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“Yeah. Maybe. I was actually hoping the team could get together later to discuss what we know about Nightmare. Maybe there’s something we’ve overlooked. It’s just … there seem to be some pretty strange coincidences.”
Are you kidding me!!!
Directly on Nova.
Now it's getting interesting
To leave a threatening message and not dare face me in person. Who does that?”
Monarch????
“Oh!” she said, feigning a gasp. “I heard about your run-in with Nightmare. Are you okay?” One side of his mouth twitched.
Oh he knows. Maybe the note was from him and not Monarch after all.
“She’s short,” he repeated. “Like you.”
Oh shit lol
Her attention had snagged on the top of the dresser, where a few chunks of broken mirror had fallen to the surface. The helmet was gone.
It's the lady from the library
Danna’s face crumpled apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Adrian, but … it’s her.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Nova is Nightmare.”
Ugh finally things are getting interesting!
It had to be Nova. Of course it had to. Who else could have such inside knowledge of Agent N and the Vitality Charm, the helmet and HQ security? Who else was so observant, so smart, so determined?
Good god it took you 3 books to realize
He’d been kissing her and then he’d fallen asleep, and he was such a fantastic idiot for not drawing a connection sooner.
Fantastic idiot for sure
Smothering his reluctance, he dropped the bracelet into her palm. Her hand snatched it back immediately, as if she was afraid he’d change his mind. “Don’t lose it. That bracelet meant something to No—Nightmare. It could be important to our investigation.”
Ugh why did you give it!
“Oh, wow, I hate to interrupt,” said Genissa, checking an invisible watch, “but we have to get going! Wouldn’t want to miss our interview with the evening news, would we?”
I'm going to squash this peanut
“I mean it, Adrian. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not Nightmare!”
Ugh stop it
Danna’s butterflies formed a cyclone around the column that Nightmare had apparently just walked into. The mirrored column.
Why is she suddenly helping?
Hope and clarity swelled inside him. Nova was innocent.
Ummm sure
“We are prodigies who desire to be who we are and what we are, to live the lives we want to live, without fear that the Renegades are going to show up at any minute and intimidate us and push us around, or even neutralize us with that new weapon of theirs, for no other reason than we don’t want to be one of them.” “Or that our gangs were at war with them more than a decade ago,” added one of the boys in gold.
Huh?
Max grunted. “I would have known.”
I can't believe a 10 year old is using their brain better than any teenager and adult in this book
“He created Phobia,” she whispered, taking the child’s drawing from Narcissa and inspecting it with mounting dread. She was startled to find her vision misting as she tried to imagine what Adrian would feel if he knew the truth. “He created the monster that killed his mother.”
That's wild
“Whoa, whoa, there was something else I wanted to show you.” Narcissa grabbed the Rebel Z comics before Nova could put them away. “Have you read these?” “I don’t have time.” “But there’s something—” “Later,” Nova snapped.
Wtf just let her speak
“I can have Phobia bring you the helmet, if you need it,” said Nova. “I’ve been thinking maybe we should all try it on, anyway, to see how it affects our powers. It’s supposed to amplify any prodigy ability, which could be useful. And we’re going to need every advantage we can get.”
Speaking of, where did the helmet even come from?
“Of course not. I’m only pointing out that your father gathered and used that raw energy, which is possibly the most powerful substance in our galaxy. He made the helmet, among other things, and he made this magnificent gem as well.” She opened her hands to reveal Nova’s bracelet.
Oh
Glowering, Oscar sank down into the plastic seat. “Do you have any idea how hard it’s been finding the right time to make a dramatic proclamation? It’s like someone’s always getting arrested or un-arrested or we’re apprehending a criminal or taking down a villain.… When is a guy supposed to make his move in the midst of all of that?”
Haha
“I am grateful. Not only for the ways in which the direction of my life has changed—thanks to Agent N and the team of doctors and therapists who have been working with me—I am also grateful for this chance to tell my story.”
?? Sir are you being manipulated
They were a burden. A curse. They kept me in the head of a victim for all those years, and they turned me into a monster, too.
Oh okay makes sense
“But even more important than that,” he said, his voice full of emotion, “I am no longer a villain.”
