Page 17 of Shattered Illusion

“Do you happen to have a picture of you before the lagoon? It’ll be easiest to copy that over to the glamour if I have something to look at. While I may have a good imagination,” he winks, making me giggle, “I doubt you want people thinking you have purple hair.”

I snort. As if white hair and pink eyes aren’t bad enough.

“Yeah, I have something. One second.” I jump up from the couch and crouch down next to my pile of belongings, knowing exactly what I’m looking for. I’m doubly glad now that I snaggedthat photo of me and my parents before I left. There are a few selfies on my phone, but I doubt duck lips and winking for the camera is something he needs to see. “Here it is.”

Passing the photo over to Thaddeus, I kick off my Vans and retake my seat, tucking my legs underneath me. He eyes the picture for a moment, his gaze darting from the framed picture to me and back again. After a few more back and forths, he sets the frame on his lap and clasps the pendant between both hands before closing his eyes and murmuring something too low for me to hear. A blue glow emanates from between his closed fists for a moment, then it disappears like it was never there in the first place.

“Perfect.” Thaddeus opens his fist to reveal the silver snowflake is now a stunning rainbow color, the hues dancing around fluidly like they’re made of liquid. He holds it out to me with the clasp open. “May I?”

“Of course.” I pick my long hair up off my neck and lean forward, letting him place the necklace around my nape. Excitement courses through me to see myself as me once more. No longer will I look like a tattoo artist’s canvas but just plain ole’ Bailey again.

Shoving my sleeve up, my shoulders drop at the sight of the runes still there. “I don’t think it worked,” I mutter dejectedly.

“It did, I assure you. But since you’re wearing the glamour, you’ll see yourself as your true self. Not the glamoured version. And there’s also a chance that you’ll have the ability to see through glamours, which we’ll find out eventually.”

“Oh. Alright.” That sucks. But I guess it is what it is. Not like I can change it now.

“Buck up, sunshine.” Thaddeus taps my chin. “It’ll all get better. For now, relax and get some sleep.” He slaps his hands on his thighs before standing. “I’ll come by tomorrow around noon with some lunch, and we’ll get started.”

“Sounds good.” Another yawn takes over, and I’m grateful that I’m only minutes away from the sleep I so desperately want right now.

Thaddeus makes his way toward the door and glances over his shoulder as he opens it. “Sweet dreams, Bailey.”

“Night, Thaddy,” I murmur sleepily.

His lopsided smile is the last thing I see before the door shuts. Exhaustion hits me harder now that he’s gone, and I don’t even make it off the couch, letting sleep take me under.

Knock.Knock.

Ugh. Mom and Dad know better than to wake me up on the weekend.

Knock. Knock.

Good lord. Nothing can be so damn important that they need to take me away from my beauty sleep. Shouldn’t they know by now that it takes at least eight hours for me to look halfway presentable?

Knock. Knock.

“I’m not opposed to passing out black eyes,” I grumble, snuggling further into the cushion beneath me.

A smooth chuckle—that is definitelynotmy dad’s—answers my proclamation, making me shoot up from the bed. Bleary-eyed, I look around, my heart pounding harder in my chest at the sight of the unfamiliar surroundings. And shit. I’m not even in bed. I’m on the freaking couch. Why the hell did I sleep here?

“Time to wake up, Bailey,” that smooth voice murmurs from the door, making my brows hit my hairline. “I brought coffee.”

“Is that the line for kidnapping adults now, like the one about candy and kids?” I question aloud, my mind whirling as memories of yesterday thrust to the surface of my consciousness.

The lagoon. The hot guy. My parents who aren’t really my parents. My new status. Dracula, the overgrown rock bird, and the Smurf.

It’s no wonder I’ve woken up clueless today. Yesterday was a fucking disaster of epic proportions.

“Looks like I’ll just be standing out here in the hallway, enjoying this delicious, piping hot coffee and Faeberry muffin I picked up.”

“Oh, hell no. Do you want to die?” Nothing gets me up faster than someone threatening to take what’s mine. And while Thaddy may have bought it, he did so for me. So ergo. Mine.

Throwing the door open, I pin the pointed-ear Smurf with the scariest glare I can muster while still only half awake. Thaddeus smothers a chuckle behind the steaming coffee cup in his hand, drawing my eyes straight to it.

“Gimme, gimme.” My hands shoot out, making grabby fingers and trying to butter him up with the best puppy dog eyes I can attempt so damn early in the morning. He relents after only a second and I mentally fist pump that I’ve still got it. It worked all the time on Dad, so I’ll tuck that little nugget of information in my back pocket to use at a later date.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I murmur, taking a sip of the steaming deliciousness in a cup.

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