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I quickly grabbed one of the vials of milky contents safely stored on my nightstand, emptied it completely, and then took a vitamin supplement I had bought at the pharmacy.

The bitter taste was followed by an inner satisfaction, my body relaxed, albeit not completely, and it didn't take long for my emotions to subside.

Strangely, all that remained was the thought of Erik. I missed spending time with him. But I couldn't text him anymore. It was impossible.

He was my professor. And he hated me...

Diffracted

Angus MacRae

“Do you get that strange feeling, too? Like you've been here before?” asked Bayla – dressed in black pants that looked almost exactly like the ones that were part of the uniform, and the navy blue Vanderwood knit sweater over a white blouse – as she turned around in the middle of the aisle, her watchful gaze sweeping over all the bookshelves.

I wandered further through the rows of shelves, certain that I had never been up here before. Yet it reminded me of some of the old home libraries of the wealthier Quatra families in Blair District.

“I don't even dare touch anything here. The books look so old,” Bayla sighed, running her fingers over the covers.

I stopped next to her and randomly pulled a book from the shelf, which made a scratchy sound.

Bayla looked at me with a crumpled expression. “What the... Julie...”

A sly smile crossed my lips. “Sometimes you just have to dare.”

I looked down at the cover and ignored Bay's unreadable stare.

“The History of the Copelands. Of Sailors and Merchants,” I read aloud and nodded admiringly. “Interesting, all the things that have been stored here.”

“The logbook mentioned something about forbidden books.”

I nodded. “All the better.”

Looking around, I walked further back into the lower part of the clock-tower-room, toward the next shelves, and tried to decipher the inscriptions on the covers, which was quite difficult. There were many Latin inscriptions, which became increasingly indecipherable and ornate.

“This seems to be where the elemental section begins.”

“Oh, great,” Bay remarked. “If you find anything that even remotely relates to me, let me know.”

I looked at Bayla and felt a slight pity for her, despite the Salma. She was different, and no one could help her. Indeed, she was a mystery.

“May I remind you that I don't really know how my powers work either? I don't even have a control stone anymore,” I laughed, and we both smiled sadly.

“At least you have an element and a family that won't send you away.”

My heart skipped a beat and contracted painfully.

The next words came automatically.

“I don't have a family anymore.”

The baby was the only thing I had left.

I turned away from Bayla and walked further back through the aisles of shelves. I could hear her footsteps, but she said nothing more. I had overwhelmed her. Just as I overwhelmed everyone.

I held the old oil lamp, whose light had come on automatically, higher as it grew darker.

No light penetrated back here. The massive clock tower window on this side of the tower had to be behind the shelves.

I sucked in my breath sharply as I paused in front of the last shelf in the corner.