I wish we knew him more in the previous books. Had some more quality time with him and Nova or something. I feel like if we did, this would have left such a larger impact on me.
“Nova! NO!”
Oh shit, her name
It took Nova too long to understand what was happening. It took her too long to notice the stain of red spreading across the front of his shirt. It took her too long to see the clear glass shard jutting from his chest, slicked with blood.
Aw man :(
“Nightmare…” He took her hand, and she realized he was crying. In that moment, she realized that she was, too. “We were friends, weren’t we?” He coughed. A bit of blood sprayed across his bottom lip. “I know I wasn’t always … a good friend … but I … I liked having you around, back then. When you were little. It was nice to be … a kid … again.”
My heart!!
Winston had slumped forward, barely supported by Nova’s arm and the ice that kept his chest from collapsing on itself. He was already dead.
:(
And so, she raised her voice and declared, simply, “No.”
Niceee the girl can finally confidently think for herself.
Oscar lifted his head. “You’re the girl of my dreams.” Ruby’s head swiveled toward him, the nonchalant smile evaporating. “With or without superpowers,” Oscar added, holding her gaze. Color bloomed in Ruby’s cheeks. Fresh tears started to gather in her eyes until, without much warning, she grabbed the front of Oscar’s uniform and kissed him.
Wowww it finally happened!
He was not alone. More than a dozen villains were at his sides. And, a few steps in front of the altar, stood Nova. Adrian’s blood ran cold. When had the villains found her? How long had she been a prisoner here, a hostage?
You dumbass
“Of course, Nightmare,” said Honey. “I’ll just give you some time alone, let our young hero come to terms with the fact that, when you think about it … he pretty much murdered his own mother.”
Yikes
“I’ll be satisfied with revenge at this point. Revenge for ten years of being powerless, while you ran around belittling who we are and what we are capable of. Your trials have turned prodigies into a sideshow, and the way you pander to the media is disgusting. You care more for your own reputation, for the citizens’ approval, than for taking care of your own. And maybe that was going well for a while. You were idolized. You were adored. But how has it been working out for you lately?”
That's... Not very strong of a motivation for such a bigshot villain
“I was sure you would hate me when you found out the truth.” Adrian grimaced. “I tried to, at first. But it’s like you said. Everyone has a nightmare.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Maybe I want you to be mine.” Her heart swelled, but she still couldn’t help a teasing smile as she leaned back. “You’ve been holding on to that one for a while, haven’t you?” “Just a few hours.” He beamed. “But I sure am glad I got a chance to use it.”
“You okay?” Adrian asked. She laughed and pushed her bangs back from her brow. “No,” she said. “Leroy’s been like a second father to me.” She hesitated, before adding, “Him and Ace both.” Adrian stared at her. “I don’t want to sound mean, but I think we need to get you new role models.” She scowled. “Your dads aren’t perfect, either.”
Touché
“Yeah, I know. Your family is kind of scary.” Adrian gawked at her. “My family?”
Then, she stepped into the fire.
Is it fake fire?
“There is no end to your fears, Master Everhart, and there is no end to the life they give me.”
So he has to be brave to kill what he created. Cute.
Adrian set his jaw and drove the needle into his own thigh.
Oh shit?
Narcissa reached into a pouch at her waist and pulled out a dart full of green liquid.
How convenient
“after Ace Anarchy’s speech about us all becoming gods, I worried this whole plan might be going off the rails.
You think?
Sudden anger eclipsed the Captain’s boyish features. He bared his teeth at Ace. “Does she know?” “Know what?” Ace said. Quietly. Harshly. The Captain bellowed, “Does she know you killed her family?”
Oh shit
She linked their elbows instead. “Don’t panic,” she said, “but I think Max might be absorbing all the superpowers that are left … maybe, in the whole world.”
That is a BIG problem
Actually, she thought a lot about Max Everhart these days. At some point in the past year it had occurred to her that he was actually kind of cute, and she wondered if he had always been cute and she’d just never noticed it before because, well, no one really noticed Max Everhart before.
Ma'am that is a child
Her attention landed on the bronze-filigree bracelet Nova was wearing. It was still pretty, and a twinge of desire still coursed through her every time she saw it, but not nearly as much now that the stone had been swapped out.
Oh, it's that girl addicted to treasures
