the sound of Marley calling my name. “She’s not here.”
“Look,” he says, holding up a piece of parchment. It’s as white as his face.
A little dryad and a vampire, sharing a cell. He hasn't had any blood in weeks. Hope she is feeling brave. See you shortly little witch.
My hands shake as I read the words. The swirling, vain penmanship screams Fae. Or Portia. I don’t even care. I’m enraged and my skin is hot. I crumple up the piece of paper and hurl it at the stone wall.
“They’ve got her,” Marley says dolefully. “They
must have come last night, or this morning—”
“Doesn’t matter,” I snarl, kicking the door open and heading for the loch, knowing Marley will follow. “We’re rescuing three people now instead of two,
so what. Plan is the same. We haven’t got time to
spare anymore.”
“They’ve been starving Murrey,” Marley points out as we rush to the water’s edge. “That’s not only cruel, it’s dangerous. He’s a Vampire, he might—”
“I know, Marley,” I snap. “I know.”
The evening light is dim as we reach the edge of the loch. I whistle again and I can see a dark shape coming closer, beneath the water. Blue rises up and I am momentarily distracted from rage and fear as I marvel at how glorious she really is.
“Up for one more Edinburgh journey, girl?” I ask, touching her snout gently.
She chuffs and Marley mounts up. I hesitate, looking back over at the cottage, now shrouded in darkness.
Something is not right. Amongst everything else in this moment, where all seems out of place and impossible to fix, something in the shadows sets off a shiver in me.
“Hello?”
A shape materialises out of the gloom.
Alona.
Something is badly wrong. I whisper for Blue to stay away, then turn to address Marely. “I’ll go alone. You stay here, with Blue.”
“Are you mad?”
“Always. But just do it, okay?”
Before he can protest, I move. I walk slowly towards what looks exactly like my friend, with green eyelashes and a kind, open face. I try to appear unassuming.
“Alona?”
The creature that looks like my Dryad friend silently looks back.
“You’re not her, are you?” I say wearily, edging a little closer. “You’re that thing.”
She says nothing. Then she transforms. Marley is suddenly stood before me.
I seethe. “What do you do then? Do you steal
our memories? Push your way into our minds?
You’re disgusting.”
“Oh, Ramya, that’s so mean.”
I don’t look, I just react. Blasting a flash of magic in the direction of the voice. The shape in the dark corner by the cottage wall deflects the spell, and I gape in horror as Alona’s Druid moves into the low light.
“You. You’re with Portia.”
