Page 55 of Book of Night
“Aphotic?” Charlie said.
“Growing in the absence of light,” Malhar said apologetically. “The term caught on in academia.”
“So traumaiswhat quickens shadows?” Posey’s voice was a little breathless now that they’d come to the part of the conversation she was most interested in.
Malhar frowned. “It seems to be, but trauma is highly individual. There are some very disturbing videos of people doing extreme and irresponsible things to wake their shadows. But they’re unlikely to work because they don’t carry emotional weight. Trauma is more than pain.”
Charlie gave her sister a look. “So, no ayahuasca?”
Malhar burst out laughing.
Posey, caught between embarrassment and anger, went silent.
“We should go,” Charlie said, standing up, trying not to take too much satisfaction in the moment.
Malhar picked up his cell off the table. “I’d like you to talk to me again, so I can monitor your shadow’s progress. I hope you know you can trust me.”
“Can I ask you a question off the record?” Charlie asked.
He stopped the recording, frowning. “Sure.”
“Have you heard of a book called theLiber Noctem?”
His eyebrows went up. “The Book of Blights?”
She nodded.
“I heard about the auction,” he said. “There were a lot of wild claims—that it was written by a Blight, one that ‘captured the breath of life.’ I’d love to get a look at it. One of the books everyone wants to study, likeThe Luctifer TreatiseorCodex Antumbra,orFushi-no-Kage.”
“You think any of the claims are true?”
He shrugged. “Like that it was written by a Blight? That would be fascinating. Almost all of the books on shadow magic are from the point of view of thegloamist, but what would it look like from the point of view of a shadow, one that was becoming conscious and learning how to follow its own desires?”
Charlie wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to know, but she was getting an idea why another Blight might want to read it.
Minutes later, Charlie and Posey walked across the lawn to the parking lot. Knots of students passed them.
“Did you actually think my shadow was quickening?” Charlie asked her.
Posey shook her head. “Did you?”
“Of course not.” Charlie stuck her hands deep in the pockets of her leather coat. “I would have told you.”
Posey snorted, as though she wasn’t so sure.
“You fit in here,” Charlie said, looking around.
Her sister didn’t reply.
“I’m serious,” she said. “You’re like these people.”
Posey kicked a few wet leaves. “We’re behind on the bills, and as you remind me, we can only afford the house because Vince is paying a chunk of the rent. School is a stupid expense. And besides, everything is going to be different now. You’re one of them. In a year, when you’re a gloom, we can do whatever we want. Even if what you want is for me to have a useless degree.”
Charlie scowled at the ground, at her shadow. She’d never considered a future where she was one of the people with power. It would be nice to believe that meant she could give Posey something that would make her happy. But ever since they were kids, Charlie seemed to get things Posey wanted. Their mother’s attention. Money in her pockets. And now, real magic.
But even if good things might be coming, first she was going to have to deal with Vince, who’d betrayed her, who was a liar with a hidden book, a connection to Salt and to violence. Knowing Vince’s secrets felt like having a belly full of flies. Open her mouth, and she didn’t think she could stop them from flooding out in a disgusting swarm.
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