I looked at him for a long moment and then fished the ugly thing out of my pocket dimension. The monkey s paw was always a dried, withered thing, but now it was actually rotting and falling apart. I let it drop to the floor, and it just fell to pieces as it hit. Crow Lee tutted sadly.
They really are such fragile things. So, now you re going to have to make a deal with me, Eddie. If you ever want to see your family again.
And then we both stopped and looked around sharply, as we heard the sound of something approaching. A great roaring, rushing sound that seemed to come from every direction at once, and then concentrated directly under my feet, under the floor. A sudden wild surmise gripped hold of my heart, and for a moment I couldn t breathe, for hope. I stepped quickly backwards as the great hole before Crow Lee s chair reopened, and Molly and Isabella and Louisa came flying up out of the hole together and back into the room. The hole in the world disappeared and the three Metcalf sisters stood there together. They all looked radiantly healthy and entirely uninjured. Molly didn t have a bruise or a drop of blood on her. She smiled brightly at me.
Hello, sweetie. Miss me?
I dropped my armour and stepped forward to take her in my arms, holding her tight, so tight that no one would ever be able to take her away from me again. Molly held me just as tight, murmuring comforting, reassuring words in my ear. Eventually I let her go. Isabella was looking down her nose at me. Louisa was beaming widely. Molly looked haughtily at Crow Lee.
I have been to Heaven and Hell and everywhere in between. Did you really think you could send me anywhere that I couldn t get back from? And once you d broken the chains holding my sisters, their magics returned and they could heal me. You really didn t think it through, did you? Had to go for the big dramatic gesture. She looked at me and broke off. I m sorry, love. You still look terrible. Let me.
She took my head in both hands, gently, gently, murmuring Words under her breath, and all my injuries healed in a moment. I hadn t realised how much fighting the pain had weighed down on me till it was gone. She stepped back, looked me over briskly and nodded, and then frowned.
Eddie, you re looking at my sisters again while they re naked!
They re standing right in front of me! I am so glad to see you again, Molly. I was so worried
Well, that was sweet of you, said Molly. But you really are going to have to learn to trust me to be able to look after myself. She looked around her. Where s Mr. Stab?
You re standing in what s left of him, I said.
Oh, ick, said Molly. And what is the car doing in this room?
Saving the day! the car said cheerfully. I helped!
It s true, I said. She did. Apparently the Scarlet Lady is one of the Regent s Special Agents.
Will wonders never cease? said Molly. Hold everything where s Crow Lee?
He went into the next room, the Plymouth Fury said helpfully. While you were all distracted. He s still in there. Up to no good, I m sure.
Can you please get these collars off us? said Isabella. They re suppressing our magic, now that we re back in the world.
Oh, sure, I said.
I armoured up my right hand and gave two of the fingers sharp edges to form simple scissors. I snipped through Isabella s collar easily enough, and then Louisa s, and she giggled happily as I did so. Molly stood close beside me as I worked.
Whatever you do, she said, Don t look down.
You don t want me closing my eyes as I m doing this, I said. Could be a very unfortunate incident.
I like you, said Louisa. You re cute.
And you re a very scary and destructive person, by all accounts.
That s right!
I cut through her collar. Immediately Louisa and Isabella covered themselves with clothes. Isabella was back in her crimson biker leathers, while Louisa wore a long daisy-yellow dress and white stilettos. Isabella nodded to me brusquely.
Good to see you again, Eddie. Thanks for the rescue.
You plotted with Crow Lee to destroy my family, I said.
Your family, my family I think maybe it s time all of us stopped defining ourselves by our families.
Yes, I said. But not quite yet.
I looked at Louisa, who smiled brightly.
I knew everything would work out! Group hug!
The three Metcalf sisters moved together and held hands, and there was a brief burst of swirling lights and coruscating energies that filled the whole study. Molly let go and stepped back and stretched luxuriously, like a cat in the sun.
Ah Now, that s more like it! My magic is back, every last bit of it! Let us have words with Crow Lee.
Hard words, I said.
We marched over to the door leading into the next room. It was locked. Molly laughed and snapped her fingers at it. The heavy wood of the door groaned loudly and rattled furiously in its frame, but it wouldn t open. Isabella and Louisa said a Word of Power together, and the veneer jumped right off the door, but still it held. So I got out my skeleton key, slipped it carefully into the lock and turned it slowly, with just the right amount of pressure, and the protections on the door just threw their hands in the air and said, Have it your own way, then, and the door opened.
Crow Lee was scrabbling through the contents of a chest of drawers. He spun round as we entered, and the remote control was in his hand. I knew what it was, what it had to be, just from the look on his face. The thing didn t look too complicated. Crow Lee snatched up a long ironwood staff and held it out defiantly before him. I immediately stopped short and made sure the others did, too.
No one move, I said. No one do anything. That is Oath Breaker.
That is? said Isabella. I ve only ever read descriptions of it. I d expected a lot more, to be honest.
What s Oath Breaker? said Louisa, frowning prettily.
One of the Drood forbidden weapons, said Molly.
It revokes all agreements and bonds, right down to the atomic level.
Oh goody! said Louisa, clapping her hands together. I want one!
You re dangerous enough as it is, said Molly.
Girls just want to have fun! Louisa said brightly.
Is she always like this? I said quietly to Molly.
This is her being relatively stable, said Molly.
God knows how long it ll last. Now you know why we never let anyone meet her. She glowered at Crow Lee.
I don t care what you ve got. You do not get to walk free after everything you ve done.
My offer of a deal still stands, said Crow Lee, ignoring the Metcalf sisters to stare directly at me. The remote control, the coordinates it contains and the return of your Hall and family in return for immunity for all the things I may have done.
We might have made a deal, I said steadily, but not now. I can t let you walk out of here with Oath Breaker. Throw it aside and we ll talk.
How did he get his hands on that thing, anyway? said Molly.
From the Original Traitor Drood, I said.
And where s he? said Isabella.
Dead, I said.
Molly looked at me sharply. You have been busy while I was gone. Mr. Stab and the Original Traitor?
Let s not get distracted, people, said Crow Lee. This remote control can guide your Merlin Glass straight to your family, Eddie. And their safe return is all that really matters, right? And don t even think about taking the remote from me; I ve got it rigged with a dead man s switch. If the remote leaves my hand without my permission, it ll self-destruct. And then no one will be able to find the Droods. You re not going to risk that, Eddie. So, I ll be leaving you now. With the remote and Oath Breaker. I ll be in touch, from a safe distance, and then we can work out the terms of our agreement, like civilised people.