Miss Gnosis strode ahead, and it was all Omen and Never could do to keep up. “Don’t play that game with me, Mr Darkly. I’ve had quite an afternoon, hearing about what you’ve been getting up to. And during school hours and everything.”

“I … I don’t know what you …”

“You’re turning into as much of an adventurer as your brother, you know that?”

“Miss Gnosis,” Omen said, choosing his words carefully, “are you going to kill us?”

She glared. “By the dead, no. What do you think of me, you silly boy?”

“Just checking, miss.”

They stopped at their lockers. “Go on,” she said. “Put your bags away. We don’t have long.”

They did as they were told, and moved on quickly to the science lab. Miss Gnosis nodded to the open door. “In you go,” she said.

Never frowned. “You’re not coming in with us?”

“I’m keeping watch,” Miss Gnosis said. “And, before you go in there, remember: you don’t have to agree to anything. No one will think any less of you. Go on now.”

Puzzled, Omen and Never walked in, and Miss Gnosis shut the door after them. Valkyrie Cain stood up from the teacher’s desk at the head of the room.

“Omen,” she said. “And you must be Never. It’s very good to meet you.”

Never froze. Whether Valkyrie noticed or not, Omen didn’t know, but she continued talking anyway.

“I’m not going to waste your time,” she said. “I need your help. Both of you. It won’t be dangerous – at least, I don’t think it will. I need to go to San Francisco. I need to talk to some people, maybe search a house. Then come right back. Never, Militsa tells me you’re turning out to be a pretty good Teleporter.”

Omen frowned. “Who?”

“Miss Gnosis,” Valkyrie said. “Miss Gnosis told me, sorry. Never, are you OK?”

Omen put his hand on Never’s back. A gesture of solidarity, he hoped. “There’s something you should know,” he said.

Valkyrie stood there, waiting, but Omen didn’t quite know how to put it.

“Darquesse killed my brother,” Never said, and Valkyrie’s face went slack. “He wasn’t fighting her, or anything. He was the age I am now. He didn’t have a clue what was happening. A building fell on him.”

“I’m … I’m sorry,” Valkyrie said softly.

“Killed him instantly,” Never said. “We’d just moved here. We’d been here a week. My brother was so excited about living in Roarhaven. We all were. We’d always wanted to live where we wouldn’t have to hide who we were.”

Valkyrie swayed slightly, like she was light-headed. “I’m … Do you mind if I sit?”

“I’d prefer that you stand, actually,” Never said. “It’s the least you can do, isn’t it, when we’re talking about my brother?”