Where is everything going? she wondered. And then a more terrifying thought came. Where am I going?

In the distance, past the blurred place where Angela and the others stood, something very clear began to coalesce. It was another solid core, something with a weight and heft that fixed it to the world—past, present and future—but which was very different from Sammi’s own mass. This core was much, much older than her, and much more powerful. It was a black hole to her moon, and as soon as it appeared, she began to fear she would never be able to escape its pull.

She’s here, she thought, and the idea made the fine trace-work of scars across her arm and shoulder sizzle and spit, as if Grace was once again casting down lightning to find her.

Sammi tried to cry out, but her voice was silent. She attempted to roll out of the way, but her muscles were locked in place, and however far she might move the alien presence would track her. It saw and marked her, and soon it would come for her.

With a supreme effort, Sammi ripped herself away from its gaze.

Before she stopped breathing and passed out she managed to say, “She’s coming.”

* * *

Lilou had confronted many dangers in her life, and many monsters—more recently of the human kind. Gregor the Kin-killer had been driven mad in his quest, and Mary Rock’s cool purpose had been even more chilling. The murderous satyr Ballus bore his own insanity.

Grace was a whole new world, and now she was coming.

“What can we do?” Angela asked desperately. She was kneeling next to her unconscious niece, her eyes wide and pleading, and Lilou had no words of comfort for her.

“Nothing,” she said. “You’ve seen what Grace can do. She wants something, she’ll take it.”

Angela’s expression didn’t change for a few seconds. Then her eyes narrowed and she stood to face Lilou. “Fuck you.”

“Huh?”

“For bringing us here, putting Sammi in danger, and then for giving up hope. I never have! She might come for Sammi, but I’ll fight back. I’m not just going to lie down and give in.”

Lilou laughed out loud. She couldn’t help it.

“Don’t mock me.”

“I’m not mocking you, Angela. It’s just... you have no idea what she is. She’s a god to you and your kind. She’s a god to my kind.”

“So in that case what is Sammi?”

Lilou didn’t answer. She shook her head.

“Anyway, I don’t care.” Angela looked down at Sammi. “I don’t care.”

“He might still be alive,” Lilou said, more quietly. She meant Vince, but she also thought of Mallian. It was still rare that she didn’t think of him.

“I know.”

“Who might?” Bone asked.