Ursula wondered if they might be in some sort of antechamber to the underworld, until the windows caught her eye. Distant lights twinkled through the glass. On the other side of a park, a cityscape glimmered. Entranced, Ursula stepped toward the glass, watching the falling snow that blanketed the treetops and distant buildings. Where am I?

She searched for the usual London landmarks: the London Eye, the Thames, or the pointed tip of the Gherkin.

But this wasn’t her city. The buildings lining the park were far too tall for London’s skyline.

Dizzy, she stepped back from the window. “Where are we?”

“New York City.”

She shook her head, trying to clear the confusion. It didn’t seem possible—then again, she’d just defeated a demon and travelled through a blaze of fire and ash. Clearly, she needed to rethink what was possible. “So, so…” she stammered. “I’m looking at Central Park.”

“Yes.” Kester traced a gloved finger over the glass. “It’s dark now, but on a clear day you can see the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and beyond that, Harlem.”

She gaped at him, wondering if this was all some kind of dream. “The fire you lit transported us here. With magic.” She felt stupid saying the words out loud.

He pulled off his gloves, turning to the sigil. “Precisely. I can call on Emerazel’s power with her symbol. With the right spell, it is possible to travel between them.”

“I need to let Katie know I’m okay.”

“No. There is no Katie anymore. You need to leave your old life behind. I’ll take care of the explanations to anyone who knew you.”

She eyed him. “You’ve got to be joking. I can’t contact my best friend?”

“You don’t want to test me on this. There are worse things than death, and they’ll be waiting for you if you defy that order.” His voice sent a shiver over her skin, putting an end to that conversation.

Her skin felt hot, and she pulled off the coat Kester had given her, trying to think of what to say next. I was burnt to ash, and then I traveled to New York through a flaming sigil. Magic, demons, hellhounds… Her mind raced in a jumble of confused words that she couldn’t process. F.U., you were a raging lunatic. “Where are we standing right now?”

“This room has been properly prepared to receive those who travel by Emerazel’s fire,” he said, pointing at the markings on the walls. “It’s on the top floor of the Plaza hotel.”

“The Plaza Hotel. Right. And witches and demons are real, and you eat raw sheep and steal souls.”