The People with Useless Power

Chapter Thirty-four

[A/N: I love Chicago more than I love my life.]

Mara sat down next to Emily, looking visibly shaken. "Mara? What's wrong?" Emily asked, but she just shook her head.

They were in the cafeteria, which now had a stage- Emily couldn't remember if it had one when she was there- and a microphone. Seemingly thousands of people surrounded them. "I think they're breaking a fire code," Emily joked, but Mara only smiled weakly. "Mara, what the frick frack is wrong with you?"

"I'm just tired," she shrugged, her voice too soft. "Um, Emily, can you sleep in my room tonight?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I have... bad nightmares."

Emily stared at her questioningly. "Ah, okay."

"Bring a sleeping bag," she hissed as drinks were placed in front of them, and Mara stuffed her face into the cup before Emily could ask any more questions.

A few minutes of silence followed. The air around them was uncomfortable, almost... tense.

"Mara," Emily finally breathed out, "how many languages do you speak?"

"4,593," she mumbled into her water.

"I figured. What's your ancestry?"

A smile twitched at her mouth. "Why are you asking me questions?"

"You're fascinating." She leaned forward, holding her head up with her fists. "Answer the question."

"Well-"

"Are you American?"

"Er, yes..."

"Irish?"

"A bit." Mara smiled. "I'm a bit of everything."

"Are you Jewish?"

"Emily, no," she laughed, "I'm not really... I don't really care right now about religion."

"Do you have any pets? In Hecc?"

"Well, there's Spot, the three-headed dog," Mara shrugged. She was beginning to relax, Emily could tell. "I had an iguana, but my dad killed it."

"Have you ever had alcohol?"

"Emily, I'm underage."

"What's prep school like?"

Mara looked away. "Actually, that was a lie," she said sheepishly, "I was homeschooled by my mother."

"Which parent do you look like?"

"I have my father's eyes," she said, a little quieter, "and my mother's face."

"So, you're, like, the opposite of Harry-"

"Emily!" She laughed, putting her elbows on the table lazily. Her eyes snapped open, and she took them off, looking ashamed.

"What's your favorite song?"

"Toxic. Britney Sp-"

The lights dimmed, and Mara's lips parted slightly, her face purple from the stage lights. Emily looked at the stage to see Elvira standing alone, the microphone in her hands.

Everyone cheered, even Emily; Mara gave her a hurt look after everything settled.

"As you all see," Vira started, and cheered followed, "I am back from my very long- and very exasperating- mission. It was all a success."

Elvira glanced at Mara, and their eyes met for a split second. Emily watched Vira's expression change from happy and charismatic to troubled. "I, uh, really want to thank Mara for the help she's provided me. Mara, why don't you come up and join me?"