Elisabeth takes it and heads to the dining room, passing through two other huge, spotlessly clean rooms – a drawing room with heavy damask sash curtains and impressive modern art, and a library with custom-built color-coordinated shelves and a French marble fireplace with a gaping black mouth.

She sits down where she usually sits and waits for Kristina. She’s a little different today, she noticed it when they were driving – she seems preoccupied and jittery, though she is good at summoning a calm presence. But not that good; Elisabeth has known her since they were three years old. I’ve had a tough week at work, Kristina said and this comment makes Elisabeth suddenly angry. You’ve had a tough week at work? You should try to take a walk in my shoes, golden girl. She instantly feels guilty for these thoughts; Kristina has done more for her than anyone else, and they are bound together by so much shared history. Kristina walks into the room, carrying her own wine glass and a beautiful non-alcoholic cocktail laden with fruit and ice and fresh mint.

Elisabeth smiles at her, hoping that Kristina will eventually forgive her for what she is going to do and say in Ella Victor’s book. She also hopes that someday they will sit across from each other like this, on even terms, not as addict and her friend-slash-therapist-slash-savior, but just as friends.

‘Try this,’ says Kristina, placing the berry-red drink on a jade-veined marble coaster in front of her.

67

Supernova

We’re coming up to a really important part. I know why Elisabeth committed suicide. It wasn’t your fault. And I know how much guilt you must feel. Elisabeth never blamed you, I know she didn’t. But I think you blame yourself and that’s why you will always be haunted by it. I worry that you will have stopped reading, that all of these revelations coming at you hard and fast will have scared you off. Somehow I think you’re still here, all ears. I wonder what will shock you the most, the truth about Carúpano and Trine and Elisabeth, or the truth about your beloved Eirik and what he’s done. Don’t worry, we’ll get to all counts soon.

So. We’ve done your mother. We’ve done Elisabeth. We’ve talked about exposure therapy and now we’re going to take all of this to the next level.

Okay. Carúpano. Not going to lie, this part packs a fucking punch.

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