Page 20

T he next morning, I woke up with a knot in my stomach.

Bandit must’ve sensed it, because as I got ready for the day, he kept nudging my ankle with his nose like he was trying to comfort me.

By the time I got dressed and buckled on my fanny pack, I was already muttering affirmations under my breath.

You’re strong, you’re smart, you’re resilient. You’ve got this. You’re a bad beech. Kick all the asterisks.

“I mean, after yesterday, how much worse can today be, right?”

“Who says that out loud?” Bandit replied with a shake of his fluffy head. “It’s like you’re asking for trouble.”

I winced. “Good point.”

“I’m a literal fountain of wisdom. I’m going to the woods for the day. Enjoy your classes.”

“Enjoy them? How?” I called after him as he waddled from the room.

I had to admit, it was sort of not terrible having Bandit around. He was gone most of the day hunting and whatever else raccoons did, but at night it was like having a stuffed animal that snuggled me back.

To my surprise, Nikita was oddly quiet as she led me down the stairs and through the hallways to breakfast. I risked a glance and noted the dark shadows under her eyes and a faraway expression.

“If you walk any slower, I’m bringing a cattle prod next time,” she snapped, interrupting my thoughts.

My pity dried up like a grape in the sun.

“Bring the cattle prod and see where I put it,” I shot back.

She scowled and lifted her hand. For a second, I wondered if she was going to hit me with a rune, but then she lowered her arm.

“One of these days, Harlow, someone is going to shut that smart mouth of yours permanently, and I hope I’m there to see it.”

We made the rest of the walk to Typhon’s class in silence, but I was already dreading having to see her a couple hours later.

Top of my list of things to do:

Get a new companion, stat.

When I stepped into the classroom, I found Typhon standing over his desk. Fable was seated in the second row and waved me over, pointing to the empty seat beside her. I headed toward her, feeling Typhon’s disapproving glare on me every step of the way.

“Now that everyone’s finally here, we can begin,” he grumbled, thrusting a knife into the apple he’d been halfway through eating and then setting it on the desk.

Blocked by Typhon’s frame, I hadn’t seen the second teacher.

Liam stepped out to the side, winked and smiled at me from behind Typhon and I lifted a hand in a tiny wave, wondering if I looked as confused as I felt.

What the hell was going on? Why was he here?

My cheeks flushed as I thought back to his note. Four little words is all it had said. Nothing more. No date. No time.

We need to talk.

“House Phoenix students,” Typhon said, moving to the center of the room and derailing my thoughts.

“We have a special guest here for the next few weeks, who will be stepping in to oversee some of your classes this semester. This is Liam O’Connor, who you met last night at dinner.

He’s a former graduate from Heathermoor Academy, and a current doyen there.

He’s also a gifted wizard whose own Quirk is to identify and find latent Quirks in other wizards.

The Senate felt it was important that we delve deep to determine whether or not there are members of House Phoenix with powers yet untapped. ”

Interesting. Maybe that was what Liam wanted to talk to me about? But then why just me?

My stomach did a little flip, and I shoved the thought aside.

Typhon continued, sweeping a hand in Liam’s direction. “I’m delighted to turn the classroom over to your temporary Doyen O’Connor. Please give him your undivided attention as his assistance could be invaluable.”

I had to bite back a smile because, despite his words, Typhon looked anything but delighted. In fact, he looked like he wanted to throw hands. If Liam noticed, though, he didn’t show it.

“Thank you so much, Doyen Moreno, for trusting me with your pupils today. I’m really hoping I can help.”

Typhon cleared his throat and continued. “Also joining us in class today is Julius Rendimion.” He gestured to a tall, sour-looking guy with red hair and poison-green eyes.

I’d seen him at the assembly. It wasn’t a face you’d forget. Like the Baumgartens, the Rendimions had carefully selected spouses exclusively for magical power, and the children were casting runes before they were able to read.

“Julius is a fifth-year student from House Draconell and will be shadowing me for this class as he works to become a doyen,” Typhon drawled.

Julius offered a half-hearted wave but there was no disguising the sneer beneath his fake smile.

Typhon seemed to melt into the background, taking a seat in the far corner as Liam prowled the front of the room and began to talk animatedly.

