The Hierophant (Book 1 in The Arcana Series) (32 page)

Andy and I were never close, not even after what happened with the skinwalker—with him knowing pretty much everything about me that I never wanted anyone else to know. But Andy was sorry for what he did, and never stopped trying to make it up to Kyla and I those months before he went away to college.

“I thought you went to Boston University?” I say.

“I do, but my cousin’s band was playing today, I came home to support him.” Andy’s grin wavers. He no longer has the easy charm that the skinwalker gave him as part of their deal, but I like this version of him better. I like anyone who can be even remotely authentic—maybe because I want so badly to be authentic, too. “So…what’s happening, Ana? I heard you dropped out of school?”

I smirk. “Well, it’s pretty hard to conquer senioritis when you’ve seen the things I’ve seen.” I don’t mean to sound so bitter, but I do.

“Yeah. Yeah, I can imagine.” He purses his lips, shrugs. “So, what are you doing now?”

“I’ve been traveling. Making money busking. I’m leaving for Europe in the morning, actually.”

“Whoa, that’s huge. That’s crazy. What an adventure.” Andy looks startled, like he can’t believe
I’m
doing it, and he can’t decide if it’s awesome, or the worst idea he’s ever heard. “You have friends over there?”

“Um, I’ve met a few people at hostels. They said I could crash on their couches a night here or there.”

“Wow, that’s awesome. I’m so jealous. I want to backpack around Europe when I graduate, but that’s a long way off…” Andy frowns and lowers his voice. “Hey, did you hear…about John?”

I frown at the mention of our high school bully—
my
high school bully—the one who ran me off the road my junior year and nearly killed us both. He may have been influenced by Sura that night, but it doesn’t mean he didn’t
want
to hurt me. It seemed like that was all he wanted since I beat him up in eighth grade. I guess I wounded his ego so badly that he made it his life’s mission to never let a day go by without hurling some kind of derogatory insult my way.

“About his glass eye?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “ Or about his mother kicking him out of his house after he was expelled from school? Or about getting busted dealing drugs on the West Side?” I scoff, making a gesture like rubbing my thumb and forefinger together. “World’s tiniest violin.”

Andy purses his lips. “Yeah, no, you’re right. Forget I mentioned it.” He shifts, uncomfortable.

“Sorry,” I say, crossing my arms, trying to tamp down my obvious distain. “It’s just that
John Cassidy
is a name that evokes a lot of negative feelings.”

“No, it’s cool, I get it. The guy was a huge jerk to you for years, and then he almost killed you. I’d be pretty pissed off, too.”

I make a sound of acknowledgement, although
pissed off
isn’t exactly the phrase I would have used.

Andy looks up, trying to be casual again. “Oh, by the way, Kyla is looking for you.”

“What?” My heart leaps into my throat, blood draining from my face in the split second it takes for me to register what he’s just said.

“I just ran into her, she asked if I’d seen you around.”

“
Where
? Where specifically did you run into her?”

“I—I don’t remember—by the vendors, maybe?”

“
Here
?” I want to shout in dismay, but it comes out breathless. “I have to go. Sorry.”

“What? Why?” Andy looks perplexed. “Wait—Ana—
wait!
”

He tries to stop me, but I’m already turning, running, dashing into the crowd, burying myself in a sea of bodies, hoping that it’s not too late.

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Also by Madeline Claire Franklin

The Poppet and the Lune

Ghost City

About the Author

Madeline Claire Franklin has been writing, making movies, telling lies, and otherwise creating stories for as long as she can remember. She holds a BA in Media Studies/Production with a minor in Anthropology from the University at Buffalo, where she further expanded her storytelling capacity through film, animation, and the study of the human race. She is also an avid collector of psychic readings.

The Hierophant
is her second novel, and the first book in the Arcana Series.

Find out more about Madeline and her books at her website,
http://www.madelineclairefranklin.com
.