“No, Nikki,” I heard. “The world would be better off without you.” Luna had come up the stairs. She stretched her arms out to her sides and posed. “What do you think? Am I the most amazing actress or what?” Her features softened as she rested her hand over her heart. “Thank you all for coming to my premiere. Those of you who know me know what a long road it’s been from Albany to here. But I believed.” She burst out laughing. “You should see your face. It’s like you’re seeing a ghost. Boo.” She fake-lunged at me, and I jumped, bringing the umbrella up. Now I was trying to keep an eye on both Peter and Luna. “You kind of are seeing one, actually. The ghost of that big loser Celeste Day. If she weren’t glugging around at the bottom of the ocean as of a few days ago when my last surgery was healed, she would be thanking me for putting her on the map. Right, Daddy?”

I thought about the girl in the makeup chair back at Pear Magic. Was Luna saying what I thought she was saying? Was Celeste Day gone? Had Luna killed her? “You won’t get away with it,” I said.

“Already have. Daddy’s plan was brilliant. Find a nobody actress who has no ties back home and give her a role.” She made a scissors motion with her fingers by her face. “A little injection here and there, a centimeter or so off the nose, some contacts, great stylist, and the nobody actress can disappear without anyone knowing the difference.” Again, she posed. It was uncanny, hearing Luna’s voice, seeing Luna’s eyes behind this strange face. She’d always been so good at imitating other people—especially Peyton—but this was creepy. “I hate being a brunette, but I’ll be a famous brunette. Finally. Fuck Hollis and his plans. He was too slow. He never appreciated my potential. And neither did you.” This time she lunged at me for real.

I jumped back and dropped the umbrella, stumbling too close to Peter.

Peter swung the hammer, grunting. I blocked high, feeling the pain all the way through my teeth when the wood struck my forearm. I heard a crunch and felt instant nausea. I cried out, even as Luna laughed in my ear. He swung again, wild and weak this time, and I blocked low with the same arm. Again my world lit up with pain, but I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t let myself feel it. But I knew I couldn’t keep blocking forever. Eventually the pain would get to be too much.

Evade, Nikki, I heard Gunner say in my head. Let him swing at the air.