Her alchemy had taken its toll, and she slept the entire day. But I was so glad to see her awake the very next day, unlike the time we unlocked Dove’s memories. Maybe Chrys really was getting insanely stronger; she just needed the practice.
And I saw it myself, when I went to go see Leon. He was no longer thrashing in his sleep; he was at peace.
Dove stood before me, so still I didn’t even know if she was breathing. After my story, I finally met her eyes. “If you have to blame
someone blame me, only. I bribed Chrys to help me.”
A sharp sting landed on my cheek, knocking me to the side with such force I fell to the ground, banging my shoulder on the linoleum floor.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were planning to do this? You think you have a right to decide something like this?! When are you going to start treating me like an equal again, Emery?”
My mouth stuttered open, but no words came out.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed. Ever since I woke up from that coma you’ve acted like I was made of glass. You won’t tell me anything, you sneak off to do the most dangerous things and not even have the courtesy to even say goodbye when you go and save my only brother! If you could have just been honest with me maybe we—maybe we could have—”
She wailed. I saw the regret, the anger and the disappointment churning in her eyes. I knew it wasn’t just aimed at me—she believed it was her fault I acted like this. Because she was weak and powerless. But everything she had said before was right: I was a horrid, selfish bitch. I made the decision without even consulting her, afraid she wouldn’t see reason or couldn’t handle that wiping Leon’s memories was the only way to save his sanity.
I was so wrong. But I wasn’t wrong about her strength. Dove
shouldn’t have to bear the burden of being the one to erase Leon’s memories. That kind of pressure would have only broken her, just like when she remembered Guinevere tampering with her memories.
Trust was such a fragile thing…
I didn’t move from the floor, or make any attempt to sooth my throbbing cheek. My eyes went wide when Dove bent over—and wrapped me in her arms. I felt hot tears splash my neck where she cradled me, and suddenly my own tears flowed down, mixing with hers.
“You damn idiot,” Dove cried out. “You goddamn idiot!”
The hug was brief. Dove got up, refusing to meet my eyes, and walked back into Leon’s room, closing the door with a firm click. I pushed myself up, resting my back against the wall and carefully placed a hand on my cheek. Ouch. It might even leave a bruise, but I really did deserve it.
“She’s right, you know,” Rick’s voice echoes down the hall as he approached from behind the corner, clearly listening in. “You really are an idiot.”
“Yeah, I am.”
He sat next to me on the wall, our knees brushing. Though I felt that familiar burst of warmth, it couldn’t melt the chill nestled in my body. “It was damn stupid…but noble.”
I sniffed. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he retorted, giving me a soft smile. “If I were in your shoes—and that was Ash in that bed, and not your friend—I’d do whatever the hell it took to give him peace.”
“You really would?” I sighed. “Even if he’d never remember you again?”
“I would. Without hesitation.” Rick replied. “But you hurt a lot more people than yourself, Emery. That girl may never get over it.”
I nodded. He was right. He was always right. In a way, I had gone behind Dove’s back, basically betraying her to do this, even at the cost of not only my happiness, but Chrys’s physical wellbeing. How many people would I step on? Until I was all alone?
“It wasn’t easy,” I said out loud, mainly to myself. “I’ve gone through hell and back to save him…only to just erase everything? That’s not why I did it. It’s thanks to Leon that I could do it, because he’s always put himself before me. He’s had his share of problems, but he always overlooked my own. I-It’s thanks to Leon that I can really walk on my own two feet, and if I have to give him up—him and everyone else until I’m alone—then I will.”
Rick leaned slightly on my shoulder and I suddenly found myself returning the action, until my head rested on his shoulder. “I’m a selfish, stupid prick. I don’t deserve to cry.”
“You think so, huh?”
“I do.”
“So why are you crying right now?”
“I’m not—”
“There’s no shame in crying,” Rick said, placing a hand over mine.
“Especially if you’re the one hurting the most.”
And then I did. I cried, right there, sitting only ten feet away from Leon’s door, and cried into Rick’s shoulder. I cried away the pain and the sorrow; I cried for Dove and for Chrys; for Ru and Oliver, for my father, my great-grandmother, for Samantha and Frankie Ann and even Christopher, all the people I’ve grown to love this past year. The people who gave me the strength to stand on my own two feet, no matter how hard it was.
I cried, most of all, for Leon…and for the goodbye we would never be able to share.
For the smallest part, I cried for me, because I wish there had been another way.
But it was too late to turn back.
I had no choice but to go forward.
Just as Leon always taught me.
CHAPTER 25
I clutched Guinevere’s journal tightly in my hands. It had taken a couple of hours, but I finally persuaded Christopher to lend it back to me, because there were a couple of students that really needed it. Oddly enough, Christopher didn’t put up any argument of fight when I requested the book back. Instead, he calmly reached into his locked desk and extracted it. I was floored a little, so sure that they had put her book under lock and key, or tried to decipher it, but all Christopher said was,
“If this belongs to King’s children, it’s the least I could do.”
I still had yet to discover who this “King” was…but that was always an answer for another day.
