Andromeda grinned behind her mug. “Maybe they can have it telepathically?”

“Do we have to discuss things in such sordid details?” wailed Phoenie.

Since leaving the assorted group of would-have-been sacrifices with some medics they recognised from the Academy, the two girls had retired to Andromeda’s house – the closer of the two – to discuss the evening’s events. They’d been assured by some abrupt cell messages that everyone else had escaped the underground safely, but no one had acknowledged Phoenie’s call for a Veritas debriefing. Not that she could blame them – they had been through more than any of them had anticipated – but she was anxious to know what had happened after her own early escape. Katrina’s well-being was of particular concern, after her uncharacteristic killing of a shaman to protect her friends.

“Phoe, you’re such a prude,” replied Andromeda. They had agreed not to focus on the darker aspects of events and instead discuss the real gossip: like how John was clearly crushing on Faye Delphinus. “Lighten up already. You’re seventeen, you should have had it yourself by now!”

Phoenie felt her cheeks flush and scowled, pulling a blanket around her as she glared in Andromeda’s direction. “I have standards! And far more important business to worry about.”

Andromeda sat giggling on her bed surrounded by an army of fluffy toys. She was enjoying Phoenie’s discomfort a little too much. “C’mon Phoe, how much longer are you going to wait around for a certain Prince Charming to turn around and sweep you to safety?” she asked, “You know it’s not going to happen…”

“What have I got to do with any of this anyway? We were talking about John!”

“Stop avoiding the subject. If you can gossip about John’s love life, we can gossip about yours,”

“I don’t have a love life!”

“No, you have an unhealthy obsession with a brave young man who also happens to be dating one of—“

Phoenie grabbed a discarded notebook off the cluttered floor and tossed it in Andromeda’s direction. “We don’t talk about her, remember? And no, it’s not because she’s getting it on with that lumbering oaf, it’s because she betrayed us. Or did you forget how some of us were almost burned alive?”

Andromeda fell silent, her fit of giggles stopped dead by the memories of Godhand.

“You think he’s dealing with all these revelations very well?” she asked eventually.

“Na, I bet he’s denying it all already,”

***

“Man, never thought I’d be telling stories about my day fighting demons,” said Theseus. Amanda giggled, the clandestine video link crackling. Whereas he was slouched on the sofa-bed in his bedroom, she was huddled in a wooden shack, her frail features lit by the pale light of the computer pad.

“I guess that’s made Phoenie a very happy girl…” she said, her voice a whisper.

“Sure as hell won’t be living this one down anytime soon. Kinda makes me worried what that girl’ll pull next. She got her proof, so now what? Some grand quest to eradicate demons for greater justice? Almost wish that illusion’ll kick in and stop her going outta control…”

Amanda frowned, a contemplative downward curve of her small mouth. She understood the root of Phoenie’s problems more than Theseus ever could. “You got rid of the illusions?” she asked.

“Not sure. We found out it was Ms Chiltern all along, but don’t ask me the details ’cause that shit went right over my head. Think we convinced her to leave it off for now, or at least I hope we did…”

Amanda rubbed her cheek, like she always did when thinking about something. “Ms Chiltern, huh? I’d heard whisperings it might be one of the teachers, but they usually blame Mr Payne. Then again everything is his fault these days…”

Theseus wasn’t a great judge of emotion, but he’d known Amanda long enough now to spot when something was troubling her. She would cast her eyes downwards and begin playing with the ever-present hairclip that prevented her fringe falling over her eyes.

Chapter 57
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