Panic seizes me at the last. There’s someone else, isn’t there? I’ve forgotten—who have I forgotten?

Legion croons mournfully. Hope matters not.

I am Etienne, he breathes.

The darkness drifts apart in answer, revealing the temple of Chateau le Blanc. But this place . . . I’ve never known it. Blood runs as a river from the temple down the mountainside, soaking the hair and hems of the fallen witches in its path. I recognize none of them. Except one.

Nicholina stands in the center of the clearing, her hands and mouth dripping blood.

Oh my god.

Never before have I seen such carnage. Never before have I seen such death. It pervades everything, coating each blade of grass and permeating each beam of moonlight. It hovers like a disease, thick and foul in my nose. And Nicholina revels in it, her eyes bright and silver as she turns to face La Voisin, who steps down from the red-slicked temple. Behind her, she drags a bound woman. I can’t see her face. I can’t tell if she’s alive or dead.

When I look closer, horrified, the scene returns to darkness, and a familiar voice slithers down my spine.

Do you fear death, little mouse?

I do not recoil, reciting their names. Reid, Coco, Beau, Ansel. Then— Everyone fears death. Even you, Nicholina.

Her ghostly chuckle reverberates. If you cannot master this one simple fear, you will not survive L’Eau Mélancolique. Oh, no. Our husband plans to baptize us, but he doesn’t realize. He doesn’t understand. Our mistress will stop him. The image of a dragon flashes—there and gone before I can properly see. Even if not, the waters go down, down, down, down, and there they drown, drown, drown, drown.

My own surprise and bewilderment stretch between us now. L’Eau Mélancolique? Though I wrack my memory to place the name, the darkness only seems to condense around it. I know those words. I know them. I just can’t—I can’t seem to remember them. Fresh panic swells at the realization, but—no. I won’t give in. I push against the darkness angrily.

Reid, Coco, Beau, Ansel. If Reid plans to baptize me in these waters, he must have a reason. I have to trust him. I can swim.