Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere by Bella Forrest Page 0,20
that I was a mess would’ve been putting it lightly. I wanted to find my way through this new world without stirring up any trouble, but Leviathan’s gift had made trouble my middle name.
Genie bumped her arm gently against mine. “Silver lining. No Purge beast.”
“Right.” I tilted my head back against the wall and tried to stick with the positives.
“I just… don’t want to end up in a glass box,” I said, more to myself than Genie.
“You’re not going to.” She turned to me, and I met her earnest gaze. “I realize everything is a bit topsy-turvy at the moment, but you’ve got so many people on your side, Persie. People who won’t let that happen to you: me, Victoria, your parents, Tobe. And maybe I sound like a broken record, but you’ve already taken the first step toward controlling your ability. You made that happen, and if that doesn’t show grit, then I’m a circus clown.”
I smiled at her. “Your cheeks do look a little red, but that might just be the lingering effects of Nathan’s presence.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and clasped her hand to her heart dramatically, making me chuckle. “Oof, you wound me, Persie. I’ve told you, this Atlantean has her romance blinders firmly in place.” One eye peeked open. “But I’m glad you’re cracking jokes. The funnies are the first sign of recovery.”
I really did feel calmer. The tension I’d been holding in my muscles had released, and I’d gone back to not noticing how air came in and out of my chest.
“Thank you for being here, Genie.” I weaved my arm through hers.
She waved a hand through the air. “Ach, where else would I be? Taking elocution lessons in Atlantis, gearing up to take a husband?” Her expression turned more serious. “We’ve been a pair since you were born. A team. And I know you’d have gotten yourself out of that”—she twirled her hand through the air, indicating the panic attack—“even if I hadn’t been here. I saw you during your exam, Pers. You didn’t let anything stop you… Well, until I stopped you.” Sadness flickered across her face, mingling with a smidge of guilt.
“You helped me,” I corrected. I knew she still had some mixed emotions about that day, and how she might’ve messed up my admission into this Institute. But I didn’t blame her at all for stepping in. She’d seen me go all Purgey and had done what any good friend would.
She gave me a grateful smile.
“So, do you think we should catch up with the group?” I said.
With a concerned eyebrow arched, she asked, “Are you sure you feel better?”
“Steady as a rock.” I held out a hand to show the shakes had gone.
“Then let’s go and see what we’re missing.” With my arm still looped through hers, Genie led the way up the hall. I had to lean against her a little bit as we walked, but she didn’t make a point of it, just tightened her muscles so she could bear as much of my weight as I needed. We were our own two-person unit, and we left no woman behind.
Fortunately, the labyrinth of the Institute had decided to be kind. At the end of the long hallway, there was only one route: to the left. We followed it until we spotted the rest of the group in the distance, standing in front of a wall of stained-glass panels that appeared to be in the middle of construction. Half-formed friezes of monster battles, in fiery shades of scarlet, gold, and burnished orange, were arranged around a partially-built archway that gaped darkly.
We were halfway up the corridor when Genie yanked me back. “There they are again!”
“What?” I squinted up at her.
“Those… glowy things.” Her forehead furrowed. “Do you feel sick again? Any chills?”
“No, I feel fine.” I followed her line of sight and froze in wonder. Gaseous spheres of light, about the size of baseballs, bounced around in the rafters overhead, trailing wisps of duck-egg blue, jade green, and lavender. The colors intensified in the center of each dancing light, like a candle flame, though the centers didn’t necessarily match the trails they dispersed; one of the blue lights had a vibrant violet core, while one of the green ones had a center of sunshine yellow.
They mesmerized me as I watched them whirl and somersault above. “What are they?”
“I don’t know, but I saw one before you got sick back there. I thought they might’ve had something to do