“First of all, I want to start by saying that Quirks are no more special than you, or you, or you.”

He pointed at Zeed, Fable, and then me. His dark eyes turned solemn as Julius let out a snort. “I mean it. It’s no different than being born with orange hair or green eyes. It’s something innate, not something that you’ve earned, so it’s not something that someone should take pride in.”

Subtle jab at Julius, which had the boy narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Let’s go, Liam.

“That said, it is something one should honor and treat with reverence, and appreciation. It’s not something to be lorded over someone else or boasted about.

By the same token, if you do not have a Quirk, you can still be just as special.

Think of all the human Dims who have no magic at all but have changed the world.

Scientists, civil rights leaders, poets, artists.

If, by the time the semester is over, you’ve discovered that you don’t have a Quirk after all, don’t ever stop digging deep for your latent talents and your purpose here on this earth, magical or otherwise. Is that understood?”

I thought of Opie and how special she was, and the joy she brought to my life, with no magic to speak of.

I thought of my own mother, who was a middling witch with no Quirk, but gave so much love and good energy to the world before she’d died; volunteering at the local homeless shelter, shoveling our elderly neighbor’s driveway, and working tirelessly to make sure that I didn’t miss having a father.

Liam was right.

But I’d still rather find out I was a Quirk. Though I suspected most of us were on the old side for discovering a latent ability, the fact that they were even trying made me think Tarquinius was hoping there was more than met the eye when it came to the students of House Phoenix.

I hated that I was pretty sure we were about to disappoint him ...

Then again, there was the prophecy.

Liam continued and I tried to tune back in. If there was a way to shake a stuck Quirk loose, I wanted to know about it.

“It’s important to remember that there are as many kinds of Quirks as there are different people.

Sometimes a new Quirk pops up, say like Tarquinius being able not only to shield himself, but being able to shield an area the size of Neverthorn.

Doyenne Parunah has an interesting Quirk.

She is able to make things,” he paused as if looking for the right word, ‘damp.”

Ross frowned up at him. “Damp?”

“Condensation.” Liam nodded. “Which in the right situation, could be very useful.”

I hated to think poorly of someone with a Quirk when I didn’t have one, but making things damp did not sound even slightly useful.

“Slowing time, a Stall, is a less commonly known Quirk,” Typhon added. “A Shift who can take the form of certain animals. A Mimic is another. A witch or wizard who can emulate the voice of another person perfectly.”

Liam nodded, his back to Typhon. “Some Quirks are far more dangerous than others for obvious reasons. Death touch, Syphons and Firebreathers among them.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Ross held up both hands. “Those aren’t real. You’re making sheet up.”

Liam huffed a sad laugh. “I wish I were.”

I couldn’t help but notice the thundercloud on Typhon’s face as Liam spoke. “Tell us about them,” I asked.

“Well,” Liam shrugged. “There isn’t much known –”

“Because they don’t exist,” Typhon said, his voice icy. “We train in absolutes, O’Connor, not fairy tales.”

Liam spread his hands wide, palms facing us.

“They are real. I’ve met all three of those Quirks in my life.

I would not like to do it again. The Death touch is exactly what it sounds like.

A single touch and poof, your opponent is dead.

That being said, the Dwimmer who had that Quirk couldn’t control it.

As hard as he tried not to, anyone he touched died. Even those he loved.”

Something in me constricted, horror crawling up my throat. But I couldn’t look away as Liam went on, his eyes sad.

“The Firebreather was a similar case. Could breathe fire but struggled to control it. Made it so she went into hiding, until her death.”

Yeah, okay, so if this little talk was supposed to make us want a Quirk, I wasn’t sure I was the person for the job.

“And the Syphon?” Caterina asked.

“A Dwimmer of incredible power, who can steal other people’s magic to use however they wish.”

I swallowed hard. Awful.

“But the issue with all three was training. Control. If one of you should have a Quirk of that nature, we will work together to make sure that you have the upper hand, at all times.”

Typhon’s face was a serious thundercloud, but he said nothing. The others in the class seemed to take a breath, sighing in relief. Me ... not so much.

Liam headed to the blackboard at the front of the room and picked up a piece of chalk.