Page 40 (1/2)

Elizabeth dropped to her knees just in front of Nadia, close enough that Nadia could see the soft dusting of freckles across her cheeks The acrid smoke from the black stuff on the floor wreathed around her face "You can have the truth You know that And you know the price"

Join Elizabeth Work with her Learn froh to destroy her long before the One Beneath has a claiers into the gunk and lifted her hand to her bared shoulder By now Nadia could see how the burned lines on her skin began to form the symbol she’d found in the Book of Shadows, the one that had soular burn would have begun to heal by now, but instead it seemed to have burned even farther into Elizabeth’s flesh, which was so red and raw that Nadia winced to look at it

This sign shall mark His path The road has three sections What was that supposed toAsa in the world?

There was nothing Nadia hated norance was the reason Elizabeth could get aith this

Nadia thought things couldn’t possibly get worse until Verlaine ran in Her expression as she looked down at Uncle Gary and realized what had happened--that was the worst

Verlaine sat in a plastic chair in a pale, white hallway In the distance she could hear the beeps and clicks of medical equips she probably didn’t want to hear Around her, though, everything was silent

She hadn’t seen Mrs Purdhy or Riley Bender collapse, but she’d listened to Nadia and Mateo’s descriptions Black tar that burned like acid S from the floor The look of panic in their eyes--

"What’s happening?"

Nadia’s voice shook Verlaine back to so like nor toward her It was only just after school had let out; they must have rushed over on Mateo’s motorcycle Verlaine didn’t move, just watched theht

"Is Uncle Gary okay? What’s happening?" Nadia repeated as they reached her Maybe Verlaine looked even worse than she felt, because Mateo put a steadying hand on her shoulder as Nadia said, ht?"

"He’s just like the others" Verlaine’s voice was hoarse fro she’d done earlier; the words still seemed to stick in her throat "He’s in a coma They can’t wake him up They don’t knohy"