Page 3 of Whispers of Wisteria

I didn’t realize what happened until Dr. Stephens ushered me into the room and shut Damen out. “That boy needs a long walk,” Dr. Stephens muttered. “And maybe a few good hits to the head.”

Now I knew I was hallucinating.

“But…” I stared at the closed door. “What was that?”

“Just another Abernathy learning to live amongst us normal folks,” Dr. Stephens said, and I, belatedly, realized I’d spoken out loud. “Don’t worry, learning a bit of humility will be good for him,” he continued. He walked around his desk and dropped heavily into his seat. “And it’ll keep Declan off my case.”

Declan.

I clenched my fists as my heart began to race. His presence seemed to follow me everywhere.

Dr. Stephens was glaring at his desk instead of further engaging me. My skin began to prickle at his tight features. This was the first time I’d seen him anything other than composed.

Why was he mad?

“Dr. Stephens…” I began. Hopefully, it was nothing I’d done. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t expect him to answer, but he sighed and gestured toward an empty seat.

“I’d forgotten the shock of losing a quintet member,” he said after I sat and tucked my feet under my chair. “It’s been ages since the last time.”

Kathleen.

My breath caught. Even though she’d left it for Dr. Stephens, I still carried the ring she’d given me in my pocket. I hadn’t been able to work up the courage to speak to him alone.

“Kathleen asked me to give you something.” I looked at the cookies on his desk.

“I know,” he replied, pushing the tin in my direction, but I wasn’t hungry.

His expression turned from mild curiosity to something that seemed almost… expectant.

He did know, though I wasn’t sure how. Why hadn’t he said something earlier?

“I’m sorry….” I pushed my hand in my pocket. “I’ve been avoiding you.”

“That much was quite obvious,” he replied, tilting his head. “Are you done now?”

“Y-yes…” I flushed. I pulled out the ring and dropped it on his desk. “Here.”

“It’s interesting,” Dr. Stephens replied. “I’d left it to her for safekeeping many years ago as a test, and Michael’s prediction was correct again.”

My warm skin cooled, and I blinked at him.

“Who is Michael?” I asked. Kathleen had mentioned him too.

“Michael Abernathy was the onmyoji in my quintet. He was also my best friend and a talented seer,” Dr. Stephens responded. “He died during a mission.”

I bit my lip. Dr. Stephens was an Elder Er Bashou—mine, actually—so, “Is that why you’re helping Damen?”

Dr. Stephens tapped on the desk. A tense second passed, and my blood rushed to my head as I wondered if I’d, perhaps, been insensitive.

An apology sat on my tongue.

“Yes,” he said, and for a quick instant, his expression seemed to crumble. But then he shook himself out of his reverie. “Thank you for bringing this back to me.”

Dr. Stephens picked up the ring and held it to the light. “I’ve been waiting a long time. You know you get only one. The magic hasn’t faded, it seems.”

I’d kept my left hand in my other pocket, and the ring Bryce had given me—which I’d taken to wearing since our return—suddenly felt heavier than before.