foldingchair,onecoveredinshiny,royalbluepaperwithaglitterywhitebow.
The image of the gift pulsated in her brain, meshing into the corners of her minduntilitconsumedher.Withinseconds,shewasready;shefoldedherarms
andwatchedasthegiftdelicatelyfloatedupfromthefloorandglidedthrough
theroom,gentlylandingonJason’slap.
“I’mheretoteachyouhowtouseyourgift.”
Jasonstaredblanklyatthepresent.Hisentirebodywasstill,hislimbslimp
athissidesandhisneckbentforward.Finally,helookedupatEve.
“Isthissomekindof joke?”
Evewastakenaback.“Whatdoyoumean?”
Jasonflungthegiftontothefloorandburiedhisfaceinhispalms,siftinghis
fingersthroughhisunkempthair.Withadeepbreath,heliftedhisheadand
shotEveascathingglare,hisentirebodysuddenlyemanatingapalpableanger.
“Iwasattackedafewdaysago.By ALIENS.Andthisschoolthinkstheycan justpatchmeup”—hepointedathisscar—“goodasnew,andthen trainmeto usetheverypowersthatputmeonthattableinthefirstplace?”
Eve’seyeswidenedwithshock.“Whatyouexperienced…nooneshould
havetogothroughthat.Iknowitsucks—”
“It sucks?”hespat.“Finalssuck.Blinddatessuck.Iwas dissected. ”Heclosed hiseyesandgrimaced.“Ifelt everything.”
“Jason,I’msorry—”
“Likehellyouare!Youdon’t knowme.You’rejustheredoingtheschool’s
dirtywork.It’s pathetic.”
Evestammeredindisbelief.“I…Ijust—”
“Andnowwhat?I’mjustsupposedtoforgetthatIwasnearlykilledand
embracethiswholething?”Heshookhishead,hislipscurledwithdisgust.
“This giftthatIdidn’tevenknowIhave,andnowI’mstuckwith.Tellme,why exactlydotheycallita‘gift’?’Causeifyouaskme,itfeelsahellofalotlike a curse.”
“A curse? ”ItwasEve’sturntoraisehervoice,herwordsdrippingwith
offense.“Whatthe hellisyourproblem?”
Jasonraisedhiseyebrows.“Excuseme?”
“You’vesuffered,Igetthat.Butallthatangstyou’refeelingrightnow—
that’s yourissue,notmine.Anditdoesn’tgiveyoutherighttobea dick.”
“Areyou seriousrightnow?”
“Look,Jason,doyouthinkI wanttobehere?Ididn’tsignupforthisburden.”
“Yourlifemustbe sohard—”
“Saysthepoorlittlerichboywithhismountainof presents.”Shecockedher headtowardhisgifts.“AmIreallysupposedtopityyou?”
Jason’schestheavedwitheachlividbreathhetook,andhesqueezedhisfists
tightly.“So,that’swhatyouseewhenyoulookatme:myparents’money.”
Eveignoredhisretort.“Youknow,withoutthatawful curseyouseemtohate, youwouldn’tbealiverightnow.Didyoueverthinkaboutthat?”
“AreyoureallytellingmeIshouldbe happythatthishappened?”
“I’mtellingyoutoappreciateyourpower.”
Jasonlaughedsarcastically.“Okay,sure.I’vechangedmymind.I appreciate
mygift.I’mperfectlyfinewithmyskinbeingslicedopenbyInterlopers.I’m
happythatthewholeentireworldisgoingto hatemefromthispointforward
—”
“Oh,so that’swhatthisisabout.It’sjustapopularitycontesttoyou.”
“A popularity contest? Seriously? Look, when a vast majority of an entire planetfearsyou,that’salotworsethansimplybeing unpopular.”
“So,basicallyyou’rescared?”
Jasonclenchedhisjaw.“Scared? ”
“Scaredofwhatothersthink.Scaredtofulfillyourpotential.”Shecrossedher
armsandsmirked.“Scaredtobedifferent.”
“Oh, God—”
“Youdon’tevenrealizehowluckyyouare!”Shepointedatthebluepresent
ontheground.“WhatIdidthere?Thatisn’teasy.Ittakesa lotofpractice.Ihad tolearnallofthatonmyown,justlikeeveryotherchimera,but yougetatutor.
Andyou’re upsetaboutit?”Sherolledhereyes.“You’reunbelievable.”
“Allright,I’mdonewiththisconversation.”