The medical wing was unusually dark; the only strip of light coming from Leon’s door, which was cracked open. I spied in; a little relieved to see Dove wasn’t in there. Now that he’s awake, I’m sure she was put more at ease…
Leon was sitting upright, staring blankly at a muted TV on the wall. I knocked, hesitant to come in, and even more so when he turned to me, and those beautiful eyes locked onto me, turning my legs into
jelly.
He blinked once, twice, then motioned for me to come in. But when he winced, pressing a hand to his temple a shot of terror ran through me, and I blurted, “Are you alright?”
He waved it away. “It’s fine. Just a headache. I’ve had it all day…”
I stood before him, shifting my weight from one foot to the next as Leon squinted his eyes at me, tilting his head like a puppy, and asked.
“Do I know you?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile. “I’m a friend of Dove’s. Can I sit?”
“Sure. Go ahead.” Leon replied. “What’s your name again?”
“It’s Emery.”
“Emery…huh…” Leon said my name slowly, and it sent a jolt down my spine, making my heart race. “It really does sound…familiar.”
His eyes shone, widening as if he remembered something, but then he let out a hiss of pain. “Sorry. The headache just came back. For some reason my brain is throbbing…”
“It’s okay.”
“It just feel like I’m trying to remember something, but can’t.”
Leon continued. “The Healers here say that I have amnesia. I can’t remember anything that’s happened this past year. But maybe it’s for the best…”
“Try not to push yourself.”
He nodded. “Oh, if you’re looking for Dove, she might be in the cafeteria? I had to practically beg her to go get something to eat. I’ve never seen her so…worried about me…”
I push back the tears. “Yeah. She really does love you, Leon. She
was worried sick about you.”
Leon didn’t seem to believe my words, and his gaze went back to the television. “…yeah…maybe…” he blinked once more, as if pulled back into reality. “How do you know me, Emery?”
I sat down on the edge of the bed, smoothing out the fabric of my shirt. “You’ve saved my life before. A couple of times.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you,” I teased, glad to see a smile on his lips. “You’ve saved my life so many times, and I never got to thank you properly. So that’s why I’m here. To say…thank you.”
He let out a shy grin, a fading blush coating his cheeks at my praise. “I don’t think I deserve your thanks. I can’t even remember anything.”
“But it’s not just saving my life,” I pressed gently. “You taught me a lot of things, too. And you cared for me, like nobody else had ever cared for me, and I could say thank you a million and one times but it just wouldn’t be enough. I’ve become a better person because of you,
and even if you don’t remember, just don’t forget that you are an amazing guy, Leon. You’re smart and brave—yeah, maybe a little hot headed—but you always do what you think is right, and you put others wellbeing before yourself. You’re a noble person, Leon, and I’m thankful that you’ve been in my life, even just a little.”
Leon turned a light pink, his mouth open at my sudden declaration. So instead, I handed him Guinevere’s book, watching him take it with trembling hands. A few pieces stuck out; the pages that Guinevere originally ripped out had been put back, albeit hastily.
“And as my thanks, I wanted to let you—and Dove—know; well I think she already suspected it…” When I had tried to talk to Dove about Guinevere before Leon woke, she brushed my attempts off. I think she knew what was going on but put Leon before finding her mentor as her number one priority. I just prayed that Guinevere was still rooted to the same place…
“But I’ve found Guinevere. Your mentor. I met her. And you know what? She’s waiting, Leon. She’s waiting for you and Dove. To come back home.”
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER.
“Oh my gosh Em, have you seen my ribbon?” Samantha Grove’s voice squeaked from the other side of the dorm room as I sat on my bed, hastily shoving my books into my knapsack. I didn’t bother to look up as she rummaged around her desk—littered with her make up junk—and simply asked:
“Which one?”
“The purple one!” she cried out. “The one that Josh likes!”
“Oh, that one? Did you check your coat pocket?”
With a little dramatic gasp, Samantha fished her favorite purple ribbon out of her maroon student jacket, squeezing in delight and shooting a thanks in my direction.
Junior year was twice as hectic as last year. It’s only been two months since the start of the new school year but we were already swimming in tests and essays. And of course, poor Samantha was trying to juggle her schoolwork and her new boyfriend at the same time, but I
knew she could handle it.
I was glad she decided to come back after what Mallory Well’s, aka, the Stereotypical Mean Girl of the School had done, by playing that deadly prank on her last year during the Magnolia Bell’s initiation. But Mallory was far gone, rumored to have been sent overseas to England to stay at a pretty prestigious, but strict, all girls’ school. Now that she was gone, it felt like all of St. Mary’s had breathed a sigh of relief.
“C’mon, c’mon!” Samantha huffed, dragging my arm as we raced out the door. “We’re so gonna be late!”
I let her pull me along as I crammed my last book inside and we zipped down the stairs, our feet pounding like gun shots, and raced out the door with barely enough time to grab a piece of bread for breakfast.
We had an early morning Humanities meeting and it was our duty to set things up in the library before everyone showed up. As I let Samantha drag me around, I spotted my dad trimming some of the bushes by one of the donated fountains and gave him a big wave, which he returned.
