This is a trick. There were tears in Brookss eyes. Not sadness, she sensed, but hope that it was not a trick, that Eureka was not actually gone.
Would I know you took theater for three years because I had a crush on Mr. Montrose? Or that youre afraid your dad walked out because of you, but you never talk about it because youve always seen silver linings? Even when all I am is a rain cloud? She paused to catch her breath. If I were Atlas, would I know how much Eureka Boudreaux loves you?
Everyone knows that. Brooks cracked the briefest smile.
She clasped Atlass hands to his heart. Please dont kill him. If you do, Ill never have a chance to make things right.
Brooks waded closer. When they stood inches apart, he closed his eyes. He squeezed Atlass hand, which was strong and muscular, a boys. He let go and drew his hand near Atlass face but didnt touch it. When he opened his eyes, Eureka watched him struggle to see her spirit.
What now, bad girl? he asked.
She laughed with unexpected relief. Youve been inside the Filling.
Brooks nodded, but seemed reluctant to elaborate, or to remember.
Delphine brought you back with a special tear. If I can do the same from inside Atlas, I can mend some of what I broke. You were right, theres no way out for me, but maybe theres hope for the rest of the world.
Her vision blurred and she lost sight of Brooks. She thought it was Atlas surfacing, but quickly realized someone else now shared his body.
Did you think Id simply die and go away? Delphine spoke through Atlas in a slow, terrifying voice. I am the puppet master. I get the last word. This has always been my story to complete.
Eureka took control of Atlass voice. I know how your story ends. She fought Delphine for Atlass eyesight. Brooks was a dim, distant throb of light at the end of a dark tunnel. You made an enemy of other peoples joy because it threatens you. But Im giving it back to Atlas. Im going to make him feel so much it undoes the ghastly things you and I have done.
Atlas laughed with Delphines icy viciousness. You dont have it in you.
The ghostsmith resurrected the sharpest doubt, what Eureka thought she had shredded on the coral reef. Eurekas sadness had caused so much pain. How could anyone reach the level of joy needed to undo that? Fear sent Eurekas mind reeling toward the knife-edge of the dead white coral, but just before it cut her thoughts apart, her vision focused briefly.
She thought she saw Brooks take the dagger from Atlass hand.
Dont, she tried to tell him, but shed lost control of Atlass voice.
ThenAtlas screamed, and something bright drew near Eurekas mind, something that hadnt been there before. It felteven though she could not feelas if someone had taken her hand. Brooks had discarded his own body and entered Atlas, too.
Youre not supposed to be here, Brooks.
Im supposed to be with youshe sensed him all around heruntil the end of the world and the ride home after.
It was the end of the world, and maybe the beginning, too. Brooks had found Eureka when she needed a lift more than anyone ever had.
Joy hatched at the back of Atlass throat. Eureka sensed from his bodys stiffening that the king had never cried before. When her tears sprang in the corners of his eyes, they were joyfulbut they were also vulnerable and rueful, yearning and optimistic.
No emotion was pure. Joy was grief turned inside out, and grief was joy in different lighting, and no one could feel one thing at a time. The tears shed cried when she flooded the world must have done some good somewhere, because they were tears born of love for Brooks. Those were the tears that brought Solons wisdom into her life, the tears that had allowed Cat and the twins to discover their quirks. They were the tears that freed Ander from Seedbearer bonds.
Keep going. She felt Brooks urge her on, even as she knew he knew she couldnt stop. Her mind was a waterfall of memories: The twins sharing a swing under a powder-blue canopy of sky. Diana slinking behind Dad in their old kitchen, adding too much cayenne to his soup. Rhoda cleaning closets. Eureka running and running and running across bayous into sunsets. Climbing oak trees to meet Brooks at the top of the moon.
When her tears hit the ocean, they parted the water at Atlass waist. A wave pulled back and crashed over his head. For a moment, all four minds inside Atlas swam as one to propel his body above the surface of the sea.
But the sea was no longer the sea. It was a field of blooming white narcissus, buds tangling higher every moment, stems growing wild along the shore, planting roots among the limbs of empty ghost robots.
Then the buds blossomed into people, who turned to one another, old souls in a new world bursting into bloom. The promise of a fresh beginning glittered in everyones eyes like dew. Tears, Eureka realized, each one a maze of infinite emotions.
When a rainbow colored Eurekas vision, she realized she was witnessing her redemption bloom into the world from above. She was free. But if her joy had killed Atlas, where was his corpse? And what had become of the ghostly, disembodied minds of Brooks and Delphine?
The Gossipwitch Mountains stood below her. She saw the twins, rainbow-hued and running to the edge of the witches lair. When they saw the endless garden of blossoming souls, Eureka felt their laughter buoy her.
