Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
Elodie
“You can feel it, can’t you?”
I did before Uncle Nik even mentioned it. A hum of power resonates off the ephemera condensed in the stone wall in front of us.
I nod. “Very intense magical security system.”
“Yes. That’s what you’re going to face tomorrow going into the estate.” Nik swipes his hands together. “But I’m going to show you how to sneak through it.”
A frown crosses my face. There’s nothing around us in this lonely stretch of countryside except the wall, overgrown fields, and a dilapidated barn in the distance. None of the dangers my next mission will hold… but his statement makes my pulse stutter anyway.
I can’t stop myself from protesting. “There’s no way. I can’t take on something like this—I don’t think anyone could unless maybe they had a glim for picking apart magic.”
Nik gives me one of his rare smiles. “To layer the magic on this thickly with this specific technique, a few flaws are left behind. Finding them isn’t about brute-forcing it but getting creative and, let’s say, squirming your way through.
You start by prodding the barrier with just a gentle, narrow foray of your own.
Picture the energy you’re wielding like the sharpest possible blade you’re wiggling against the surface, testing to see where the tip catches on a notch. ”
I gather some of the natural ephemera from the ground beneath my feet, but the anxious weight in my chest doesn’t ease.
Another question slips out. “Are you sure I have to be right on the property for this job? I can’t catch him when he’s driving in or—”
Nik’s expression hardens with the shake of his head. “Our target will be arriving by helicopter. Too far away from any unsecured spot for you to focus accurately. Don’t be losing your nerve on me, Elodie. You know how important this is.”
I know because he tells me so. I know because if I don’t do what he says, he’ll destroy the only good things I have in my life. I know—
The rising anguish of the memory jolts me awake.
I rub my eyes and grimace at the gauzy canopy above me as my heartbeat evens out.
Just a dream. Another dream from another reality I can’t even reach anymore.
Maybe one day they’ll stop coming.
With a huff of breath, I push off the bed and begin my usual morning routine. Workout to keep my body toned and limber, my heart and lungs strong for whatever I might face. Meditation to slough off as much stress as I can. Shower to wash the sweat and the lingering strain away.
Every step might make the difference in whether I take an injury my glim will inflict on someone else.
I arrive in the kitchen to find my breakfast laid out as usual—and Dad sitting at the other side of the island, nursing a coffee.
“You’re still here,” I blurt out, and then clamp my mouth shut. He usually leaves for work pretty early, but his original daughter probably wouldn’t have acted so startled by his presence.
Dad’s mouth curves into a crooked smile.
Even after nearly two months in this reality, being in the same room with him still feels like sharing space with a ghost. A welcome ghost, but it’s hard not to be afraid he’s going to vanish any second like he was wrenched from my old life fourteen years ago.
“I rearranged a couple of meetings,” he says, tipping his head toward my breakfast to encourage me to sit. “I don’t like leaving you on your own so much.”
I jab my fork into the hardboiled egg the Devines’ chef cooked exactly the way I like it and keep my tone mild. “I’m not a kid.”
“I know. But you’ve been through a lot recently. Don’t think I’m going to stop worrying about you just because you grew up.”
My recent poisoning is still on his mind, of course. I can’t imagine how he’d freak out if he knew even half of the other troubles I’ve faced.
Normally he wouldn’t need to worry about me being on my own in the house, because his sister would be around.
I gulp down the bite of egg. “Have you heard from Aunt Daphne at all?”
Dad lets out a sigh I can tell he tried to restrain. “She texted me briefly last night, wanted to make sure everything’s fine here. I guess she’s gotten caught up with some sort of work project.”
The furrow on his forehead suggests he’s still as confused by her abrupt departure as I am.
I take the opening, treading carefully because I’m not sure how much Other Elodie would have known. “She’s never told me much about her job. It’s been a while since she had to go do anything on site.”
“Daphne’s always been tight-lipped about her work.” Dad looks down at his coffee. “I think it’s necessity, not because she wouldn’t want to talk with us.”
Huh. “You mean she has to keep it secret? Is she CIA or something?”
A short laugh pops out of Dad’s mouth, but there isn’t much humor in it. “It’s probably better if we don’t speculate. I don’t want to get her in any trouble with her employers, whoever they are. But I am surprised she’s been called in after so long working remotely.”
