Rise of the Darklings (35 page)

H
er parents. Alive.

Emily couldn’t believe it, couldn’t
let
herself believe it. She left Hyde Park and ran through the streets of London, her mind a swirling mess of emotions: hope, fear, anger, resentment, helplessness.

And doubt.

What if it was a lie? What if the Dagda was just saying that to get her to go along with him? She wasn’t sure she could take the disappointment of losing her parents again.

But what if it was
true?
What if someone really had taken them captive? What if she could rescue them? They would be a family again. She and William would have their parents back.

No. She couldn’t think like that. It was too dangerous. She used to lie awake at night imagining the return of her parents, used to dream of them all being a happy family once more. But it had never happened, and she had learned how painful it was to hope for something impossible.

But the flicker of hope wouldn’t die. What if the Dagda
could
help get them back? What would she give for that to happen?

This time Emily really did shy away from such thoughts. Deep inside, she was scared of the answer, scared of what she would give up for the return of her family. No matter who else got hurt in the process.

Emily found herself back at Somerset House without much memory of the intervening journey. Her thoughts had kept returning to her parents, to memories of the past.

To dreams of the future.

She stood before the building and mentally shook herself. She had to focus on the task at hand. She couldn’t spend what little time she had daydreaming about her ma and da. She’d never get them back that way.

Emily climbed in through the window she’d left open and hurried through the dimly lit corridors. She arrived at the library without incident, then quickly made her way to
the door that led into the offices and rooms of the Invisible Order.

She gently pushed it open …

 … then quickly jerked back as someone ran past in the corridor outside.

Emily paused, wondering if someone had found out she was back in the building. She suddenly realized it might not have been the best idea to bring the key with her while she searched for the location of Merlin’s Tower.

But it was too late to do anything about it now.

Emily opened the door and looked both ways along the green-carpeted hallway. There didn’t seem to be anyone else about. She slipped into the corridor and made her way toward Sebastian’s office.

She had to hide twice more, once for an elderly man—ashen-faced and sweating, who was hurrying along with a huge pile of papers—and the second time for Mr. Blackmore. Emily felt her throat go dry. Was all this because of what had happened back at St. Paul’s?

She made it to Sebastian’s office and ducked inside, closing the door quietly behind her. The first thing she did was check on William. She smiled with relief when she saw him sleeping in the exact same place she had left him earlier. He always was a heavy sleeper, as long as the nightmares stayed away. He’d probably carry on sleeping till dawn if nothing woke him.

Her eyes shifted to the large book, still sitting on the table next to the fire. She sat down and carefully opened it, wincing at the loud creaking of the spine. She paused, made sure it hadn’t disturbed William, then started paging through the book.

The earliest pages were so brittle and thin she thought they were going to crumble to dust beneath her fingers. She gently turned them over, frowning at writing she couldn’t even understand. The ink was muted and faded.

There were pages devoted to ink drawings of the different kinds of fey, many of whom she had seen over the past few days. Each drawing was marked with meticulous notes.

This cataloging went on for more than a hundred pages, but it wasn’t what Emily was looking for. She needed the more recent entries. She turned to the back of the book, where the paper was thick and new. The pages here were empty, waiting to be filled, so she riffled backward until she found pages with writing in them. She slowly went over the entries, finding diary entries signed by Ravenhill. She wanted to read some of them, but she didn’t have the time.

Emily searched until her eyes hurt, but she couldn’t find any mention of Merlin’s Tower. She
had
found diary entries written by Christopher Wren, but even though she skimmed through them, she could find nothing that would help her. She finally closed the book and stared at the leather cover.

What was she supposed to do now? She had to find the second half of the key before dawn, or the Dagda wouldn’t keep his side of the deal.

She was still contemplating her next move when the door opened and Sebastian hurried in. He stopped short when he saw her.

“Emily. Where have you been?”

“I … had some things to take care of.”

Sebastian looked suspicious. “What kind of things—Actually, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have time to go into it. You’re back now—that’s all that matters.” Sebastian hurried over to a wooden cabinet above his desk. He opened the cabinet and took out two pistols. He sat down opposite Emily and took bullets from a box, loading them into the gun. “I see your fast-footed friend is no longer with us.”

“No. He …” Emily floundered, wondering what to say.

“Had some things to take care of?” said Sebastian wryly.

“Something like that,” said Emily.

“Fine. Just make sure you and William don’t go anywhere. You’ll be safe here.”

“Safe from what?” asked Emily, eyeing the gun nervously. Sebastian’s hands were shaking slightly.

“We’ve had a tipoff. The Queen and the Dagda are meeting in Hyde Park at dawn. We’re going to hide in the trees across the Serpentine and lay an ambush.”

