“Into the mists.”

Raven’s frown isn’t one I’d want directed at me.

“Can’t you go and bring him back?” he asks.

One of the crow girls nods. “But you’ll have to kill us to do that.”

“It’s true,” the other says.

“But we don’t mind.”

“We’ve never been dead before.”

One of them drops a switchblade from the sleeve of her jacket and thumbs it open with a loud snikt. She flips the knife so that she’s holding it by the tip of the blade and offers it to Raven.

Raven shakes his head and turns to Cassie.

“I can’t ask that of them,” he says.

The girl then offers the blade to Cassie, but before Cassie can say anything, Anwatan steps up.

“Nobody else has to die,” she says. “Not when I’m already dead. Just tell me how to find him, and I’ll go.”

Jilly

Before Del even knows what I’m doing, I reach out.

Out and out and out.

Away from this world inside my head.

I’m making another once upon a time.

Once upon a time, there were two sisters and whatever one felt, the other did, too.

That’s a good start.

Once upon a time, there were two sisters and whatever one felt, the other did, too, so when one of them called to the other, she always heard, and she always came. No matter how far away she was. No matter what.

And just like that—here in the world inside my head, in the house from hell where Raylene and I grew up—she’s here with us. My little sister. His, too.

She appears with her back to me, facing Del.

“The fu—” she starts.

Except then she sees that Del’s already lifting the shotgun. So she does what Raylene always does. Acts, without thinking. Instinct.

She steps right up to him, knocks the barrel of the shotgun aside, and drives her knee into his groin. He drops the shotgun, and it vanishes before it hits the ground. She shoves him back. Her hand goes into the pocket of the jacket she’s wearing and comes out with a flick-knife that she snaps open.

But she doesn’t have to use it.

Del stays where he’s fallen, staring at her with confused, scared eyes.

“She’s not supposed to be here,” he says. “I’m in charge here. I’m in charge!”

“In your dreams,” Raylene tells him.

Then she finally turns and sees me leaning against the wall. She backs up so that she can keep an eye on Del, but still see me.

“Hey,” I say.

She shakes her head. “Christ, you look like hell.”

That’s Raylene for you. Always the diplomat.