“This isn’t a stupid game,” she said. “It’s my life.”

“Sydney,” said Mitch, a new firmness in his voice.

“Stop treating me like a child.”

“Then stop acting like one,” said Victor without looking up.

Mitch shook his head. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing,” she snapped. “I’m just sick of being cooped up.”

“Let her go,” said Victor. “She’s giving me a headache.”

Mitch rounded on him. “You’re not helping.”

“She can take care of herself.” His eyes met hers. “Isn’t that right, Syd?” She bristled at the challenge in his voice. “Well,” he sneered.

“What are you waiting for?”

Sydney stormed out, slamming the door behind her. She made it down to the street before she stopped, folding onto the steps.

What’s gotten into you?

She didn’t know—but she knew that she couldn’t stand another minute in that apartment. That cell. That imitation of a life. It wasn’t just the heat, or the constant moving, or even having to watch Victor’s life force wane like a candle. Sydney just wanted one night of feeling normal. Human.

A car flew past, a teen hanging out the window, smiling a rictus skeleton grin. Girls laughed as they stumbled by in too-short skirts and too-tall heels. Across the street, a group of guys in wolf masks threw their heads back and howled.

Sydney got to her feet and made her way to the corner, where a dozen flyers had been tacked to a telephone pole, advertising parties at clubs and frat houses. Monsters Ball! said one. Scream Fest, promised another, the letters dripping blood. Heroes and Villains, announced a third. Underneath, in parentheses, the disclaimer: No Sidekicks.

Sydney pulled the last flyer from the post and started walking.

* * *

SHE could hear the music from the street.

The heavy bass poured through the open front door, where a guy in a cape was making out with a girl in a horned mask. The house beyond was filled with strobe lights, the staccato flashes paired to the music so the whole place looked like it was moving.

It was the kind of party her sister would have been at. The kind of crowd she would have had wrapped around her finger. That was the thing about Serena. By the time she got her powers, she was already used to being in control. Serena didn’t bend to the world. She made the world bend to her.

But as Sydney climbed the steps, her resolve wavered. She hadn’t been around this many people at once, not since she went to visit Serena at college. Right before everything went wrong.

Syd closed her eyes, could see her sister leaning in the doorway.

You’re growing up.

Could feel the weight of Serena’s arms around her.

I want you to meet Eli.

The cold of the soda in her hand.

You can trust him.

The crack of the gun sounding in the woods.

“Kawai’i.”

Syd looked around and saw a dark-skinned girl in gladiator sandals perched on the front porch rail, long legs swinging as she smoked.