Page 128 of Supernova

They both glared at Nova as she passed.

She gritted her teeth, wishing she had taken a different path around the nave so as not to have seen them at all.

Honey, walking a few paces ahead of her, didn’t seem to notice.

“Honey?” said Nova, jogging forward to be beside her. “Can I ask you a question about Phobia?”

“Sure, but I probably won’t know the answer.” Honey flashed her a spooky look. “All these years later and he still scares me as much as the day he joined us.”

“Howdidhe join the Anarchists?”

Honey cocked her head, considering. “He just showed up during a fight, against Thunderbird and Lady Indomitable, if I rememberright. We were getting whupped—it was me and Animus—he was killed not long after that, I don’t think you ever met him. Anyway, I thought we were both dead, when Phobia showed up, creepy as ever, and suddenly the Renegades were running away, terrified. Phobia said he wanted to meet Ace, so we brought him back with us.”

Nova frowned, not finding the clues she wanted in Honey’s story. Why had one of Adrian’s own creations wanted to join Ace?

“He killed Lady Indomitable, didn’t he?” Nova said.

Honey glanced at her, surprised. “How did you…?” She paused. “Did someone tell you that?”

“Adrian told me about a note that was found on her body.”

“Ah yes, hisnotes.I’m glad he stopped leaving those. They were so pretentious.”

So it was true. Nova had known, and yet, a small part of her had held on to the hope that maybe she wasn’t allied with the villain who had killed Adrian’s mother.

“Does this have anything to do with whatever the mirror walker found in your boyfriend’s mansion?” said Honey, eyeing her suspiciously.

Nova swallowed.

“Now, now,” continued Honey, “before you start spouting off more of your lies, I heard the two of you blabbing while we were at the pawnshop. Something about the Everhart boy and Phobia and… comics?”

“It’s… complicated,” said Nova, having the sinking feeling that she didnotwant Honey to know the truth of Phobia’s origin. “I think they might be connected somehow, but I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong.”

Honey stopped walking suddenly. Nova froze at the abruptness.

“Really?” said Honey, an edge to her voice. “You think our ghastlyfriend is connected to the Everhart boy? Tell me, what else did you learn from all this detective work?”

The hair prickled on the back of Nova’s neck. She had the distinct impression that Honey was fishing for something in particular.

Was it possible she already knew about Phobia’s origins? That Adrian himself had created the villain?

Or was it something else?

“Not much,” she lied. “Only that Phobia joined the Anarchists not all that long before I did. I wanted to check with you, see if that was true.”

Honey’s gaze was long and searching, before a subtle smile pulled across her glistening lips. “It’s true. And just like you, he’s been an invaluable member ever since.”

She pushed open a large oak door, leading them into the arcade around the cloister. Nova hesitated, sure there was something Honey wasn’t telling her. But the click of Honey’s heels on the pavers quickened, making it clear the conversation was over.

By the time Honey and Nova reached the chapter house, nearly all their allies were already gathered. Beyond the cathedral, they could hear the first sounds of war pummeling against the barrier Ace had erected. The Renegades had arrived and were attacking the wall with a barrage of explosions and weapons. Each impact rattled the ground beneath their feet. So far the barrier was holding, but Nova knew it wouldn’t forever. The Renegades may have been weakened, their numbers reduced, but they still weren’t powerless.

She couldn’t help revisiting the conversation in the bell tower again and again, and wishing that things had gone differently. They could be halfway around the world by now, already working to start their new life. Instead, they were under siege, Adrian was their prisoner, and Nova felt smothered under everyone’s expectations.

Ace expecting her to be the little Nightmare he’d raised her to be.

The Anarchists expecting her to finish the job she’d started and bring down the Renegades once and for all.

And Adrian expecting her to… what? He couldn’t possibly expect her to help him. He must know better by now. She could still feel his stare digging into her. Judging and disgusted.

---