I shake my head, raising my hand to cover my mouth. That’s when I hear a banging coming from across the attic, traveling up the second set of stairs. I also hear muffled voices and a doorknob rattling. Could that be Lily, Cleo, and Anwar?

“Oh, thank the goddess,” Lady Azure then cries out. I shine my flashlight back on her and it’s only then I realize she seems to be crying tears of… joy?

“Carson’s beloved Princess, the source of our powers. It’s ours forever.”

My heart sinks. Suddenly I feel like the drowned Princess myself, plunged into unexpected waters against my will.

“But the card,” I try, “it’s destroyed.”

“Dead things don’t really die, little girl.” Lady Azure speaks almost in a chant, her head down. “Here in the Isle of Baxter, the energy resides.”

My skin prickles cold. Suddenly I feel sick.

“You… this is what you wanted all along?”

“Our talents sharpened after Carson hid this card on our island. I would never disrespect Carson’s wishes. I never entered the maze below our feet, but I sat up here often, soaking in the presence of Carson’s hidden card. We did follow his instructions to the letter, but you are correct.”

Lady Azure raises her face then, her tearful eyes connecting with mine.

“This is indeed the outcome I desired.”

A wave of realization crashes over me. Details soak into my skull, running through our time with Lady Azure. Her tarot readings. Our group’s separation. Her “herbal” tea. The flickering lights. Her presence here in this attic outlet, blocking the others. Where does the line between Carson Perilli and Lady Azure lie?

I don’t know the answers to this question. All I do know, with a sudden surge, is that we have to get off of this tragic island as fast as possible. I clutch the scroll in my hand against the straps of Cleo’s backpack, because who knows what else Lady Azure wants to take from our visit.

Just then, there’s a bang across the attic as the exit door flies open.

“Amelia, are you all right?” Cleo asks, rushing to my side.

“We came up here to try to meet you, but the door was locked,” Anwar adds. “It took me forever, but I picked the lock.”

“We need to go,” I whisper back to them. “Now.”

“Mom, what are you doing?” Lily asks. “Why did you lock us out?”

“It’s done. The Princess of Cups is ours, floating in the flow of the Isle forever,” Lady Azure answers.

“What?” Lily responds. “You’re not making sense.”

“The card is destroyed. Which means it can never leave. Don’t you see what this signifies? These cards really belong to us, Lily.”

Lily stares back at her mother, looking horrified.

“No,” Lily says. “They don’t.”

Lily’s eyes then flutter, like she is putting the pieces together. Or… listening? Either way, she turns to us next.

“Take the stairs to the basement, then use the exit down there. I texted Seidon to meet you. He’ll take you and the others back.”