Thanks to the Healers, Dad barely remembered why he had gone back to New York in the first place. They originally pulled some strings and offered dad a job back up home as a janitor for another school, but as soon as September rolled around, I wanted him back, and the Black Crown pulled the same strings to get him down. Dad hardly remembered what had happened during the summer, but he was convinced I had
stayed at Dove’s place for the past three months.
The most epic part? Dad wasn’t some janitor anymore; he’d been promoted to official groundskeeper, with a good recommendation from Mr. Jones (the recently retired one) and a mysterious alumni who sang nothing but praises. As if I didn’t have enough to repay Christopher in practice!
We reached the library in record time. When Samantha wanted something done, she was like a bull in a china shop—there was no stopping her! But I was grateful we took the elevator to catch our breaths. As soon as we reached the door, my phone trilled, signaling a text.
I flipped it open and smiled. Samantha caught my look, and gave me a sly smile. “Is that from your boyfriend?”
I shushed her. “You know I don’t have a boyfriend! So no, it isn’t from a guy. It’s from my other friends.”
Samantha’s eyes went wide and she nodded, leaving me alone out in the library while she prepared to tidy up. Samantha knew good and well about my “other life”. The instant we realized we were dorm mates (something I think that her rich father had pulled); she instantly bombarded me, demanding the truth. And, well, I told her. I told her everything that’s happened.
And she just totally understood. She didn’t even question why at
all, but seemed really intrigued, especially when I showed her my Runes.
Of course, I swore her to absolute secrecy, and I think I could trust her with it. After all, she really helped me before, and Samantha was a very nice, sweet girl.
The text was from Chrys, who says she and Ru are doing well in England—yes, the Black Crown has a headquarters in Europe!—and that their training is going smoothly. After responding, I sent a quick text to Oliver. He didn’t move to England, but instead he and his Aunt Rosie came to live down in Savannah, where Oliver is going to college part-time and training to be a better alchemist at the Sothern branch. Chrys and Ru are only in Europe because their parents have a temporary assignment over there, and of course they would tag along. They’ll be back in another two months.
What was even more surprising was the fact that cute, little Chrysanthemum Blackwell was dating the kindhearted Oliver Benton.
(I totally knew it was going to happen. I just knew it. Ru didn’t even seem bothered by the fact; rather, he gave his full blessings to Oliver. Although Chrys giggled later that he had threatened to electrocute Oliver if he made her cry.)
We had a miraculous half day today, something the new Headmaster was trying to give the students at least once a month for a
“cooling down” period. Instead of being crammed with much work, the
new Headmaster—who was, shockingly, my first history professor, Mr.
Hogan—wanted there to be equal relaxation amongst the students. We also had some spiffy new rules, and there was even going to be a new student parking lot for juniors and seniors coming soon.
Samantha went on a date with Josh (and by date they probably went to hang out at the library), so I headed back to the dorm myself, determined to catch up on my studies. Hey, half day or not, those A’s weren’t going to create themselves. As I was walked, narrowly missing a Frisbee to the head, my phone beeped again, but this time it was a text from Rick.
SOS CLOCKIE. SEND HELP.
I laughed out loud, getting a couple of strange looks from other students but brushed them off, my fingers flying over the keyboard.
WHAT”S WRONG? GET A PAPER CUT?
DYING OF BOREDOM
POOR THING
I GOT A PAPERCUT. BLEEDIN BAD. MIGHT NEED U TO COME
KISS IT.
&n
bsp; A flush crawled up my neck and I had to start my reply over must from the nerves. I’M SURE FRANKIE ANN CAN DO THAT FOR U
HEARTLESS
I laughed, feeling my heart thump. C U THIS WEEKEND RIGHT?
WOUDNT MISS IT
The relationship between Rick and I had…well…it was kind of going somewhere? A strange flutter swept through my heart at the thought of seeing him this weekend—for our first ever official date. Or rather, we would be cat-sitting Butterball while Frankie Ann was visiting relatives.
But Rick had been determined that it would be the best stuck-at-home-with-a-grumpy-cat date I’d ever have in my life.
I was really looking forward to it.
I sighed, snapping my phone with a shut, but couldn’t stop the grin plastered on my face as I raced up to my room, feeling the familiar pouch bounce against my breastbone, holding the Elixir that I would use
—one day—to restore my fake heart.
But so far, I liked my life as it was now. Abnormal.
I was surprised to see a letter sticking out of our little mail cubby.
Another new thing that the Headmaster installed; private little mail cubbies that stuck out next to every dorm room. Easier way to send messages through the dorms instead of emails or at the post boxes.
Samantha loved it so much she decorated it with tons of cute, pink stickers, and even wrote our name in sparkly gel ink (that should be washable, according to her).
There was a small envelope sticking out. I reached out, surprised to see my name on it. I entered my dorm and tossed my bag on my side
of the room, then ripped open the envelope.
It was a letter from Dove.
It was short and basic. In it, Dove simply states that she, Leon, Guinevere, and even Luca, are now heading towards the west coast on a clue of discovering (and helping, if needed) other E-Alchemists. Dove says that once they have a permanent address, she will send it to me.
The Fake Mind (Time Alchemist) Page 13