THE NEXT AFTERNOON BILLI WATCHED VASILISA build a snowman. Middle Temple Gardens was pretty to the snowfall. The office workers stayed indoors, so Vasilisa had spent most of the afternoon rolling a misshapen ball to form the bottom of a snowman, and was now rolling a second ball for the head.
Elaine had been keeping a wary eye out, as had Lance and Bors. They weren’t going to let the Oracle out of their sight.
“C’mon, Billi!”
She’s happy. Vasilisa patted the small boulder of snow, trying to keep it in shape. Her hair stuck out from under a woolen bobble hat, and her bare hands were pink, but she didn’t care.
“Let’s go inside,” Billi shouted across the garden. “It’s cold.” She felt exposed. Anyone could come wandering by and see them. It wasn’t safe. But would Vasilisa ever be safe again? Billi had no idea what had happened to Kay out in Jerusalem; he never talked about it. But he’d come back a changed man, more confident, more detached. More powerfulby far. What would happen to Vasilisa? What would she be like a few years down the line?
Vasilisa strolled over. “C’mon, come and look! It’s almost done.”
“We should start packing.”
“Why?” Vasilisa brushed the snow off her trousers. “Where are we going?”
No one had told her. The girl was flying to Jerusalem in two days and no one had told her. “Er, somewhere safe.”
“I’m safe here, aren’t I? With you?”
Billi looked over for Elaine; she’d be better at explaining this. But the old woman was nowhere to be seen. Typical. Billi frowned.
“Let’s play, Billi.” Vasilisa started away, but Billi took her hand. Despite the freezing temperature, her fingers were warm little sausages.
“Look, Vasilisa. About what happened last night.” Billi sat the girl down on a bench. “This power you have, it could be dangerous.”
Vasilisa rattled her silver necklace. “No, I’m okay now.”
“That may not be enough. You need to learn how to manage your special gifts. There’s a place where you can learn how to do that.”
“Where?”
“Jerusalem.”
Vasilisa sprang up. She stared at Billi. “Jerusalem? But I want to go home to my granny!”
“Vasilisa, if you go back to Karelia, they’ll catch you. Elaine will go to Jerusalem with you. To make sure you’re settled in. It’s…” Billi lowered her head, unwilling to look at the girl. “…It’s for the best.”
“No, Billi. Please, I don’t want to go.” Vasilisa’s fingers tightened around hers. “Can’t I stay with you?”
“No, it wouldn’t work. I’m sorry.”
“Liar,” Vasilisa whispered. Her eyes filled with tears. “You’re not sorry.” She closed her eyes. “I want my mum and dad back. That’s all.”
Billi went to put her arm around Vasilisa.
“Don’t touch me!” she cried. She dug her fingers into the snowman’s head and pushed until the head fell apart, and then trembled with silent sobs.
Billi wanted to tell her that she’d do so much good, that she’d be powerful, someone important. But the words felt meaningless. She sighed, knowing the future meant hardship and misery for the nine-year-old. But there was no alternative. It was God’s will.
Deus vult.
It wasn’t just the Polenitsy who sacrificed children.