Page 151 of Supernova

“It was the fastest method I could think of,” he said. “It’s not that bad. I think it singed off the nerve endings. Really. I can hardly feel it.”

Nova sat back on her heels, staring at him with something like awe. It wasn’t the first time she’d looked at him that way, with something more than admiration, more than respect. With something akin to amazement.

He would do just about anything to keep her looking at him like that.

He was still tense, his whole body strung tight, half expecting Phobia to reappear, howling his dark laugh.

But only the sound of their own uneven breaths persisted and, after a moment, Oscar’s voice cutting through the gloom. “That was simultaneously the bravest and stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Adrian tried to smile, though he knew it was weak. “I created Phobia. It had to be me.”

Oscar opened his mouth, but Adrian raised a hand. “I’ll explain later.”

Harrumphing, Oscar said, “There’s a growing list of things you’ll be explaining later.” He grabbed the altar and pulled himself up, weak on his feet. As the rest of them stood, too, Adrian wondered how long Oscar had been without his cane.

A faraway rumble shook the walls of the cathedral. Adrian glanced toward the nave. In the struggle against Phobia he’d nearly forgotten that his dad was still out there, battling the most infamous villain of all time. He knew that Ace Anarchy was powerful, but it was still unbelievable to him that anyone could be a match for the Captain.

Then he remembered that his dad had given up his favorite weapon, the Silver Spear, when he’d thrown it at the bell tower. The pike must have been buried beneath the tower’s wreckage.

Was there any hope of finding it? Would it give his father the upper hand again? Surely no one could defeat Captain Chromium, not even Ace Anarchy.

“Adrian,” said Nova. “That was the last of the Agent N. The only way we can stop him now is if we can somehow get the helmet, but—”

“I have Agent N,” said Narcissa.

Nova froze, then spun to her.

“You do?” said Adrian, at the same time Nova said, “Why are you helping us?”

Narcissa crossed her arms. “Could ask the same of you.”

“She helped us escape,” said Danna. “Well, I mean, we only made it this far, but she broke the doors and cut our ropes. And she doesn’t even have to stay—she could leave through a mirror anytime. As far as I can tell, she’s a few steps ahead of you as far as trustworthiness goes.”

“We’re all trustworthy,” Adrian insisted. “We’re all on the same side.” He gave Narcissa’s shoulder a squeeze. “Thank you for helping my friends.”

“I didn’t do it foryou,” she said. “I just…” Her attention traveled from Adrian to Nova, Oscar to Danna. She cleared her throat. “My grandfather was a lot of things to me, but I never thought of him as a villain. I know he did some bad things, but he was just trying to survive, to take care of me and the library. I don’t think he would want this for me, and… I’m not sure I want to be a part of it.” Guilt scrawled over her face. “Any more than I’ve already been.”

“We’ve all done things we’re not proud of today,” said Nova.

“Speak for yourself,” Danna muttered.

“Danna’s right,” said Oscar. “I’ve been pretty awesome today.”

“You said you have Agent N?” said Adrian.

Narcissa reached into a pouch at her waist and pulled out a dart full of green liquid. Adrian recognized it as the projectile Frostbitehad given him, the one he had brought with the intention of neutralizing Ace Anarchy from the start. “I swiped it when we were carrying you back to that chapel. I figured they’d give it to Cyanide, but”—she frowned at Nova—“after Ace Anarchy’s speech about us all becoming gods, I worried this whole plan might be going off the rails. I thought this might come in handy at some point, and… I wasn’t entirely sure I trusted anyone else with it.” After a moment’s hesitation, she held it out to Nightmare. “Please don’t make me regret this.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Nova, tucking the dart into her belt. “Now, to figure out how I’m going to sneak up on him.”

Oscar held up his hand. “Just so we’re clear, you are officially on our team again, right?”

“Of course she is,” said Adrian, more defensively than he’d intended.

“No,” said Danna, pressing her hands into her hips. “There is noof course she is.She betrayed us. She let them neutralize us! She doesn’t get to just—”

“She killed Queen Bee,” said Adrian, “and she saved my life. I know things are messed up right now, but I trust her.”

Danna’s glare only intensified.

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