The Furies were only mentioned as a footnote in the chapter about Greek sirens-beautiful creatures who lured sailors to untimely, watery deaths. She chose one at random and started leafing through it. She found the books way in the back of the stacks, and she allowed herself a moment to revel in their heavy bindings and musty smells. She felt a sense of relief as she did so-a sense of empowerment.

She marked down the call numbers, picked up her bag, and made her way over to the stacks. Only four results came up, all of them located in the classics section toward the back of Ascension High’s library. She typed the terms into the library’s catalog search engine. She’d been so paralyzed over the past few weeks that she hadn’t had the energy to sit down and think logically about what was happening to her. Nothing good would come of hypothesizing worst-case scenarios. At this point she needed all the help she could get, on both fronts. She could learn more about the Furies and maybe get a decent English grade. She made a conscious effort to calm down. Could that be their effect? Craziness? Were the Furies going to make her insane?Įm took a deep breath and sat down heavily in front of a computer.

Was that what was happening to her? Her stomach turned as she remembered the five red seeds she’d swallowed at the mall that night. Haynes’s words rang in her head: They exist to drive people mad.

And as she walked toward the computers, Mrs. May I suggest investigating how and where they have been depicted by different authors? I can’t wait to see what else you come up with.”

“From what I recall-and forgive me, it’s been years since I’ve really delved into the lesser Greek myths-the Furies were vengeful, correct? Inherently evil?” Yeah, they’re pretty great until they start tormenting you, Em thought. “Ty,” Em said automatically, and she couldn’t stop Chase’s face from flashing before her eyes. Haynes tapped her lip with her finger, trying to remember something. Female spirits who appear in most stories in a set of three, right?” Mrs. type of creature? They’re called the Furies?” She left the word hanging as a question between them, hoping she wouldn’t have to explain much more. Do you think you could narrow it down?”Įm picked at the cuff of her deep blue sweater, suddenly feeling nervous.

Fury by elizabeth miles