Page 72 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

But Karisse’s face has drained of color, her eyes wide and panicked.

“I don’t know what you mean!” she cries, her voice trembling, eyes darting back and forth.

I take a step forward, trying to keep my tone gentle but firm. “Karisse, I’ve had a stalker for the past month. Someone who keeps showing up in random places where they shouldn’t be. Like my apartment back in the human lands, for example.”

I pause, letting my words sink in before continuing.

“This stalker hasn’t done anything to me, and it’s hard to tell who they are because their form is all distorted and kind of winks in and out of existence.”

I glance at Graeme, who gives me a small nod of encouragement. His presence beside me is a comfort, a reminder that I’m not alone in this.

“But Graeme was able to catch a scent of them… and we’re pretty sure it’s you, Karisse.”

The room goes silent.

And then, Karisse bursts into hysterical tears, her small body shaking with the force of her sobs.

It’s like a dam has broken, all of her pent-up emotions pouring out in a torrential flood.

Karisse’s mother and I rush to her side, our arms wrapping around her trembling form in a gesture of comfort and support. I reflect wryly to myself that I never thought I’d be hugging my stalker, offeringthemcomfort.

We stay like that for a long moment, the only sound the hitching of Karisse’s breath and the soft murmur of her mother’s soothing words.

Eventually, Karisse’s sobs subside, and she lifts her head to meet my gaze. Her face is blotchy and tear-stained, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. But there’s a glimmer of something else there too—a hint of relief, perhaps.

“I’m a chronos sprite, just like Mom and Dad,” she whispers, her voice hoarse. “It means I can cast a projection of myself through time and space.”

She takes a shuddering breath, her eyes pleading for understanding.

“I’m just such a huge fan, Ecco. I’ve been trying to go watch all of your performances. I never meant to scare you! I wasn’t even sure if you could see me!”

I frown. “But you’re showing up at a ton of random times, not just when I’m performing.”

Karisse’s face crumples, and she bursts into a fresh wave of tears.

“Isuck!” she wails, her voice high and melodramatic. “Gods, I’m the worst sprite that has ever lived! I have no control over my powers, and I’m never going to learn how to control them, and I’m going to be an outcast for the rest of my life, andno one will want to date me, and I’ve made an idiot out of myself in front of my hero, and I should just go live in acave!”

Her words tumble out in a frenzied rush, each sentence more anguished than the last. It’s such a quintessentially tween speech.

I press my lips together, holding back a smile, not wanting Karisse to think I’m making light of her pain. But I remember all too well what it’s like to be out of control, to worry that your powers will never be tamed.

To fear that you’ll always be an outsider, never quite fitting in.

I wrap my arms around Karisse, pulling her into a tight hug.

“I’ve been there, sweetheart,” I murmur, letting just a touch of my soothing siren powers into my voice. “I promise that most people your age who are coming into their magical powers are also struggling with them. Have you ever heard about the time I enchanted half the town?”

Karisse shakes her head against my shoulder, and I smile despite myself.

“It’s true,” I say. “I was about your age, and I was trying to practice getting my enchantments under control. But it all fell apart, and suddenly everyone in Elderberry Falls was following me around and even dancing in the streets.”

Karisse pulls back, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Really?”

I nod, my expression serious but kind. “Really. It took days to undo the enchantment, and I was mortified. But you know what? Everyone forgave me. Because they knew I was learning, just like you are now.”

I pause, hoping she’ll take my next words to heart.

“Here’s the thing, though. It’s important to be careful with your powers until you know how to control them. So maybe no more trying to come visit me throughout space and time?”

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