Page 106 of Fractured Fates

I stare down at my sneakers. There’s a hole forming over one toe and the laces are fraying.

No, Stone doesn’t deal in bullshit. But I realize deep down, deep, deep down, buried away, I wanted to belong. I wanted to fit in. I want something more than chickens and a pig. More than a home which only serves for as long as the next potential threat. I want safety and belonging. I want it more than answers.

“You don’t think we all want those things?” he says.

“Everybody else has them. You have them!”

“Me?” He laughs. “You think I belong here?”

“You’re a teacher.”

“Because I have this one goddamn skill they can make use of. I don’t belong here anymore than you do Blackwaters.” He holds my eye. “We’re not like them.”

My forehead crinkles in puzzlement. “Are you telling me you were an unregistered too, because I find that hard to–”

“Never mind,” he snaps. “The point is, whether you belong here or not, you’re stuck here, just like I am. So stop making things difficult for yourself, stop making enemies, stop making friends with the wrong people, stop …” He lifts his arm in frustration. His gaze travels over my form. He frowns. “Stop lying to teachers.”

“Why is it important?” I ask him. Because I’d sensed it was, could taste his eagerness that I had the power to see magical fingerprints. It was why I’d kept it from him.

“It’s a rare power, Rhi. Very rare. Don’t get me wrong, it’s one skilled magicals can learn over time. But an untrained one, one with little formal education … I’ve never heard of that before.”

I stare at him wide-eyed.

“Did your aunt teach it to you?”

“No,” I say.

He hesitates.

“Why was she keeping you hidden, Rhianna?”

“I don’t know,” I say, “but I want to find out.”

He nods slowly. “And you think I can tell you?”

“Can you?”

“No, but … we’ve been looking into it.”

“The authorities?”

He hesitates then nods a second time.

“And what have you found?”

“At this point, nothing.”

“You must have found something.”

“We’re finding it hard to even determine the names of your parents.”

“I don’t know–”

“I know. You think I haven’t rifled through your mind for answers, Blackwaters?”

I scowl at him. “You couldn’t see into my mind about the magical fingerprints though, could you?”

“No, you’re finally learning some goddamn control.” He leans back on his chair, staring up at me. “There are other parts of your mind I haven’t been able to unlock as well.”