“You can’t blame yourself for what happened to the Elves, peanut. Prophecy stuff is hard, and destiny would’ve led you there whether you wanted it to or not. Sometimes, things happen, and you don’t have any control over it. But I promise, even with the bad things, it all works out for a greater purpose. You have to trust in that.”
“I bet,” I mumbled. I didn’t believe him— not right now.
The linepinged, telling me my time was up. Before I hung up, Daddy said, “Just don’t deny your feelings, peanut. Stuffing it down isn’t going to help you feel better. And if it gets really bad, I want you to call me straight away, do you understand?”
I bit my lip. “Okay. Bye, Daddy.”
I hung up the phone, then turned on my heel, feeling like the conversation hadn’t gone anywhere. I resolved to deal with this myself. I wasn’t giving Ez any more time. If he didn’t recover soon, I’d drag him to the infirmary myself. I couldn’t stand aside and watch my brother suffer. Not when there could be a way to stop it.
By the time I got done with the conversation, it was time for my much-dreaded therapy session. I dragged my ass to the counseling tower and hoped this wouldn’t turn into a major shit show.
When I got there, I had to stop to look around. The room had been totally redecorated. Takahashi kept things clean, straightforward, and minimalist, but now there were all kinds of motivational posters decorating the walls, as well as a variety of plants, such as Venus flytraps. I passed a type of plant we grew in Kinpago that only ate meat, and recoiled when the petals snapped out at me like jaws.
The others were already here, sitting in our usual circle and seeming wary. Oberi didn’t bark like he usually did when I arrived. His dark eyes lingered on the woman at the head of the group, and he let out a low, subdued growl.
I observed our new therapist. She was a small woman with a long, blonde braid that fell down her back. Large, obnoxious eyeglasses that perched on a thin nose, hiding green eyes. She looked to be a little older than my parents.
Something about her seemed oddly familiar, but I couldn’t place what. I was sure I hadn’t met her before, so I didn’t know where the connection came from. I shook it off to coincidence and took a cautious seat beside Charlie.
“Where were you at lunch? I waited for you,” Charlie asked.
“I didn’t break my promise,” I said. “I ate with Ivy, a whole turkey wrap.”
Charlie nodded, as if he thought that was an acceptable trade. The counselor observed me with a greedy gaze, as if she’d been excited for my arrival.
The blonde gave a big, annoying smile. “Hello, students. My name is Jaymin Vengier, but you may call me Professor Jaymin. Unlike the other teachers here at this school, I think it’s very important that we get to know each other on a first-name basis, as I want you to see me as yourfriend, not someone in authority,” she cooed. “I am an Elementai of the Earth House. Like you, Charlie.”
Her attempt to connect with Charlie fell flat, and he said nothing. Professor Jaymin wriggled in her chair and said, “I’ve taken a look at your files, and I must say, what bright students you all are. Each of you is very talented, and I’m honored to be your new counselor. I’m sure we all have a lot to share.”
We still didn’t talk. It was hard enough getting us to open up to Professor Takahashi, and he’d been kind. This lady seemed faker than a spray tan.
She cleared her throat. “Since this is the group that discovered Forevermore, I thought we might talk about your methods of investigation. Mainly, how you found the city in the first place. I understand this isn’t a subject that’s been breached by any of your teachers, or even the Warden, but this is atherapy session, and I think it’s a good idea for the four of you to talk about your experiences last semester. Perhaps to alleviate the guilt?”
Kallie completely blanched, and Marcus hunched his shoulders. “I’m sorry, Professor Vengier—”
“ProfessorJaymin,” she snapped, nearly in irritation. “This is a casual gathering, Marcus. I am your ally, after all.”
Marcus gulped before he said, “We don’t feel comfortable talking about all that. It was somewhat traumatizing.”
“But that’s why you’re here!” Jaymin exclaimed. “I can assure you that anything you say will be confidential.”
Bullshit. More like anything we say can and will be used against us, I thought.
Charlie shifted forward. “We’d like to talk about something else, if you don’t mind.”
“Very well,” Jaymin said. I swear, I saw her eyebrow twitch. “Let’s move on. Since the four of you are so clever, you must be working on some sort of special project this semester. Tell me, what are you all doing in your free time?”
She’s trying to get answers out of us, I realized. The Warden had put her up to learning what we were doing. Charlie stiffened beside me, and Oberi let out another growl.
“Uh, I started a new painting,” Marcus stuttered. I nodded encouragingly at him, telling him to keep talking. “It’s an imitation of Rembrandt.”
“And I joined the prison football team,” Kallie added hastily. “I mean, we don’t really play against anyone but ourselves, but it’s nice to get some aggression out, and they might even make me the quarterback—”
“I see,” Jaymin said blandly, cutting Kallie off. Clearly, those weren’t the answers she was looking for.
Her attention rounded on me like a venomous snake. “What aboutyou, Ava? I’ve heard so much about you, from the Warden and others. You must be researching something new. You always are.”
If this bitch found out about my journal, she’d tell the Warden, and I’d lose it immediately. She wouldn’t accept that I wasn’t researching anything, so I lied.
