Page 96 of Bargain with Fate
Stephen emerged from the pantry, staring at his hands. “I think it’s back.”
“Step to the left.” I directed my phone flashlight at the wall behind him. “Raise your right hand.”
The wizard raised his hand. And there it was.
Stephen turned to observe the wall. “It’s attached?”
“Consider yourself integrated.”
Tears slid down his cheeks. “We’re one and the same.”
“You are.”
Stephen’s cries intensified to choking sobs. “I killed Darlene. It was me. I’m so sorry.” His back slid down the wall, and he curled into the fetal position on the floor, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
The world was lucky I didn’t set my shadow loose. I had enough unprocessed rage to fuel a nuclear power plant. I should probably take my own advice and speak to Dr. Adam about that, except that would require me to reveal more about myself than I was willing or able to do. In a way, I wasn’t much differentfrom Stephen. I’d hidden parts of myself that I refused to acknowledge. I claimed it was for the safety of myself and those around me, but maybe that was the lie I told myself in order to justify my choices.
Stephen’s tears continued to flow, unabated. “I feel so alone,” he whispered.
“You’re not alone, Stephen.” I sat on the floor beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I’m right here.”
Chapter
Fifteen
With Stephen and his shadow reunited, I finally told Justine the truth about Darlene’s death. She was too distraught and distracted by the word “murder” to ask for any clarifying details, for which I was grateful. The wizard was whisked to the mainland before the crack of dawn to await trial. The HOA wasted no time removing “spoiled apples from the bunch,” as Justine put it.
I slept poorly that night. Evermore was meant to be a safe place, or at least safe from the kinds of serious crimes that plagued the mainland. What ever happened to catching the Neighbor that chucked eggs at someone else’s golf cart? Or rooting out the culprit that vandalized the Poseidon statue in the fountain with a spray-painted penis? I missed those minor security issues. The world was beginning to feel heavy. That weight had nearly crushed me once; I refused to allow it again.
I awoke the next day to the sound of a bird chirping beside me. I forced my eyes open and looked at the bedside table. Not a bird. My phone. Well, that made more sense.
My arm felt like it weighed seventy pounds as I dragged it across the bed to retrieve the phone. “Hello,” I mumbled. My tongue tasted like a cotton ball. I must’ve slept with my mouth wide open all night.
“Late-night bender?”
Vale’s voice was like a splash of ice-cold water. I slid to an upright position and tried to clear the haze from my head. “That would’ve been preferable.”
“Maybe my good news will cure whatever ails you. Thanks to your sketch, Harriet found your elf’s mystery woman.”
Thatwasgood news. “Well done, Harriet. Where is she?”
“Local, just as you suspected. Try not to be smug about it. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”
I wiped the crumbs from the corners of my eyes. “Trust me, smug is the last thing I’m feeling right now. Any luck finding the Coranians?”
“Not yet, but it won’t be long until they make their move. You heard them. They want the stone they think we have.”
“I hope you’re ready for them.”
“As ready as we can be. How soon can you get here?”
“For what?
“To positively ID the faerie so we can take her into custody.”
I swung my legs off the side of the bed. “Right, of course. I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
“I’ll send?—”
