Poesy gave an amused smile. “And what do you think that makes you? You haven’t a clue where your powers come from, do you? And to think, here you’ve invaded my sanctuary to denounce the very mechanism I used to create you? I have no taste for irony. Such insolence from my own children will not be suffered.”

Poesy was still holding the tray and, as though nervous, the teacups atop it rattled.

Elliot’s voice was firm. “What mechanism?”

Poesy dipped her chin. “The sacred process of turning a person’s pain into power, of course, but I see no point in entertaining the curiosity of a few failing prototypes. I see now that the powers I have granted you have made you too bold, and we can’t have that for our new world, now can we Ms. Daisy?” She looked over them appraisingly. “I suppose I could try taking you each apart and putting you back together, but that’ll take some time. And it’s a rather painful process. I’d have to get changed.”

The light was fading in Kane’s palm. He had been so wrong. This person, the only person he saw himself in, was supposed to protect and help him, but she had used him like a prop. She had isolated and manipulated him, and now they were all going to suffer.

“You’re not hurting anybody,” he said weakly. “You said you would protect me. You said you needed me!”

Poesy’s eyes were glass marbles in her painted skull. Airily, she said, “I need no one. I need power, only, and you’ve brought it to me. I had envisioned a partnership with you, yes, but this newfound disloyalty will not do. You have chosen your friends. You have chosen poorly. You are my biggest disappointment.”

A black blur lurched from the carpet and pounced on Adeline, dragging her and Kane to the floor. Without aim or discretion, the pent-up magic burst from Kane’s grip.

Poesy dumped the tea set and snapped up the tray, deflecting the bolt into the chandelier above. Sparks and glass hailed upon them. Kane heard a dog snarl then yelp as Elliot threw Ms. Daisy to the side, and then they were all running.

“Get them out of here!” Poesy screamed as they dashed into the halls beyond the sanctuary. The corridors filled with clicking claws on marble, the Dreadmare unfolding from the shadows. Elliot cried out and vanished. Ursula vaporized a second later.

Adeline shoved Kane to the right, and a spidery leg sliced the air between them. He pivoted and ran down a new hallway, running hard through Poesy’s labyrinthine lair. He opened doors at random, cutting through a room full of blazing stars, an armory plated in black blades, and finally ending in a greenhouse.