Page 188 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

She looks away from me like she can’t stand the sight. “Go home, Desdemona,” her voice is severe. “Don’t mention this to anyone and just go home.”

“Mommy—”

“Go. Home. Now.”

My lower lip trembles and trembles and trembles as I walk all the way back to the dwelling, where I cry in our bed.

When Mom finally comes home, she walks to me and grips my cheeks harshly. “Knowledge is a weapon when you know how to wield it, do you understand?”

I nod.

“More powerful than any fire.”

I nod.

“Do you understand?”

I nod.

Mom puts her necklace in my hand, and just like when we practice my magic, she tells me to feel.

When I see my reflection, my eyes are red.

Mom takes it back and my head feels fuzzy. All I can remember about today was Bernice, screaming at me that I’m a monster and a Nepenthe, after I told him everything about myself.

And something else. Something that has to do with her…

Mom says again, “Knowledge is your weapon of choice. Do you understand?”

Knowledge is a powerful weapon. Bernice knew it. He knew me. He wielded it against me.

“I understand.”

“Fair.”

I close my eyes and open them in…

The ballroom.

I’m still here? It feels like I’ve spent months away. It feels like I should be shorter.

Aralia stands in front of me, her arms outstretched as three students slam against an invisible wall.

“I could use a little help here!” she shouts.

I can’t seem to move my body. I can’t seem to do anything.

“Desdemona!”

I’m petrified, aren’t I? That look in my mom’s eye—it replays in my mind again and again while students charge all around me, screaming and shouting.

“Arcane!” I hear over and over.

My hand goes to my chest. “My necklace,” I mutter, dropping to my hands and feet. I’m barely able to move while I try to scurry through the floor. I’m stopped by Aralia’s shield of air. The invisible wall.

“Drop the shield!” A familiar voice shouts. “I’ll take her to safety.”

“My necklace,” it’s all I can say. “I need my necklace!”

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