Now that I’ve got him talking about the woman who dragged me across dimensions to bring me here, more curiosity itches at me.
I shape my next question carefully, barely making it a question at all. “I guess… with her matches…”
To my relief, Dad fills in the blanks before I need to stumble much farther. “I’m sure that situation played into her backing off from more active work. Losing all of them so young.” Grief shadows his eyes. “It’s hard enough losing one.”
Guilt clogs my throat that I’ve made him think of Mom’s death, but at least I did get an answer. Aunt Daphne’s matches didn’t reject her, and they’re not simply living apart.
All three of them died.
How in the nine circles of Hell would that have happened?
I itch to ask more, but I don’t want to say anything that’ll make Dad wonder if I’m suffering from a sudden bout of amnesia. I’ll have to prod Daphne herself for more answers—sensitively—when she finally returns.
If whatever she’s involved in somehow ties back to my own problems, I’d like to know sooner rather than later.
I put on a cheery voice. “I’m glad she has us. Hopefully she can come home soon.”
Dad’s expression softens with affection. “I’m sure she misses you too, Sunshine.”
It’s not totally accurate to say I miss her, but I’d definitely rather have her nearby so I can keep an eye on her and her crazy schemes.
My uncertainties keep nibbling at me through the drive to school. As I emerge from the car, I can’t see any of my friends or my matches on the green.
My gaze snags on a different familiar face.
Grady Tadros’s dark hair stands out over the heads of his shorter friends. Resolve twists around my gut.
Every new piece of information I uncover makes it clear that I don’t have time to waste. If another schoolmate is going to become a threat along with at least one of my teachers, I need to know ASAP.
I meander in Grady’s general direction without looking his way. Laughter and boisterous voices carry from his cluster of 16th year guys.
A couple of them are friends I’ve seen him hanging out with at The Eclipse before. I don’t want to risk imposing any magic on Grady himself in case he notices, but maybe I can nudge one of them…
I direct a tendril of ephemera their way, thinking about the comments Grady’s made in the past. Elevation, connections, getting noticed…
The conversation about a recent bloomblight match continues for a few more exchanges. Then one of the friends taps Grady in the arm with his knuckles. “So, you ready to head to Groove Garden again and see what we can get out of it? Maybe Friday?”
That’s the dance club the bunch of them talked about before. Ears pricked, I edge closer.
Grady lets out a cocky laugh. “Oh, I’m not bothering with that crowd anymore. I’m good. But you can keep trying if you want.”
As his friends start badgering him about not leaving them hanging, my thoughts whirl in my head. Grady just gives an enigmatic smile and brushes off their questions, but I can read between the lines.
He isn’t bothering with the dance club because he already got what he wanted: the attention of that woman Byron saw him with? Who’s probably the same woman so mixed up in my life—and Other Elodie’s death. Gwyn, Jovak called her.
Did he meet her at Groove Garden? It’s hard to imagine Kenneth having hung out at the dance club, but this Gwyn person might have more than one hunting ground when she’s looking to draw in new associates.
I’m so lost in thought I don’t notice the many eyes following my trek toward Thesan Hall until a snicker bursts out, followed by a hasty murmuring that includes my name. My head ticks up.
Some girls I’ve seen in my classes are watching me, whispering more when I glance their way. I raise my eyebrows at them pointedly, and they shuffle off with prying glances over their shoulders.
What’s that about? And really, where’s my usual crowd? My friends would normally have found me by now if I hadn’t found them.
I walk on, keeping my head up and pretending I don’t notice the gazes and giggles following me. My skin prickles with apprehension.
As I step into the main senior building, a guy in the entrance hall waggles his eyebrows at me and jostles his companion with an elbow. I stride onward, past several more stares and low voices.
“Can you believe…?”
“…get away with it.”
Sweat prickles down my spine. Did the secret of my sparked matches get out somehow? Or—
“Elle.”
Stella breezes over to me with her usual elegant poise. Only the slight tightening of her jaw gives away any sign of tension.
She motions me to a quiet corner. I go with her, even more puzzled than before.
As soon as we’re off to the side, she tilts her head toward me and speaks in a hush. “Do you have something going on with Salvatore Cosgrave?”
My blood turns to ice. I hope I catch my expression before the truth shows on it.
“What?” I force an incredulous laugh. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”