Would I know you took theater for three years because I had a crush on Mr. Montrose? Or that youre afraid your dad walked out because of you, but you never talk about it because youve always seen silver linings? Even when all I am is a rain cloud? She paused to catch her breath. If I were Atlas, would I know how much Eureka Boudreaux loves you?
Everyone knows that. Brooks cracked the briefest smile.
She clasped Atlass hands to his heart. Please dont kill him. If you do, Ill never have a chance to make things right.
Brooks waded closer. When they stood inches apart, he closed his eyes. He squeezed Atlass hand, which was strong and muscular, a boys. He let go and drew his hand near Atlass face but didnt touch it. When he opened his eyes, Eureka watched him struggle to see her spirit.
What now, bad girl? he asked.
She laughed with unexpected relief. Youve been inside the Filling.
Brooks nodded, but seemed reluctant to elaborate, or to remember.
Delphine brought you back with a special tear. If I can do the same from inside Atlas, I can mend some of what I broke. You were right, theres no way out for me, but maybe theres hope for the rest of the world.
Her vision blurred and she lost sight of Brooks. She thought it was Atlas surfacing, but quickly realized someone else now shared his body.
Did you think Id simply die and go away? Delphine spoke through Atlas in a slow, terrifying voice. I am the puppet master. I get the last word. This has always been my story to complete.
Eureka took control of Atlass voice. I know how your story ends. She fought Delphine for Atlass eyesight. Brooks was a dim, distant throb of light at the end of a dark tunnel. You made an enemy of other peoples joy because it threatens you. But Im giving it back to Atlas. Im going to make him feel so much it undoes the ghastly things you and I have done.
Atlas laughed with Delphines icy viciousness. You dont have it in you.
The ghostsmith resurrected the sharpest doubt, what Eureka thought she had shredded on the coral reef. Eurekas sadness had caused so much pain. How could anyone reach the level of joy needed to undo that? Fear sent Eurekas mind reeling toward the knife-edge of the dead white coral, but just before it cut her thoughts apart, her vision focused briefly.
She thought she saw Brooks take the dagger from Atlass hand.
Dont, she tried to tell him, but shed lost control of Atlass voice.
ThenAtlas screamed, and something bright drew near Eurekas mind, something that hadnt been there before. It felteven though she could not feelas if someone had taken her hand. Brooks had discarded his own body and entered Atlas, too.
Youre not supposed to be here, Brooks.
Im supposed to be with youshe sensed him all around heruntil the end of the world and the ride home after.
It was the end of the world, and maybe the beginning, too. Brooks had found Eureka when she needed a lift more than anyone ever had.
Joy hatched at the back of Atlass throat. Eureka sensed from his bodys stiffening that the king had never cried before. When her tears sprang in the corners of his eyes, they were joyfulbut they were also vulnerable and rueful, yearning and optimistic.
No emotion was pure. Joy was grief turned inside out, and grief was joy in different lighting, and no one could feel one thing at a time. The tears shed cried when she flooded the world must have done some good somewhere, because they were tears born of love for Brooks. Those were the tears that brought Solons wisdom into her life, the tears that had allowed Cat and the twins to discover their quirks. They were the tears that freed Ander from Seedbearer bonds.
Keep going. She felt Brooks urge her on, even as she knew he knew she couldnt stop. Her mind was a waterfall of memories: The twins sharing a swing under a powder-blue canopy of sky. Diana slinking behind Dad in their old kitchen, adding too much cayenne to his soup. Rhoda cleaning closets. Eureka running and running and running across bayous into sunsets. Climbing oak trees to meet Brooks at the top of the moon.
When her tears hit the ocean, they parted the water at Atlass waist. A wave pulled back and crashed over his head. For a moment, all four minds inside Atlas swam as one to propel his body above the surface of the sea.
But the sea was no longer the sea. It was a field of blooming white narcissus, buds tangling higher every moment, stems growing wild along the shore, planting roots among the limbs of empty ghost robots.
Then the buds blossomed into people, who turned to one another, old souls in a new world bursting into bloom. The promise of a fresh beginning glittered in everyones eyes like dew. Tears, Eureka realized, each one a maze of infinite emotions.
When a rainbow colored Eurekas vision, she realized she was witnessing her redemption bloom into the world from above. She was free. But if her joy had killed Atlas, where was his corpse? And what had become of the ghostly, disembodied minds of Brooks and Delphine?
The Gossipwitch Mountains stood below her. She saw the twins, rainbow-hued and running to the edge of the witches lair. When they saw the endless garden of blossoming souls, Eureka felt their laughter buoy her.