“Great,”Eveyankedhershoulderbagoffofthefloorandflungitoverher
arm,“becauseIwasjustleaving.”Shestruttedtowardthedoorwithherhead
heldhighandtuggedatthedoorknob,morethaneagertoberidofherdefiant
protégé. But before she slammed the door behind her, she turned to take one lastlookatJason.
“Andbytheway,sinceyoudidn’tbothertoask,mynameisEve.Itwasan absolute pleasuretomeetyou.”
CHAPTER4:SNOWGLOBE
AheavyfogloomedoverEve,weighingonherchestandpushingherdeep
into the weak springs of her mattress. This morning felt unlike the rest; she reflectedonherbrieftimeatBillingtonandbecameconsumedwith
someone,anyoneotherthanachimera—hadbeencompromisedameretwo
weeks into her first semester. Instead of the invisible, unnamed human she’d wantedtobe,shewasnowthestrongestchimeraintheworld,nottomention
teachertoanunwillingstudent. Thisisn’thowit’ssupposedtobe, she thought toherself.Nothingwasgoingasplanned.
Therewasnoneedforself-pitythough—andshewastooproudforsuch
emotionsanyway.ShefiddledwithhertweedskirtasshewaitedforMadison,
whowassittinginfrontofhervanity,brushinghergoldenlocksoverandover
again.
Madisonsetherbrushdownwithahuff.“Iguessthiswillhavetodo.”
“Youlookfine.”
“Fineisforuglygirls,”Madisonpouted,stompingoutoftheirdormroom
likeasulkingchild.
Evelockedthedoorbehindherandjoinedherroommateinthecorridor.As
theyventuredthroughthenarrowhallway,shefelteyesfollowingher.
Everyoneshecrossedcaughthergaze,theirstaresasscathingaslaserbeams.
ShekeptherchinlowandhopedMadisonwouldn’tnotice.
“God,myhairmustlookworsethanIthought.Everyone’sstaringatme.”
Evesighed;Madison hadnoticed.
“They’renotstaringatyou,Maddie.”
EveturnedaroundtoseeHayden,lookingsodemureinherpastelblueshirt-
dress,shufflingtowardthem.
“They’restaringatEve.”
Madisonraisedasingleeyebrow.“Eve?Dotell.”
Eveshruggeduncomfortably.“Idon’tknowwhythey’relookingatme.”
“RumorhasitthatEvewasspottedinthemedicalwardyesterday.”
“So?”Madisonsighed.“Areyousickorsomething?Ifyou’recontagious,
youare notsleepinginourroomtonight.”
“Shewasvisitingtheisolationwing,”Haydenadded,strugglingtokeepup
withthetwogirls.
“Isolationwhat?Thisstoryisgettingreallyboring, reallyfast.”
“Only importantpeopleareadmittedtotheisolationwing.High-profilers.
Peoplewithpower.Peoplewith money— ”
Madisonstoppedinthemiddleofthehallway,hermouthgapinginshock.
“Eve!Isthistrue?”
Hayden flashed a victorious smile. “And she had a special ID badge and
everything!Theyjustletherin!”
“Ithinkyou’vesaid
enough,Hayden,”Evemuttered.
“Andwhensheleft,shelooked pissed.Like, reallypissed.”
“Howthehelldoyoueven knowthis?”Evespat.
Haydenshotheradirtylookandwiggledhernose.“HeatherMcLeodtold
me.Shetold everyone.”
Ofcourseshedid,Evethoughttoherself.Sheheldherbreathandclosedher eyes—thegossipwasalreadyspreading,justasshe’dsuspecteditwould.
“Eve!”Madisonsquealed.“Whydidn’tyoutellmeaboutthis?Ithoughtwe
werebestfriends?”
“Ithought Iwasyour—”
“Shutup,Hayden,”Madisonsnapped.SheturnedbacktoEve.“It’s,like,the
numberoneruleoffriendship.Wetelleachother everything.Now,spititout!”
“Spit what out?”
“Whowereyouseeingintheward?”
Evepaused.“Family?”
Madisonlaughed.“Getreal,Eve.Ifyouexpectmetobelievethatsomeone
you’rerelatedtoisintheisolationwing,you’reseriouslydisturbed.I’ve seen yourclothes;theyreekofbargain-binpoverty.”
Evesighed.“There’snothingtotell.Iwasthinkingaboutvolunteeringthere.
