Chapter 10

“How can any of what you’re saying be real? Do you get how delusional you sound right now?”

Several more professorial-looking people walked past, casting disapproving glances in our direction.

“Listen, darling, I’ve no time to wait for you to assimilate all of this. At this rate, I’m going to be late for dinner, and you’re going to get expelled for truancy or something. Just... accept it, and let’s be done with it already.”

But that was never going to happen. It was clear from the chaotic expression on her face.

“Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s go.”

I didn’t bother to ask where, I merely heaved a sigh, then followed Abby out of the school, across the fields toward the forest.

When I’d tramped through my third mud puddle, I finally spoke up. “Any chance you’re going to tell me where we’re headed?”

“No,” she snapped, not slowing down a bit. “Now talk. Tell me how you could possibly be related to Vivienne. And Lorelei.”

She nearly choked on the word. I knew the feeling. It all made me want to vomit most of the time.

I hurried to catch up with her. “I haven’t much to tell you, I’m afraid. That’s why I’m here. I’m sure you can understand I’d like to get to the bottom of things.” I glanced over at her.

She was still watching the ground, her eyes very carefully avoiding mine, lost in thought.

“If you’re trying to sort it all out, let me save you the brain power. Vivienne went to my world, fell for the big bad Shadow Court king, Oberon, and they defied the laws of our land and had children. Twin girls. And supposedly one died at birth.” I pointed to myself. “Now, either that was a foreshadowing of my future, or someone is lying. My money’s on the latter.” Because someone was always lying.

“But... but...”

“Look, Abigail. How about this? You help me find my way back to Vivienne’s cottage, and I’ll fill you in on all the sordid, tawdry details once I’ve got them. Have we a deal?”

She stopped walking and looked at me. “I don’t make deals with the devil,” she said, then took a sharp turn. “This way.”

“I’m not the devil,” I countered. “I had a moment of insanity. Not to be repeated, I assure you.”

Suddenly the lush green of the forest gave way to a sea of black. Dead trees, burnt and crumbled. The ground beneath our feet a carpet of ash. I pulled in a slow breath.

“As for forces of massive destruction—yeah, that one’s on you. Take a good look, Venus. See what your moment of insanity caused. “

Fragments of it came back to me, like whiffs of smoke, dissipating before they fully took form. Tress cindered, reduced to ash. The ground blackened and lifeless. Burnt and barren, a section of the forest that was once lush and vibrant now lay in waste. Because of me. Maybe, I was the devil.

“I did this.” I said it without emotion. If there was remorse in my voice, I couldn’t hear it. Perhaps Abby could. I hoped she could because some deeper part of me truly felt it. Shame and regret for what I’d put them through. These were not feelings I was accustomed to. I didn’t like it. I felt... confused. Conflicted.

“Yes. You did do this. And it was just a sampling of your handiwork, Miss Queen-of-Annihilation.” She cocked her head, her dark eyes glaring. “Do you want to see Neil’s grave site next?”

I puffed out a small breath. “That won’t be necessary, Abigail. I’ve seen enough. I get the picture. I’m a monster. Point well made.”

“Hey, you made the point.” She jabbed an angry finger at my chest. “I’m just showing you how real it still is for the rest of us.”

The rest of us. Which included... my mother. With brows scrunched together, I tipped my head back to stare into the sky. For a moment, I feared I’d see it broken and sullied by my hand as well, like the forest. But it was untouched. Pristine blue-grey, completely unscathed and nonjudgmental. I blew out a breath and shrugged. “I supposed it’s too late now to say sorry.”

Abigail glowered, awash with anger and disbelief and resentment. “Yeah. It’s too late. The Lemon Balm isn’t going to rebuild itself with fake apologies, Venus. And your moment of remorse isn’t going to bring Neil back from the dead.”

“Okay,” I snapped. The word tore from me and echoed around us. Abby jumped. With a conscious effort, I lowered my voice. “I understand. And I don’t see any reason to continue with this perversely unpleasant this-is-your-life tour, unless you want to continue torturing me with actions I can do nothing about now.”

“Not that you don’t deserve to be left off the hook,” she scowled, “but there are other more important things to do.”

“So, this little foray through my mistakes was just for your own pleasure. Hm. How I misjudged you. All right, I’ll bite. What other things do we have to do?”

“I had a dream about Lorelei last night. She’d been captured, and she was in trouble. That’s all I saw. But someone knows more. That’s where you came in.” She snapped her fingers. “And then suddenly you’re just... here. Back in the last place you should be.”

“I’m not seeing what any of that has to do with me.” Should I tell her that her dreams were true? That her bestie was actually in deep trouble. No. The princes were on the case, playing superhero to her damsel-in-distress. It was likely she’d already been saved.

“You’re here, which automatically means you’re involved. Only this time, you’re actually going to help me fix things instead of wrecking them.”

I raised my hand in front of her face. “Pause. Just so we are clear, you had a bad dream and suddenly you’re ready to take me on as your partner-in-crime. Excuse my skepticism, but...”

