Then we Fall. We drop with frightening violence. Spinning. Tilting. Turning. I feel my fingers rip away from Malik’s hand. I lose my bearings. Lose sight of the others. Malik, Vidhan and Akuji disappear. Everything unravels, becomes a blur. And then my bones disintegrate, turn to dust. I’m breaking apart.

—

And then, I’m gone.

Jöve

Ironically, “jovial” is not a word used to describe the character of the people of JÖVE, the fifth realm. Jövians are, by nature, malcontent. Pathfinder masters believe the tides—governed by the two moons of Jöve’s Earth—are the likely cause. The tides, and a pathological, Machiavellian quest for betterment.

But if ordinary Jövians are dissatisfied with their lot, then the elite of Jöve (especially those residing in the ancient underwater cities of Europe) are the apotheosis of discontent. In addition, they are renowned as fierce warriors; loyal, but often devious.

41

Boneless. A squid, ripped inside out. That’s how I feel. My head pounds and my ears buzz and my aching teeth chatter. I try to shake off a feeling of doom, but I can’t. I see things: a claw, raking up my stomach…gutting me like a fish, hauling out my worming innards, sprawling them out, pink and steaming.

Get a grip, Moon. Think!

How did I get here? What happened? Where was I?

On the train. With Akuji and Vidhan and Malik. The pod of Reapers came. We jumped. We Fell. Malik’s hand in mine—ripped away.

I remember nothing after that. Nothing…until this. But what is this?

Where am I now?

A silky thickness runs over my skin.

I’m suspended. I’m floating.

But I’m not in the air.

And I’m not breathing. And I can’t breathe.

This…is water.

42

Salt water. The realisation hits me hard. I swing my head from side to side. Bubbles stream up from my mouth, up to a surface I can’t see. I kick my legs and spin around. Malik isn’t here. Neither are Akuji and Vidhan.

I’m alone. I’m underwater. And I’m drowning.

And yet, I’m weirdly calm.

This is it, I think, Bea’s lost. And so am I.

No! Focus!

I’m alive.

I remember the sword then and realise its weight must be dragging me down. I look below me. Down into the blue murk. And I remember something Malik said: You’re out in the great multiverse. And in the great multiverse, everything that can happen, does happen.

Far below my feet lies a city submerged. Strange lights beam up through the dark from podlike buildings that rise out of the depths like giant mushrooms, lit from within. Skimming over them, schools of shimmering fish and weird pillars of floating kelp and, between them, driving back and forth, otherworldly vessels throwing up bubbles like stars from their spinning turbines. A city. Underwater.

Mind. Blown.