Patricia’s mouth hangs open. “Wow.”
“Magic, huh?” Jim eyes the gates distrustfully as he wheels their luggage through.
Bea launches herself into Patricia’s arms. “Missed you, Mom!”
Patricia hugs her tightly. “Missed you too, sweetie.” She looks up at me. “Both of you.” She goes to hug me but stops herself when I step back. “Right, you don’t like hugs. Sorry.”
“No worries,” I say quickly.
Patricia notices my lip and flinches. “Oh, sweetie. What happened?”
Right. I wince. I never told them about the attack, and insisted Helga shouldn’t either. I didn’t want to risk them pulling me out of Skallagrim before I can learn to control my powers.
And now? I’m no longer sure I even want to leave.
“It’s fine,” I tell her quickly. “Just a little accident in Transformation class. I cut my lip, but it’s already healed. I didn’t want to worry you.”
Patricia squints at my lip. “But it’s left quite the scar… Have you tried lipstick? Maybe lip liner will help.”
“Scars are nothing to be ashamed of,” Valerie interjects, resting a hand on her hip. “Why hide a scar when you can wear it proudly?”
Tears prick my eyes. Ever since the attack, I’ve been struggling to accept how my face has changed. I never considered myself vain, but what girl doesn’t care about her appearance, especially at my age? I know Patricia still cares about her appearance. Even Jim does.
Honestly, I thinkmostpeople do.
Patricia smiles warmly at Valerie. “I’m so glad to see Edith has friends here. We’ve been worried about her.”
I nearly choke. Valerie and I exchange a look, but Valerie doesn’t correct her.
Instead she nods. “Let me show you where all our visitors are staying.”
As we walk there, Bea is busy talking Patricia’s and Valerie’s ears off, while Jim and I wheel the suitcases along after them. Looking around, I realize there are plenty of parents on campus already. They must have arrived yesterday for the Unity Celebration.
“Glad I was able to get a few days off,” Jim says stiffly.
I nod. “Me too.”
“There’s some kind of parent dinner thing tonight,” he continues. “We’re going to head over there once we drop off our bags. Patty is looking forward to meeting everyone. I just hope the food here is as good as I’ve heard.”
I try not to laugh, imagining Jim and Patricia attending a dinner like that. They’ll probably be the only normal people there. Most parents probably have seiðr themselves since it’s inherited. When Jim and Patricia took me and Bea in, I’m sure they never imaginedthis. I feel a little guilty for getting them involved.
Especially with a killer loose on campus.
I just hope Amund’s conversation with Helga is going well.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
When I reach for it, Jim clears his throat. “We haven’t seen you in a month, and you’re already reaching for your phone? You know what Patty would say?”
“People are more important,” I quote, deciding to ignore the phone.
Probably just an update from Amund.
I’m sure he and Helga have the situation under control.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOURAMUND
Edith is in danger and doesn’t even realize it. I race through Skallagrim, desperate to find her before something happens. Why won’t she pick up her damned phone? I must have called her ten times by now. Am I already too late? Has something happened to her?