“It wasn’t just a dream, it was more than... Listen, I can’t explain it. I know she’s in trouble. And I would swear you had something to do with it if you weren’t here.”

“I’ve been locked in Oberon’s tower for a very long time in my world. So, much as I’d love to take credit to any trouble my twin might be getting into, I’m innocent.”

“Yeah, well, that remains to be seen. But for now, I need to find Peterson. That guy has a lot more answers than he’s letting on.”

I knew that name. “And you’re going to force him to give you those answers by doing what exactly? Shaking a stick at him and hoping he’ll think it’s a magic wand?”

Abby’s lips pulled into a frown. “Look. You owe me. You owe Lorelei. And you owe this town. So save the snark and just help me.”

I sensed there was more that she was after. Any one of her school playmates could have helped with that task. “Help you find Peterson,” I said slowly, waiting for the rest of the truth.

She gave a small nod. “I have some skill with magic, but not enough. And I don’t have time to build it to levels powerful enough to do what I need to do.”

Now we’re getting to it. “And you want me to use magic to help you. First Zanthiel, and now you. Apparently my assistance is a hot commodity these days, despite being the queen of destruction.”

“Did you hear any of what I just said?”

“Your message was loud and clear, but did you miss the part where I mentioned I have no magic? Zan was pretty thorough in making sure the Shaqua band stayed on the whole time I’m here, so...” I wiggled my arm in front of her.

“I know. And it was a smart decision, if his only one,” she muttered. “But now we need to figure out a way to access magical information. There’s a spell that could help me, but like a lot of the spells in my family’s grimoire, I’m not powerful enough to cast it. I would need a familiar—”

“What, like a cat?” I wrinkled my nose, immediately thinking of my mother, Octăhvia’s, white tigers. They terrified me.

“Or another witch,” she said. “My powers might not be strong, but I have them. And yours... well, the band only suppresses them. It doesn’t take them away, right?”

I narrowed my eyes and stepped toward her. “Why? What are you thinking in that little head?” I asked slowly.

Abby shifted her book bag from one shoulder to the next. “I’m thinking that if we can find someone who can tap into both of our powers, then they may be able to help us find him and his organization.”

As her insane plan left her lips, I heard the hesitation in her voice. “You don’t believe that will work anymore than I do.”

“Hey, I know it’s a long shot, but what have we got to lose? If he can help free Lorelei from her prison, then it’s worth a shot, right?”

I blew out a sigh. “She’s not in prison, per say. She’s just trapped indeterminately in the Nevermore. The veil is sealed. Well, except for the tiny opening controlled by the Shades.”

Her dark gaze snapped back to mine. “Who or what are the Shades?”

“Trust me, there are some things you’re better off not knowing. When I left, Zanthiel was on a crusade to find her and Adrius. All I know is that she wasn’t able to get home.”

Her face folded in a stream of unasked questions as she held up a hand in front of my face.

“So, wait... she’s with Adrius? How—?”

I winced. “Again, better off not knowing,” I said, with a quick smile. The two of them together were on the very bottom of a long list of things I’d rather not think about right now.

I nodded. “And if—or let’s face it, when she gets caught, she’ll find herself locked up.”

She was shaking her head vigorously. “They’ll put her in an actual prison.”

“Only for a while. Soon enough they’d just cut off her head.” I beamed.

Abby shivered. “We can’t let that happen. I hope I don’t need to tell you that.”

“Of course not,” I mumbled, erasing my grin. “But I don’t understand what you think you can do to help. Zanthiel and Adrius are on a rescue mission. Neither one of them will let anything happen to their princess.”

She chewed her lip, doubtful. “And how long do you think she’d survive, stuck in your crazy world?”

“Not long, with any luck,” I muttered, shrugging.

“Exactly. That’s why I need to find Peterson.”

“Why do you think this Peterson person can be of any help at all?”

“He knows stuff. He knows how to withdraw magic from someone’s blood. At least he claims to. I mean, for all we know, he could be behind sealing the veil. We just have to find him and see what info we can get.”

“So that's your after-school job now? Doing bad things to bad people before they can do bad things to others.” I pursed my lips. “How lucky Lorelei is to have such faithful little friends to come to her rescue. If she stubs her toe, does the town declare it a national holiday?”

Abby’s nostrils flared, then she shook her head. “You know what, it's fine. Whatever. I should have known better than to ask a selfish psycho for help. My bad.”

“Calm down. Don’t work yourself into a thundercloud. I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. I will. I’ll help.” I twisted a lock of hair around my finger and examined the tips. “But then you have to do something for me.”

If I was going to play the nice girl, then I wanted the credit for it. I wanted someone—anyone, other than Abigail—to know what I’d done. That I’d been... good. Once.

“Do what for you?” she snapped with impatience.

I flipped my hair over my shoulder and met her gaze. “You have to make sure someone knows what I did. That I left behind some good this trip. Is it a deal?”

She laughed incredulously and shook her head, then nodded. “Oh, it’s a deal. I’ll sing your good deeds to the entire town,” she said, folding her arms tight. “Isn’t it just too bad that there’s no one left here who gives a damn?”