TheygavemeanIDbadgesoIcouldtakeatour.That’sallthathappened.”
Madisonrolledhereyes.“Okay,Eve,numberone:ew.Volunteeringisfor slopholes. Number two: I can spot a liar a mile away, and your pants are definitelyonfire.”
“Yeah ,Eve.”Haydengrinnedwithdelightatthemessshehadcreated.“Liar. ”
“Ladies,itreallyisn’tasbigofadealasitseems.”
“Ifthat’sthecase,youshouldn’thaveaproblemtellingus.”
“Thestoryisdull,atbest.”
“Thenjusttelluswhoyou know.”
“Ihardly knowhimatall—”
MadisongaspedandwildlysmackedEveacrossthearm.“Soyouadmitit!”
Evegrimaced—shehadsaidtoomuch.
“It’sa he,too,”Haydenchimedin.
“You’renotahigh-endescort,areyou?”
Eveflaredhernostrils.“I’mgoingtopretendyoudidn’tjustaskmethat.”
“Ishecute?He’sobviouslyrich,but cuterichboysarehardtocomeby.”
“Madison,it’saschoolthing.”Evehurriedherstrideasshemadeherway
upthestepsofthebusinessbuilding.“Itoldyou,it’svolunteerwork.Nothing
more.”
Classwasalreadyinsession,andEvecringedastheotherstudentsturnedand
watchedthemtaketheirusualseatsinthebackoftheroom.Shewondered:
did they stare because of their late interruption, or had news of her medical wardvisitspreadpasttheconfinesofRutherfordHall?
“Youknow,”Madisonwhispered,noteasilydeterred,“ifit’sreallyso unimportant,youwouldn’tmindgivingmeeveryteeny,tinydetail,right?”
Evegrowledunderherbreath.Shehadalwaysconsideredherselfanhonest
person—toohonest,mostofthetime—yetwithhernewfounddesiretoremain
unknowncametheendlessfictionsthatspewedfromhernowduplicitouslips.
Shehatedthataboutherself.
“Madison,Ialreadytoldyoueverythingyouneedtoknow.”
Madison’sfacedroppedintoascowl.“Idon’tbelieveyou.You’rehiding
something.”
Eveglaredbackatthegirl—shecouldn’thelpherself—andloweredher
voicetoanauthoritativewhisper.“It’snotabigdeal,Madison.Letitgo.”
Suddenly,theclassroomdooropened,andEvecursedaloudandhungher
head in defeat. She knew exactly what would happen next, and she closed her eyes,hopingthatherblackenedvisionwouldtransporthersomewherefar
away.
“EveKingston?”ProfessorClarkesaid.
Sheopenedhereyes.Theskinnymessengerboywasstandingbesidethe
professoratthefrontoftheclass.
“Eve,”Clarkebeckonedherwithhisindexfinger.“You’vegotamessage
fromthemedicalward.”
Reluctantly,EvepackedupherthingsasMadisonchuckledtoherself.
“Notabigdeal,huh?”theheiresssmirked.
JustasEvestoodfromherseat,Madisongrabbedherwrist.
“Tonight,you’regoingtotellme everything.”
EverippedherarmfromMadison’sgraspandploddedtowardthefrontof
theclassroom,herdemeanorasenthusiasticasthatofarottingcorpse.
ProfessorClarkeflashedherasympatheticsmile.
“You’vebeensummonedforjuryduty,”hesnickered.“I’mjustkidding,that
wasabadjoke.It’stimeforyourtutoringsession.”
Evegrumbled,“Wonderful.”
“I’llhavemyTAforwardtherestofthelecturetoyourscratchpad,okay?”
Evesmiled.Clarkeseemedsokind—sounlikeDr.Dick.
“Thanksforbeingsounderstandingaboutthiswholething.”
Theprofessorpattedherlightlyontheback.“Hanginthere.”
Withouttheslightestsenseofurgency,Evelefttheclassroom.Shedidn’t
takeasecondlookbackatherpeers,knowingtheywereprobablyalready
concoctingnewrumorsabouther.Asshewalkedthroughthehallwayandout
ofthebuilding,sheheardthecumbersomeclompingoffeetrunningbehind
her.
“MissKingston!Eve,wait!”
