Darquesse was fretting. No, fretting was maybe the wrong word. She was preoccupied. And puzzled. She couldn’t keep still, pacing through the small living room, muttering to herself and occasionally looking up. She hadn’t said much when she’d returned from that other dimension. All Sanguine knew was that she’d failed to bring Ravel back and that Mevolent had found some way to beat her. And that was not going down well.

“Like that,” she said, snapping her fingers. “Like that, and I was helpless. Helpless. Me. I’ve never heard of anything like it. I’m pretty sure Kenspeckle hadn’t, either. Argeddion, he might have been able to figure it out but … I didn’t even know that was possible.”

Sanguine watched her and didn’t say anything. He was glad of this sudden preoccupation. So far, she hadn’t said anything about Tanith’s escape, even though they all knew what he’d done. Vincent Foe and that creepy vampire sat across the room, and every so often Foe would glance at him. The vampire’s gaze never wavered.

Someone knocked on the door. Darquesse barely noticed.

“I’ll get it,” said Sanguine. He did his best to walk the way he always did, but the dagger was making every movement stiff. He went to the wall beside the door, pressed his head against it. The wall crumbled and he poked his head out the other side, saw Dexter Vex standing there.

“She in?” Vex asked.

“She is,” Sanguine answered.

He withdrew his head and opened the door, and Vex walked in like he owned the place. Sanguine followed him into the living room, and took up his usual spot by the window.

“You called?” Vex said to Darquesse.

She stopped pacing and looked up. There was a flicker of irritation on her face. “I did,” she said. “Hours ago. You’re late.”

Vex gave a small bow. “Apologies. I found it hard to tear myself away from praising you to the others. But I am here now, and I, like my fellow Remnants, exist only to serve. What dost thou will, my mistress?”

Darquesse peered at him. “Are you being cheeky, Dexter?”

The corner of Vex’s mouth twitched upwards in a smile. “Perhaps.”

“Normally I don’t mind cheeky,” said Darquesse, “but today I’m in a bad mood. I’m cranky. I’ve been offered a glimpse of my own vulnerability, and I didn’t like it. It’s a reminder that no matter how powerful you get, there’s always something out there that can topple you.”

“Wise words,” said Vex.