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Stil , I'd never felt anything like this, even when doing those hard-core spel s Myfroh , I was drenched in sweat

My fingers were nu it to the box But other than the glowing, bloody runes, nothing see

Across the case, Dad didn't look quite as wrung out as I felt "It'son the bloody glass His voice was ragged "It's the book, too"

The gray spots were getting bigger "What do I focus on, then?"I whispered I wasn't trying to stay quiet; whispering was al I had the strength for

"Both of the, and the book in your hands And don't lose sight of your human memory"

My head felt too heavy to hold up anymore, and I lowered my forehead to the case "That's a whole lot of stuff to picture, Dad"

"I know it is, Sophie, but you can do it"

So I did I kept Mori very hard not to focus on hooozy and drained I was feeling

And then-final y-the glass started to ht in his haggard face "Allass to open, or forInstead, it just vanished, like a bubble popping It was so abrupt that both mine and Dad's hands fel to the wooden shelf with a loud slap

Dad reached out and grabbed the book, which looked like any other old, dusty book now that it was out of its e, and it smel ed like ancient paper and ave out I slipped to the floor and leaned against the nearest bookcase I felt like I atching Dad frolanced down at my hand and wondered if the rest of me was as chalky white as it was

"Oh my God,"Dad breathed I felt like I should probably be alarmed by how freaked out he looked, but even that was too much effort

"What is it?"I muttered drowsily

He raised panicked eyes to me, but it was like he didn't even see me at first "It's the ritual, it's-Sophie!"

As I lurched sideways and gave in to unconsciousness, the last thing I saas the book fal ing to the floor, its cover opening to reveal a jagged edge of paper

A page had been ripped out

When I ca ith a blanket onmy hand

"Dejavu,"I said as I watched silver sparks of ave a tiny s cut onat the end of the couch, his face etched orry Suddenly, everything ca back to e

Dad gave a barely perceptible shake of his head, but I knew better than to say anything in front of Cal Stil , now that I didn't feel like I was dying fro page as Dad had looked

Like he could read my mind-and for al I knew, he could-Dad said, "I want you to rest here for a little while, Sophie Once you're feeling better, we can discuss the ramifications of that spel in my office"

"Must have been soently laid my hand down on the couch

"Yeah,"I said,like it was ful of sawdust "Dad's been working withmy powers Guess I overdid it"

Dad walked around the couch and, to my surprise, leaned down to kiss my forehead "I'm sorry,"he said softly "But I am also very proud of you"

It was hard to talk around the sudden lump in my throat, so I just nodded

"I'l be inup to it"

Once Dad was gone, I flexed ash had been There was no sign of it, and I could swear that even lass scar looked a little better "Okay, so the ability to heal people has to be the coolest ical power ever,"I told Cal

His lips quirked "Yeah, wel , I didn't always think so"

"What do you ot me sent to Hecate"

I perked up I'd alondered how sootten sentenced to Hex Hal"They sent you there for healing soical y unbreak itself kind of draws attention to you,"he said