China spoke at last. “How can you be sure it was Serpine?”
“What?” Stephanie said, exasperated. “Of course it was Serpine! Who else could it have been?”
A delicate shrug of delicate shoulders. “We have to be sure, that’s all.”
“I am sure, OK?”
China looked at her, and Stephanie felt ashamed of her impatience. She lowered her eyes and closed her mouth. She was so sore, her body was so sore, but it was all right now because she was safe, and China would know what to do. Everything would be OK. Stephanie would wait for her to make a decision, no matter how long she deliberated, and she felt sure that Skulduggery would be safe and well. Even if he wasn’t, what did it matter? China knew what was best, and if she wanted to wait, then Stephanie would be happy to wait with her.
No, she said to herself, that’s the spell, that’s China’s spell working on me. She dragged her eyes up, met China’s gaze and thought she saw a flicker of surprise.
“What are you going to do?” Stephanie asked.
China rose from the chair in one graceful movement. “I will see to it,” she said. “You should go home, dear: you look dreadful.”
Stephanie felt herself blush. “I’d rather stay,” she said.
“It could take some time before plans are in place. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in familiar surroundings?”
Stephanie didn’t like disagreeing with China but she couldn’t go home, not while Skulduggery was in trouble. “I’d rather stay,” she repeated softly.
“Very well,” China said with a small smile. “I must leave, but I’ll return when I have news.”
“Can I come with you?”
“I’m afraid not, child.” Stephanie nodded, hiding her disappointment.
China left the building, accompanied by the man in the bow tie. Stephanie stayed in the apartment for a while, but despite the fact that it was almost three in the morning, she couldn’t relax. There was no TV and the only book in a language she could understand was a leather-bound address book on a small table.
She crossed the hall and stepped into the library. She passed a man in a porcelain mask, too engrossed in his reading to notice her. She walked slowly, reading the titles on the spines of the books, trying to keep her mind occupied. If she could find something here, a book that had what she needed, then maybe she wouldn’t be so helpless next time she went up against Serpine, or anyone else. If she’d had even the slightest bit of power, she might have been able to help Skulduggery.
Stephanie followed one shelf to its end then chose another one, wandering deeper into the labyrinth. She couldn’t work out the system – the books weren’t arranged alphabetically, or by author, or even by topic. It all seemed completely random.
“You look lost.”
She turned. The young woman who had addressed her slipped a book back into its place. She had tousled blonde hair and she was pretty, but her eyes were hard and she wore a sleeveless tunic that showed her strong arms. She spoke with an English accent.
“I’m looking for a book,” Stephanie said, unsure.
“This would seem to be the place for that.”
“Are there any books here on magic?”
“They’re all books on magic,” the young woman replied.
“I mean learning magic. I just need something. Anything.”
“You have no one to teach you?”
“Not yet. I don’t know how to find anything in here.”
For a moment, Stephanie felt like she was being studied. Finally the young woman spoke again. “My name is Tanith Low.”
“Oh, hi. I’m afraid I can’t tell you my name. No offence.”
“None taken. The books are arranged in terms of experience. These are far too advanced for someone without instruction. Two rows over, you might find what you need.”
Stephanie thanked her and Tanith walked away, disappearing in the maze of shelves. Stephanie found the section she was referring to and started scanning the titles. An Introductory Guide to Monster Hunting, The Sorcery Doctrines, A History So Far, Three Names…
Stephanie took the Three Names book from the shelf, and flicked through it. She came to the part on Taken Names, a chunk of the book that went on for roughly 200 pages, and scanned the headings in bold print. She turned pages, skimmed paragraphs, looking for anything that stood out. The best advice it had for taking a name was this: “The name you take should fit you, define you, and already be known to you.”
She put the book back, unimpressed, and scanned a few more titles before she found it: Elemental Magic. She took it down, opened it and started reading. This was it. This was what she was looking for. She found an old chair in one corner and sat, bringing her legs up under her.
Her mobile phone was perched on the arm of the chair. Stephanie held one hand closed, trying to think of the space between her hand and the phone as a series of interlocking objects. Moving one would move another, which would move another, which would move the phone. She focused, opened her hand slowly and then snapped open her palm, like she had seen Skulduggery do.
Nothing happened.
She made a fist, then tried again. The phone stayed where it was. Just like it had done the previous fifty times she’d tried.
“How’s it going?” She looked up as Tanith Low approached.
“You’re starting off too big,” Tanith said. “A phone’s too heavy. A paper clip would be enough.”
“I don’t have a paper clip,” Stephanie said.
Tanith took the book from her, opened it and balanced it on the arm of the chair. “Use that,” she said.
Stephanie frowned. “But that’s even heavier than the phone.”
“Not the book. Just the page.”
“Oh,” Stephanie said. She concentrated again, flexed her fingers and splayed her hand. The page didn’t turn. It didn’t even lift.
“It takes time,” Tanith said. “And patience.”
“I don’t have time,” Stephanie said bitterly. “And I’ve never had patience.”
Tanith shrugged. “There’s always the possibility that you just can’t do magic. It’s one thing to know it exists – it’s quite another to be able to do it yourself.”
“I suppose,” Stephanie said.
“That’s some bruise you’ve got there.”
Stephanie glanced at her arm, to where her sleeve was pulled back. “I had a bit of trouble,” she said.
“So I see. Did you give as good as you got?”
“Not really,” Stephanie admitted. “But most of the bruising was done by a tree anyway, so…”
“I’ve fought just about every type of opponent you could name,” Tanith said, “but I’ve never been attacked by a tree. Well done.”
“Thank you.”
Tanith dug into her pocket and brought out a piece of yellow porous rock. “Run a bath, let this dissolve. A few minutes in there, the bruises will be gone.”
Stephanie