Themessengerboywasjoggingtowardher,hisarmsflailingashescurried
toherside.Evelookeddown—shecouldtellthatevenhadshetakenherheels
off,hestillwould’vebeenmuchshorterthanher,thoughhisganglybuildtold her that he still had a lot of growing to do. A mane of coarse black hair coveredhishead,matchinghistwothickeyebrows,andhisclotheshung
looselyoverhissmallfigure.
“Sorry,”hepanted.“I’msupposedtowalkyoutotheward.”
“Walkme?Why?Iknowwhereitis.”
“Youleftearlyyesterday.Iguesstheyweren’tsureifyou’dshowuptoday.”
“Jesus,”Evegroaned.“Soyou’remybabysitter,basically?”
“Sortof.Iguess.”
Theywalkedtogetherinsilence.Evelistenedtothesoundofherheels
clickingagainstthepathway,andhernewsupervisorstaredatthegroundwith
hishandsbehindhisback.
“So,what’syourname?”Eveasked,eagertoendtheawkwardquiet.
“ArmaanTavana.”
“Doyouworkatthemedicalward?”
“Yeah.”Hekepthiseyesdown.“Volunteeringtherelooksgoodwhenyou
applyformedicalschool.”
Eveeyedhernewcompanionandsmirked.“Youlookalittleyoungtobe
preppingformedschool.”
“I’mseventeen.”
“Damn.SeventeenyearsoldandalreadyafreshmanatBillington?”
Armaanhesitated.“I’majunior.”
Evelaughed.“Wow,now that’simpressive.”
Theboyshovedhishandsintohispocketsandsighed.“Impressive,maybe,
butitdoesn’tmatter.Nooneseesme.I’mtooquiet,toosmall.”Hestoppedfor
asecond.“NotsurewhyIjusttoldyouthat.”
Evesmiled.“Well,Icanseeyoujustfine.”
Armaanblushedbutdidn’trespond.
“Soyou’regoingtobeadoctor?”
“That’stheplan.”
“Whatfield?”
Hebowedhisheadevenlower.“HumanovusGeneralMedicine.Youknow…
forchimeras.”
“…Oh.”
Again,thepairbecamesilent.Eveanxi
ouslypickedathercuticlesand
sighed. Ohhell,shethoughttoherself.Shefinallyspoke.
“YouknowI’m—”
“Achimera?Ikindoffigured.”
Inaninstant,herentirebodybecametense.Shelistenedtothesteadysound
of her breathing, avoiding eye contact with the boy for as long as she could manage.
“Idon’tcare.”Heraisedhischin,finallylookingherintheeye.“Imean,it
doesn’tbotherme.”
Hershouldersrelaxed,andsheexhaled.“Thanks,Armaan.”
“Ithinkyouguysareprettydynamic,actually,especiallyyourgift.”Hiseyes
dartedfromsidetosidebeforehecontinued.“I’d killtoseeitinaction.”
“Isthatahint?”
“Well,ifyoudon’tmind,”Armaanwhispered.Helookedaround—afew
studentsweresittinginthecourtyardstudying,butmostwereatthe
dormitoriesorstillinclass,nowheretobeseen.“Iknowit’ssortofpersonal
and intruding, but you don’t have to do anything huge. Just do something, I don’tknow,subtle.Please?”
Absolutelynot.That’swhatsheshould’vesaid,butinsteadshesaidnothing.
Sheglancedatthepathaheadandspiedasinglefeatherrestingonlyafewfeet
away.Disregardingherreservations,sheletherminddriftandsentthefeather
spiralingupwardasifcaughtbythelightbreeze,thoughthetwoofthemknew
otherwise.Thefeatherdancedintheair,loopingbackandforthlikeacarona
tinyrollercoaster,thengentlylandedinthepalmofArmaan’snowtrembling
hand.
Armaanlaughedandgaspedinawe.“Thatwas sodynamic!”heyelped,his
eyesfilledwithexcitement.“Youtotallyjustmademyday!”
Evegavehimawink.“It’llbeoursecret.”
“Oh,don’tworry,Iwon’ttellanyone.”
Thenervoustensionbetweenthetwosoftenedastheymadetheirway throughthemedicalward.HadEvefoundanunlikelyally?Possibly,though
evenso,shecouldhardlybelieveshehadmusteredthegalltogiftinfrontof
him,muchlessinapublicsetting.Itwasfoolishandinpoortaste,butshe
smiledtoherself,pleasedwithherownbrazenbehavior.Armaanwasn’tsobad
—hewasafanofherkind,andthatalonemadehimsomeoneworthknowing,