Chapter 273: Effigy

Pender left with promises to keep in touch, though I wasn't holding my breath. He seemed far too trusting of the Council for my tastes, considering the fact they'd not only been ignoring us, but now seemed like they'd turned against us completely on the word of a woman who was evil personified.

Celeste left shortly before Pender did, slithering away before I could confront her.

"Let her go." Mom sounded so tired I didn't argue with her. I watched her go upstairs, shoulders a little straighter than they had been, but walking right back into her world of grief.

I couldn't do it, couldn't join her. I instead found myself drifting downstairs into the basement. It seemed so odd to be down there and not sense Dad. He'd become such a fixture in our family magic space it was odd to have the whole place to myself.

I paused in the middle of the room, turning slowly in a circle. It had been so long since I just looked around. I realized how many boxes still remained down here, remnants of my