Teela nodded. “With your permission, Mrs. Erickson?”

Mrs. Erickson was staring at a very closed door. She nodded, and Teela placed a hand firmly on her shoulder.

Terrano moved toward the door, passing through Mrs. Erickson as if she no longer existed. He lifted a palm. As he’d just walked through Mrs. Erickson, Kaylin had no doubt he’d pass through her in the same way if she was in his path. The door, however, met the flat of his palm and remained there.

“The door exists across most of the planes Terrano has any experience with,” Mandoran explained. “But not all. He thinks he can open it by sliding between two planes and...pushing.”

“Pushing?”

“More or less.”

“Serralyn says less,” Teela told her. “I am almost at the point of agreeing with Mandoran—this would be much easier if you knew our names.”

“You’re just trying to annoy Sedarias enough that she’ll show up.”

“Terrano listens to her more than any of the rest of us—at least when she’s present.” In a quieter voice, she said, “Terrano is reckless. He always has been. Sedarias can keep him anchored in a way that Mandoran can’t.” She made no mention of herself.

Terrano’s livid green arm—Kaylin could swear the color itself was pulsating, like a very bizarre heart—passed through the door.

“He asks us all to step back,” Mandoran said. “Right now.”

Teela pulled Mrs. Erickson away, practically lifting the old woman off her feet.

Hope, however, said, Remain where you are standing.

“What about everyone else?”

Squawk.

Kaylin watched the door through Hope’s wing, her hands becoming fists. She understood why Sedarias was angry. She’d accept anger if it meant that Terrano could free the children. Jamal’s fear was infectious.

The door didn’t open.

Instead, the center of it melted, something that might once have resembled wood dribbling onto the floor, where it pooled just beyond everyone’s feet. Everyone’s but Kaylin’s. Mandoran, green, didn’t seem to be standing on the floor; the melted door passed through the base of his feet without touching them.

“Jamal!” Mrs. Erickson shouted. She tried to pull free of Teela, which was impossible. Kaylin, with better training and far more muscle, couldn’t have managed it.

But Kaylin turned toward what was now a jagged, oval hole in what had appeared to be a door. Jamal was standing on the other side of it, looking out, his eyes wide. He seemed to be afraid to cross the threshold, but when he saw Mrs. Erickson struggling to free herself, he immediately sprang into action.

Teela said, “Don’t. Come over here and bring your friends.”

Kaylin frowned and turned to her fellow Hawk. “You can see him.”

“I can see him now.”

“That can’t be a good sign.”