“Nope. Right now, the only guidelines are A) no supernatural nexuses, and B) within our price range. Although you’d be surprised how much that narrows things down.”

“I’m going to miss you so much.” Adriana squeezes me a little tighter. “This shithole isn’t going to be the same without you.”

“Let’s hope not,” I quip.

As we pass the art room, I keep my eyes averted. I haven’t set foot in there since the night Gunnar and I confronted William, and even though the school district hired a sub to replace Mr. Strauss, I still prefer the library over finishing my independent study. The Corrupter is out of my body—I know that—but I can’t shake the paranoid fear that I’ll lapse into another trance if I try to draw something while I’m still living under the Nexus.

I also can’t bring myself to trust the new art teacher. She’s, like, eighty, and I have a hard time picturing her as a part-time ninja, but … I’m not taking chances. Lots of Persean Knights were killed in the Battle of Colgate Woods, but I’ve got no way of knowing what the survivors reported back to their organization. I don’t know if any of the prophecies gave a hard date for the Ascension, so I can’t be sure the Brotherhood is even aware that the danger is officially over now. No one has tried to kill me in at least two weeks, so they probably figured it out, but … still.

When we push through the side exit, the parking lot and its few remaining cars bathed in spring sunlight, I grimace theatrically. “Oh shit—my history book is still in my locker! I need to go back and get it.”

“Do you want us to wait for you?” Adriana asks, clearly hoping the answer is no.

“I got it covered.” I give them both hugs. “Go have coffee and do girlfriend stuff. I’ll text you guys whenever I get bored of packing boxes. So, like, constantly.”

We say goodbye, and I start back up the hallway—and when the door slams shut again and I’m sure they’re not watching, I stop. For a long while, I sit with the silence of Fulton Heights High, breathing in recycled air and looking at the floor where someone must have had to sweep up the remains of an incinerated vampire.