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Violet was still letting everything sink in, feeling more than a little blindsided by what Sara had told the ad Rafe’s sister Low voices around her buzzed of car accidents and heart attacks and sick children and broken li with everything else she could sense

And then there was that other thingSara was Rafe’s sister? Hoas that possible? How had she not known that? But it all made sense now Why they seemed to understand each other so well

Violet couldn’t stop thinking about it Or hi her head back and drawing her knees up to her chest, doing her best to get comfortable She didn’t look up until she heard a familiar voice Unfriendly and cold, but fairl ures you’d be here"

Unlike Sara, who’d walked in looking harried and ruency roo handbag Violet glanced down at her own small purse with its pink bejeweled skull and crossbones She’d never really cared before that it was outdated, even when her friends had iven it to her, one of the last gifts she’d given Violet before she died The skull and crossbones were an inside joke about their shared ability

Gemma quickly closed the distance between the on the white tiles in clipped, angry bursts She perched delicately on the edge of one of the few open seats in the waiting room, next to Violet

"How did you knoere here?" Violet asked, irl’s presence

Impatiently Gemma stared at her "Sara told me So?" She scowled at Violet, her voice razor-sharp "What happened?"

The vehemence in her voice made Violet wince, as if she’d just been slapped Whatever she’d done to Ge her anytiht, her own anger starting to siency room with no idea how Rafe was She still had no word froer they were gone, the more worried Violet became "I don’t knohat your problem is, Ge to say to , hate-filled ed "It’s not really you," she said at last, but her voice was no less caustic She sighed as she crossed her long legs, cocking her head as her eyes narrowed to dark, perfectly lined slits "I mean, technically it is, I suppose, but I doubt it’s your fault, really"

"What is that supposed toher voice, Ge between a snarl and a smile "In case you didn’t know, I’hty, practically deirl was getting at, her hackles were up now "Which s frolare as she narrowed her eyes "And your point is?"

"ItAnd because of that, more than anyone else I’ve ever met, it’s hard to be around you" She wrinkled her perky little nose, and Violet wanted to punch her in it, right then and there "To put it frankly, Violet, you reek of deathand it’s revolting"

Violet had no idea what to s, been teased as a little girl for having curly hair and gangly legs, but she’d never thought about the i her in that way She was still gaping when Gemma suddenly ju roo; she thought she was the one who’d chased the other girl away Her and her creepy ability

I reek of death Not exactly the words every girl drealanced in Ge to Ges that felt far too unsteady and crossed the space between theainst the walls of her chest, the moment she saw the stricken expression on Ge their way down her cheeks

Lead pulled at Violet’s feet, weighing theround "What--what happened?" Violet staht words, her voice causing Geirl swiped at her eyes, her expression turning suddenly fierce as she smeared her makeup even more "Is he worse?" Violet asked at last

Gery look "He’s fine" The words sliced through the air "He’s an assle, but he’s fine"

Sara put her hand on Gemma’s shoulder, her expression pained "Ge to Violet Her brow creased "He’s okay," she explained to Violet, her voice patient "He’s beaten up pretty bad, and they’ve got hi for you"

Violet glanced uncomfortably at Gemma

"Happy?" Gemma snapped "You’re still the only one he wants to see"