Would they wreak havoc not just in Em’s life, but through all of Ascension?
She tried to focus on the words, but they blurred together like a watercolor left out in the rain. Then a single phrase jumped out at her: Atonement ritual. She blinked and sat up straighter.
She read: Although unsubstantiated, many ancient texts have indicated that the Furies may be appeased by a ritual atonement.
Appeased. That meant they’d leave, right? Em turned the page, frustrated that the book didn’t say what the ritual was. Still, she felt hopeful. Maybe there was a way to banish the Furies. She just had to figure out what it was.
With a burst of energy, she shoved the book back into its place and scribbled atonement in her notebook. As she left the library the next bell rang. She picked up her pace.
? ? ?
“Drea!” Em leaned into the locker room, where girls were changing for gym class. This couldn’t wait until after school.
Drea jumped, clearly startled. Her shirt was halfway over her head, revealing a delicate white bra that was completely uncharacteristic, Em noticed. “Jesus, Em! Stalk much?!”
“Sorry,” Em said, ignoring the stares from other girls, who were likely wondering what the hell Emily Winters wanted with Drea Feiffer in the locker room in the middle of the school day. “Put your clothes back on. Come on. You’re skipping gym.”
“Hold on, hold on,” Drea said, keeping her arms halfway out of their sleeves and pointedly refusing to move an inch. “Are you going to explain why you bailed on me yesterday?”
Em picked up Drea’s hooded black sweatshirt and tried handing it to her. “Yes,” she said. “In fact, I am presenting you with these low-caffeine teas”—she dug a paper box wrapped in pretty paper out of her bag—“to try to make up for it. You know, for your little caffeine addiction problem.”
Drea took the teas with a begrudging smile, and Em continued, “Look, I’m really sorry about yesterday. Gabby was being a diva, and I’ve barely seen Fiona and Lauren recently, and—”
Drea held up her hand to cut her off. “I’m bored already. Just don’t do it again, okay?” Then she started to put her Converse sneakers back on. “At least you made it up to me by pulling me out of gym. It’s weight-training day,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “So tell me what’s going on.”
“Okay,” Em said, watching as Drea carelessly threw on the rest of her outfit. “So we have this English assignment. It’s independent research. Whatever topic we want.” She waited for Drea to understand the significance, but Drea just looked at her quizzically.
“You’re making me skip class to tell me about a homework assignment?”
Em sighed. “So I proposed that I research mythology—specifically, the Furies.” She stopped to take a breath, and Drea gathered the last of her things.
“Let’s go.” Drea motioned for them to leave through the back door of the locker room to avoid getting caught by any of Ascension’s overly muscular gym teachers, a.k.a. People with Absolutely No Sympathy for Any Problem. “Okay. So go on.”
“Well, I’m doing this research,” Em continued, “and mostly it’s just different versions of stuff we already know. Like, that the Furies characteristically appear in the guise of three women, or that they want to wreak vengeance for crimes. Snakes in their hair. That sort of thing.”
Drea knew all this already, but Em could see that she was still hanging on every word. Em wondered for the millionth time why Drea was so invested in the Furies. It’s not like they were chasing her. But she knew better than to ask. The first few times she’d brought it up, Drea had completely shut her down. Em didn’t want to push it. Drea was the only one who understood, who didn’t ask too many questions. Em had to return the favor.
“But then I saw something I’ve never seen, even in the articles you’ve given me,” Em said, experiencing the same sense of fizzing excitement she’d felt when she first read the words “atonement ritual.” They passed around the back of the gym toward the auditorium, where they’d be able to talk in both warmth and peace.
Drea paused and waited to hear.
“There’s a way to end it.” Em stopped walking too. They stared at each other.
“How?” Drea looked skeptical. She started walking again.
“I’m not sure exactly—yet. But apparently there’s some type of ritual, some ceremony that you can do. It works. It said so in the book.” She jogged a little to catch up with Drea. “Wait up, D. What do you think of that?”