“You’re … you’re going to fight?”

“It looks like it. Ravenhill said we won’t ever get a better opportunity than this.”

“Ravenhill?”

“Yes, it was Ravenhill who found out.”

He closed the pistols with a click.

“I thought you used iron swords and things?” Emily said.

Sebastian held up one of the bullets for her to see. “Iron and lead mixture. It will do the job much more efficiently.”

Emily didn’t like what she was hearing. She knew the races had fought each other through the years, but this seemed like a planned slaughter. At least with swords and knives, the fight was personal.

Sebastian registered her look. “You don’t approve?” Before she could say anything, he sighed and laid the guns on the table. “Neither do I, truth to tell.”

“Then don’t go.”

“I have to. This could be our one chance to get rid of the fey for good.”

A thought suddenly struck her. “How did you solve the clue?”

Sebastian looked puzzled. “The clue? We haven’t solved it. We haven’t even had time to talk about it. This came up as soon as our members arrived.”

Then how had Ravenhill known she would be at the cathedral? He and his men were waiting there in ambush. How was that possible, if they hadn’t solved the clue? Emily thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. She didn’t have enough information to answer the question, and short of asking Ravenhill herself, she doubted she’d be able to find out.

Instead, her thoughts turned to the problem at hand. She could tell Sebastian the truth. That she might have found a way to get rid of the Queen once and for all. But would that be enough? Maybe for Sebastian, but she couldn’t see Ravenhill honoring any deal she made with the Dagda. He would want all of them gone, not just the Seelie. And how would that affect her chances of getting her parents back? If the Order got to the Dagda, he wouldn’t be able to help her track them down.

Her best bet was to find the key and get to the Dagda before the Order did. Then what? Would she warn him? Maybe he could force the Queen through the gate and vanish before the Order even arrived. Then she would have honored her word
and
avoided any bloodshed.

“Sebastian,” she said. “Do you know what Merlin’s Tower is?”

Sebastian looked at her in surprise. “Where did you hear that?”

“Oh, I …” Emily gestured to the book lying on the table. “I saw it mentioned in there,” she lied.

Sebastian frowned disapprovingly. “You shouldn’t be reading that.”

Emily tried to look contrite. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“But to answer your question, Merlin’s Tower is what Christopher Wren called the Monument. You must have seen it. Huge tower? On Fish Street Hill?”

Emily looked blank.

“Near London Bridge.”

Emily suddenly knew what Sebastian was talking about. She had seen the pillar countless times over the years, but had never really given it a second glance. It was just a background part of the city, always there, invisible.

Sebastian stood up. “Only a few hours till dawn.” He smiled nervously at Emily. “Hopefully I’ll see you later. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck,” said Emily quietly.

“I want to go.”

Sebastian and Emily looked over at William in surprise. He was sitting up in the chair. How long had he been listening to them talk?

“I’m sorry?” said Sebastian.

“I want to come with you. I want to fight.”

“Don’t be absurd,” snapped Emily. “You’re only nine years old.”

“So?” said William hotly. “Stop treating me like a baby, Em.
I’m old enough to do things for myself. I want to fight. I want to help stop them.”

“Out of the question,” said Sebastian. “This isn’t a game, William. People will die.”

“I know that! But this is my city, as well. I have as much right as you do to defend it.”

“I don’t have time for this,” said Sebastian. He looked at Emily. “Remember. Stay here. You’ll be safe.”

Sebastian took one final, distracted look around his office, then turned and strode from the room.

Emily waited, then jumped up and headed for the door. She pulled it open and looked out. The corridor was empty.

“What are you doing?” said William.

Emily turned to her brother. She gripped him by the shoulders. “Will, listen to me. Ma and Da are still alive.” William’s eyes widened. “Don’t talk. Just listen to me. I have to do something. It’s dangerous, but there’s a chance it will bring them back to us. But I need you to stay here. I can’t do this if I’m worrying about you all the time.”

“You won’t have to worry about me! I promise. Take me with you, Em. Please! Don’t leave me here.”

Emily saw the determination in his eyes. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. She hesitated, then nodded. “Fine,” she said. “Go and look for something you can use as a weapon. A letter opener or something.”

William’s face lit up with joy. He hurried over toward Sebastian’s desk, searching for something he could use to defend himself.

Emily quickly removed the key from the door, stepped through, and pulled it shut behind her. She shoved the key in and locked it again.

William banged on the door. “Emily!” he shouted. “Don’t you dare leave me here! It’s not fair!”

Emily laid her head against the door, feeling absolutely wretched. “Sorry, Will,” she whispered. “It’s for your own good.”

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-EIGHT