Falcon Quinn and the Black Mirror by Jennifer Finney Boylan

all right,” she said. Pearl hovered over Destynee’s shoulder.
    â€œMy life—is over ,” Destynee sobbed. “Over!”
    â€œIs not over. Is just more—squishy,” said Pearl. “Slug is not so bad.”
    â€œNot so bad?” wailed Destynee. “Not so bad?”
    Megan looked at Falcon. She shook her head. “She’s taking it pretty hard,” she said.
    â€œWhat are you, Megan?” asked Falcon. “What’d they give you?”
    â€œI’m—a wind elemental,” said Megan. “I mean—I don’t even understand what that is.”
    â€œAh!” Pearl buzzed loudly. “There are many elemental forms. That of the wind, that of the earth, and light, and fire. The wind elemental has the spirit of the hurricane, the delicacy of the breeze. When you reach your full incarnation, you shall be invisible, except for the things left changed as you pass through them! It is an auspicious and powerful transformation!”
    Megan’s forehead crinkled with lines. “Did you say—invisible?”
    â€œYes,” said Pearl, “you shall become a thing both magnificent and unseen!”
    Megan’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked at Falcon. “Oh my god,” she said softly. “It’s coming true.”
    â€œWhat?” said Falcon.
    â€œMy mother. She always said I should just vanish , because I wasn’t as good as they were. Well, now she’s got her wish! She’s got it!”
    â€œAs good as who?” said Pearl. “Who is this, that your mother would compare you to?”
    But Megan just looked down at the floor.
    â€œHer sisters died,” said Falcon. “A couple years ago.”
    Pearl’s face looked angry. “But fortunate for the motherthat still she had this Megan! This jewel!”
    Megan whispered. “She didn’t see me as any jewel,” she said.
    â€œThen she was blind!” shouted Pearl. “Blind to the blessings of her own child!”
    Megan wiped her eyes, then said, “Wait, will I be— always invisible?”
    â€œI cannot say, Señorita Megan,” said Pearl. “And yet, it is this Academy of ours, that is to teach us how to control these passions. Perhaps the proper course of study shall give you mastery over this vanishing!”
    â€œI would be glad if I could disappear,” said Destynee. “Being invisible is a big step up from being what I am going to be. Which is— a giant slug. ”
    â€œHow giant is giant?” asked Falcon. “I mean, will you be, like, the size of a house or the size of a car, or what exactly?”
    â€œI do not think the issue is giant,” said Pearl. “I think the issue is slug.”
    â€œSlug,” said Destynee. “I got— slug .”
    â€œWhere is Merideath going?” asked Falcon. “I just passed her in the hallway.”
    â€œShe’s moving to the Tower of Blood,” said Megan. “Now that she’s been diagnosed as a vampire, she wants to hang out there. Instead of with us.”
    â€œInstead of with— a giant slug .”
    Falcon moved closer to the coffin where the girl was still weeping on her knees.
    â€œI’m sorry you’re a slug,” he said.
    Megan looked carefully at Falcon’s face. “Does your eye hurt? It looks like it might hurt.”
    â€œWhy?” Falcon said. “Does it look gross?”
    â€œNo, it just looks really intense. And—super blue. What are you, anyway, Falcon? What did they say?”
    â€œThey—don’t know what I am,” said Falcon.
    â€œWhat do you mean, they don’t know? Didn’t they do the tests?”
    â€œMy tests came back negative,” said Falcon.
    Pearl buzzed close to Falcon’s shoulder. “What is this negative? How can it be?”
    â€œThey say they have to test me some more,” said Falcon. “Either I’m something