“It’s not like we came up with some sort of guide to Crow-killing or anything,” said Jeremiah. “They’ve all been different, and they’ve all been put down differently too. We’re just trying to give a historical overview of the big names.”
“As long as I’m left the fuck out of it.”
“You will be. I already dumped the data we managed to dig up.” He paused. “I know it’s none of my business, but… I am sorry about your mom.”
“Yeah.” Off to the side, Mom’s ghost was swaying back and forth, her faded sundress clipping in and out of the nearest gurney. “Everyone’s sorry except the asshole himself.”
He stood there awkwardly for a bit longer, then shrugged. “Anyway. See you around, Skeletor.”
“It seems likely.” Silt still hadn’t explained that nickname to me. “Thanks for the clothes.”
•—•—•
My second visitor wasn’t Silt or Vibe either, but I was way happier to see Orca than I had been Jeremiah. It helped that she was still in the dress she’d worn to Shane’s funeral.
I know I’ve talked a lot about Nadia. Some of you are probably sick of hearing about her by now, but considering that I’m the one telling this story, I’d say you’re all shit out of luck. Drag your incorporeal asses back into the afterlife if it bothers you so much.
What’s that? Still here? Imagine that. Must suck knowing that I’m the only show in town.
Anyway… Nadia Kahale, codename Orca. Flawless olive skin, dirty-blonde hair down to her waist, and eyes the color of sea foam. Seeing her poured into a little black dress made suitable for a funeral only by its color was enough to make me forget Caleb’s sucker punch.
Almost.
“Nadia? What’s up?”
“Not much.” Her pale eyes flickered down my bandaged form for just a moment as she made her way over to the gurney. “I came to apologize.”
I’ve always had good eyesight, but somehow Orca got prettier with every step she took. She walked like she fought; all smooth, flowing motion, like water rushing downhill. Up close, whatever perfume she had on cut right through the stale odor of dried blood and gauze.
By the time she’d reached me, I was starting to think I actually owed Caleb my thanks. First time Nadia had spoken to me all year, and she was in something other than Academy sweats. A (briefly) broken jaw was so worth it.
“Apologize? For what?”
“I misjudged the depths of Supersonic’s motivation,” she told me, the words slow and lightly accented, “and allowed him to break free as a result.”
“Yeah. And…?”
A small vertical line appeared between her eyebrows. “And that’s why he was able to hit you. That’s why you’re here.”
“If it hadn’t been Caleb’s weak-ass punch, it would’ve been tomorrow’s class with Nikolai.” I shrugged. “Gladys says I spend so much time here, I should just move my stuff in and stay.” As if I’d needed further confirmation that the old Healer had a thing for me.
“Gladys?”
“The head Healer?” I frowned. “Have you ever even been treated here?”
“Not yet.” She shook her head, sending dirty blonde hair slithering over one shoulder. “I have high hopes for this week’s match with Paladin though.”
“Well, a trip to the medical ward isn’t a big deal,” I said. “Hell, the last time you and I sparred, I ended up here with way worse than just a busted jaw.”
“That’s different.” She colored slightly under my incredulous look. “That was a fair fight. You had ample time to call on your power like you did against Matthew, but decided not to. You deserved your beating.”
“I didn’t decide not to. I seriously have no idea how to repeat whatever that was. Assuming it was something at all.”
“If you say so. Anyway, we’re straying from my point. I’m sorry for failing to subdue Supersonic, and for the damage you suffered as a result. Even though you did provoke him into action, my responsibility in the matter was clear.”
I puzzled my way through that tightly packed apology before offering up a shrug. “Don’t worry about it. Like I said, I’m fine.”
“Okay.” She nodded once, then spun on her heel, heading for the door.
“That’s it?”
She stopped, looking back over one shoulder in an unconscious echo of Bard’s pose fifteen minutes earlier. “That’s all I wanted to say. Was there something more you wanted to talk about?”
“Not really. I just…” In that little dress, she looked even better leaving than she had coming in. Before I could catch myself, I heard the words slipping out. “Do you want to get some coffee and hang out sometime?”
She gave it less than a second’s thought. “Not at all.”
“Oh.”
“But if you do remember how to trigger your power,” she continued, “I’d be more than happy to spar again.”
Stalwarts are their own special brand of crazy.
•—•—•
Between the fight with Caleb, Bard’s unique combination of pep talk and lecture, and being completely shut down by Orca, it’s fair to say my mind had managed to focus on pretty much anything but Shane’s death for the better part of a day. But as I left the med center and made my way back across campus, all those other distractions fell away again.
Whatever the next few months held, whatever my roommate had done or would do, whatever my future as a Cape or Black Hat might be, there was one truth that was inescapable: Unicorn was gone, and despite the dozens of people currently crisscrossing the school grounds, the Academy felt empty as a result.
The faculty were having their own memorial service, attended, no doubt, by the majority of first-years, but I headed for my dorm room. Bard’s advice could wait for another day. Improving relations with Olympia—however the fuck I was going to manage that—could wait for another day too. All I wanted to do
