Page 109 of The Shade of Things
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“You saidshe didn’t have magic,” Eli said tightly, pacing the kitchen.
I’d phoned Juliette in a panic, asking her to come check Sadie out, and the two were currently in the living room. I was listening to Eli with only one ear since he’d been on the same accusatory rant since the healer had arrived.
I stirred sugar into my tea, took a sip, and gagged, forgetting that I’d already added sweetener. Had I caused Sadie to gain magic, or had she had it all this time, repressed until her moment of intense panic that her parents were about to die? And what exactly were her powers? Because what I’d seen didn’t make sense.
“Once again.” I took a deep, calming breath, holding on to my mug for strength. “We need to hear what Juliette has to say.”
“You keep saying that,” he hissed, “but you clearly know more than you’re telling me.”
“I have guesses, same as you.” I slammed my mug onto the table. “Was your being fine with magic all an act? Or is it only okay for me to be a freak so long as Sadie is human?”
Juliette cleared her throat, and I swung my gaze to the stylish young woman hovering in the doorway refastening her dark ponytail.
“How is she?” I said.
“Physically fine, but she’s confused. I am too.” She spoke with a heavier French accent than Laurent did.
“Why?” Eli hurried for the living room, but Juliette blocked him.
“The most important thing is that we all remain calm right now,” she said. “Sadie wants us to discuss this together, and I agree.”
“We can do that,” I said, glaring at Eli.
“I’ll stay calm,” he muttered and pushed past Juliette.
Sadie sat up on the sofa with her favorite knit blanket thrown over her. Her eyes were clear, and her body was relaxed.
Relieved, I slumped into the chair next to her. “How do you feel?”
“Tired, mostly. Who were those people?”
Her dad took the seat at the other end of the sofa, repositioning her feet to be in his lap, with his hands draped protectively over her legs.
Juliette sat in the other armchair.
“They’re connected to the game that your dad and I infiltrated,” I said. “The woman was one of the kidnapped Sapiens and that man was an Ohrist involved with the Consortium behind it.”
“Will he be back?” Eli said.
“No.” No one asked me for clarification.
“May we discuss Sadie’s magic now?” Juliette said. “Everyone understands that Ohrists are born with their magic, yes?” The question was mostly for Eli, who nodded.
I reached over to grab the pillow behind Sadie’s back that was sliding out from behind her.
“Bien,” the healer said. “Ordinarily, Sadie’s magic would have shown up when she was born.”
The pillow fell to the ground, reality seeming to swing around before righting itself. I stared at my daughter, who gave me a small smile and a shrug.
“You mean her Banim Shovavim magic would have shown up at puberty,” Eli said. “I’m not Ohrist and neither is her mother.”
“Ohrist magic has a slippery quality to it, like silk,” Juliette said. “Where Banim Shovavim magic is rougher. I know this from healing both Miriam and Frances Rothstein.” Frances had been the Banim Shovavim who’d placed the death curse on Tatiana. “If Miriam had even a trace of Ohrist magic, say with a recessive gene, the texture of her magic would feel different.” She held up a hand to stave off Eli’s next question. “My uncle has both, and I’ve worked on him before.”
“Ohrist magic for the win.” Sadie held up a fist.
“Hold up. You’re saying I’m the source of her magic?” Eli managed to frown, blink, gape, and do a double take all at once. “Impossible.”
