The rest of us think they’re bonkers. Which is how alternate labels like “radiators” get coined.
These two Faithful don’t do any preaching. They just grab their cups and go. Their gazes slide over us as they pass, possibly recognizing us from campus, but I don’t notice so much as a twitch when they see me.
I haven’t caught a single person having an odd reaction to the fact that Elodie Devine is still alive and well. Either her murderer has nothing to do with Luminary Academy, or they could win a world record for poker face-ing.
The fact that I’ve spent a whole day faking my ass off without making progress deflates what spirits I had left.
I drain the last of my americano and lift my satchel. “I’d better get going. Still have to finish that politics essay.”
Luminary Academy might focus on the magical arts, but the lucent leaders don’t want the next generation going into the world unprepared for more mundane considerations.
“Spoilsport,” Cadance says as the others get up, and I imagine feeding her to a manticore.
The truth is that Other Elodie finished the politics essay before she kicked the bucket, even though it’s not due until Wednesday. I found it on her laptop. I guess it makes sense she did hit the books sometimes if she wanted to keep that number one—or two—rank.
After I get over the weirdness of calling a personal chauffeur to pick me up, I walk through the grand house that still doesn’t feel as if it belongs to me, kick off my shoes, and flop onto the bed just reveling in the fact that I’m alone for the first time since I left the bedroom this morning.
The things I learned from my doppelganger’s friends keep niggling at me, though. After a few minutes, I regretfully shove myself off the cozy expanse and go looking for any info about this violin recital. Even if the performance itself isn’t too close, I might need to come up with an imaginary illness that gets me out of lessons.
I can’t find any mention of music tutoring in Other Elodie’s agenda. I can’t even find the violin itself.
Finally, I stumble on the case tucked next to one of the shoe racks in the walk-in closet. When I wipe my finger across the top, it smears the thin layer of dust that’s settled there.
Interesting. Other Elodie hasn’t touched this thing in months. What was she doing when she told her friends she was practicing?
A chime sounds with the opening of the front door downstairs. Aunt Daphne’s voice filters up from the front hall. “Julien! How was the trip?”
My pulse leaps. Dad’s home.
I’m going to see him for the first time in fourteen years.
But I’m not the daughter he’s expecting to see. There’s no fucking way he’d have wanted his daughter to turn out the way I have.
I swallow hard and push to my feet. He doesn’t know who I really am, where I came from, or what I’ve done there.
Hewon’tknow that, just like Dad back in my reality never had to. I’ll make sure of it.
I walk downstairs with a careful smile plastered on my face, telling myself I’m going to be warm but casual. He goes on these business trips all the time, Daphne said. Other Elodie wouldn’t make a big deal of it.
I come around the bend in the staircase, and that older version of the man from my memories gazes up at me. He sets down his briefcase, his green eyes lighting up like sea glass caught in the sun.
That’s my dad. He’s really here.
He smiles just the same as he always did. “Hey, Sunshine. How’s my girl?”
Tears flood my eyes so fast I can’t suppress them. All I can do is hold my smile on my face and hurry down the rest of the steps so I can walk into the arms he’s extended before he notices my weepiness.
Dad’s hug wraps around me. He still wears the same cologne, sharp and cedary, like a smack of the past filling my nose.
Is it awful for me to enjoy this moment while it lasts, even if it’s not really mine?
I tip my head against his shoulder, blinking hard and carefully not squeezing him too tight. By some miracle, I keep my voice steady. “Pretty good. I’m glad you’re home.”
Don’t ever, ever go away again, I want to tell him.
But I’m the one who’ll be going away soon, leaving me parentless again and him with no daughter at all.
Seven
