The screen shifted to a group of images.

“Katrina, these are your teacher’s former students.”

Katrina stared at the images. They were … police reports? Obituaries? Morihei Sanada, suicide by gunshot. Claire Burke, unsolved, multiple stab wounds. Lilia Tourischeva, missing, possibly murdered. Sabrina Eisen, drug overdose, possible suicide. Kiana Choi, found dead while institutionalized. Yifeng Zheng, unsolved, possible suicide by self-immolation.

Each had been a talented, yet unheralded musician. Then each spectacularly rose to win major competitions. Each had gone on tour, gained recording contracts, played for presidents, royalty.

But then?

“Katrina, this is why Shizuka Satomi is called the Queen of Hell.”

Shirley shifted to another screen.

“The prevailing theory is that Shizuka makes a deal with each student. Fame for souls. The hypothesis is there is a cursed object involved. Each of these musicians had a favorite instrument, so it is not a violin. However, in these pictures, each seemed to be using the same light-colored violin bow before they died.”

Katrina squinted. Some of the older pictures were a bit fuzzy, but it was possible …

“But I’ve never been given such a bow.”

“They’ve noticed.”

Shirley highlighted a thread called “Queen of Hell, New Student?”

“Stop. Just stop.”

“Do you now understand the danger that you’re in?” Shirley said.

Shizuka took a deep breath. She’d enjoyed teaching Katrina much more than she’d expected. Watching old videos, playing, then following … At times, it had seemed as if the curse had never been.

How wonderful it must be, to be normal. But that was not her life.

She’d been careless. She’d not secured Katrina’s soul. She’d let her guard down with Lan. And now Shirley would have to be stopped, and all this technology would have to be destroyed.

As for Katrina?

Shizuka closed her eyes, preparing herself for what she had to do.

But then she felt Katrina’s hand grab on to her own.

“Miss Satomi. You don’t think I already know?”

Yesterday, Astrid brought her some toast and a new type of cheese. The day before, she brought some iced coffee from Li’s Sandwiches.

And tomorrow, she could be killed.

Did Shirley really think she did not know? Did Miss Satomi really think—that she’d believe that she was being taught for nothing?

If being queer had taught her anything, it was that there was always a price.

So—what might Miss Satomi want from her? Money? Of course not.

Sex? If Miss Satomi had wanted sex, she could have secured it from any admirer with a glance.

No. It had to be something more.

Katrina picked up Aubergine.

Suddenly the room disappeared. Shirley was shocked at what she perceived—the sophistication of the programming was far, far more elaborate than what she expected from a simple Earth girl.

Katrina noticed Shirley’s surprise.

Silly girl. Do you think I have no experience with illusion?