Betrayal - By Lee Nichols Page 0,58

can I see him again?” she asked, meaning like that brief moment on the roof.

“Oh, um …” I argued with Coby for a moment, back and forth, until he forced me to say, “Coby says, ‘never.’ ”

She stopped walking, and gave the pencil a curt jerk. “What? Why?”

“ ‘Because Emma can’t do that again,’ ” I said. “I mean, that’s what he says. I totally could, though.”

The pencil started twirling in her hand, and Coby’s ghostly face watched her expression as she considered. She finally nodded, and waggled the pencil. “No,” she said. “You’re right, Coby.” She started walking again. “Look at your hands, Emma. You did that for us—me and Harry. But once was enough.” Her eyes outlined the space she expected Coby to fill. “What will he do now?”

“He says he’s not going to linger much longer. He’s got a few things to do—”

“No! He can’t leave me. Not again.”

Coby shook his head. She has to forget about me.

Why? She loves you. She wants you to remain part of her life.

Because I won’t always be here, he said. You know that.

I told Sara, and to my surprise she laughed. “Forget him? I’ll never forget him. Just …” She looked in his direction. “Just don’t be in such a rush.”

We continued that odd, three-way conversation until the bell rang. Then Sara rushed off and Coby vanished—and I realized I hadn’t asked him about the Beyond. Or about Edmund’s suspicions.

Before training that afternoon, Simon called us into the breakfast nook for a snack of pumpkin seeds and something called twig tea—which broke poor Anatole’s heart. Even Celeste seemed a little downcast by the meager offerings. Only Nicholas, toying with the pumpkin seeds, seemed cheerful.

We ate and talked about everything. The Knell, the amulet, the siren. The dark ghostkeeper, my parents, and Neos.

I dreaded facing him. Yes, I wanted this to be over, but sometimes I felt like the knight who has to slay the dragon to win the princess. Charging into a wall of fire with no weapon but a flimsy little sword. Just once, it might be nice to be the princess.

“So this is where we stand,” Simon said. “We need to find Neos’s final resting place … but we can’t. Our second-best shot is taking that amulet from him—that, at least, will remove some of his power. And perhaps one of our readers can use the amulet to find his body. In any case, you’re fully trained—or as near as you’ll get. It’s time to stop waiting, and to act.”

“What’re we going to do?” Lukas asked.

“We’ll head to the Knell, tomorrow,” Simon said. “Lay a trap for Neos, and wait till he springs it.”

“What kind of trap?” Natalie asked.

“We’ll summon him, if necessary,” Simon said, avoiding the question. “That’s why we’re going to the Knell. That’s where we’re strongest.”

“You mean that’s where Emma’s strongest,” Natalie said. “This is all on her.”

“It’s where the Knell can best help her.”

Natalie turned to me. “How are your hands?”

I glanced at them, still lightly wrapped in bandages. It had been less than twenty-four hours, but they were definitely getting better. It didn’t make any sense, but maybe ghostbite healed faster than regular frostbite.

I bit the tape off my left hand and started unwrapping the bandages. “Just keep that siren away from me.”

“That’s Lukas’s job,” Simon said.

“What’s mine?” Natalie asked.

“Summoning allies,” Simon said. “And keeping Emma out of the wrong kind of trouble.”

“How?”

“By keeping your eyes open. You and Emma have a bond. Sometimes being close to someone is as powerful as any ghostkeeping ability.”

“What’re you going to do?”

“Coordinate with the Knell. If we all combine our powers, we’ll win this. As long as Emma is ready.”

“I will be,” I said, flexing my almost-healed fingers.

17

You look a mess, the Rake said.

After dinner, I’d slipped into the ballroom to summon him. I thought you old-fashioned guys weren’t supposed to comment on a lady’s poor looks.

You are hardly a lady, my little warrior.

I half laughed. Even the Rake didn’t see me as a princess. Well, your little warrior is ready to be a big warrior.

He lunged at me with his rapier.

For once, I was ready. I deflected his thrust, and stepped in close. He backed and swiveled, trying to bring his sword to bear, but I slid under his guard and held my blade to his neck.

Passable, he said. Again.

My hand hurts. I switched the dagger to my left hand, shaking out my right, and he attacked me again.

Hey! I yelped.

Ignore the pain, Emma. Or