“Astrological.”
“Scholars theorize that it’s a cipher, folkloric index, or perhaps a hoax.” I look to Poppy.
She nods. “No, that part’s right.”
“But,” I say, “it is none of those things. The Voynich manuscript is, in fact”—I drum on the table—“a grimoire!”
The others just stare at me.
Poppy shakes her head. “Elle, I love you, girl, but you done lost your mind.”
“Doubt me all you want. But I’ve done the research. Everything I’ve read suggests it’s a transcription of a grimoire created by the Cult of Persephone.”
CJ scowls. “You keep naming things that are myths and will you all pleasestop emoting for the love of god!”
Poppy lets out a snort of a laugh. “Sorry, CJ!”
“Yeah, CJ, we’re sorry,” Tolliver intones. He frowns, scrunching his nose like he’s smelled something bitter. “To be fair, most of the world thinks the Afterlife is a myth, and it’s real. So…”
“Tolliver.” Poppy snaps her fingers at him like he’s a misbehaving dog. “Do not feed her delusion!”
He sits back and taps his prosthetic hand against the table. “I’m just saying, that just because these things are myths doesn’t mean they’re not real.”
“That’s the literal definition of ‘myth,’ ” CJ says.
I throw my head back and groan. “Can we just admit that not everything that’s considered a myth is actually a myth?”
Poppy gasps in realization. “This is about Dante, isn’t it?”
The room falls quiet. CJ makes afinallygesture. Tolliver’s eyes are wide.
I scrape some dirt from under a fingernail. “It’s notnotabout Dante.”
“We’ve been over this,” Poppy says.
“Yeah, a year ago! Things have changed since then!”
“No, don’t.” Poppy holds up a finger to cut me off. “This false hope—it just makes the grieving process harder. And when it doesn’t work,which it won’t, it’s going to be like we’ve lost him all over again, and I can’t do that again.Youcan’t do that again.”
I take a calming breath. “I’ve spent the last year planning, following every possible lead. Every last second has been devoted to this. And I know—Iknow—I can do this. We can do this. I know how to get the Voynich manuscript, I know how to translate it, and I know how to find Dante’s soul and get him out.”
Poppy raises an eyebrow. “And where is Dante’s soul? Are you telling me you know how to get to a soul that’s left the Afterlife?”
I ignore her question, making eye contact with each of them. “I’m bringing Dante back. Whether you all help me or not.”
CJ grits their teeth. Poppy fidgets. Tolliver taps the table. I wait.
“Come on, guys, I’ve already done all the legwork on this. All you have to do is believe in me.”
Poppy shifts uncomfortably. “How sure are you that we can pull this off?”
“Oh, one hundred percent.”
“She’s lying,” CJ says.
I scoff. “There’s no way they can know that.” I turn to CJ. “There’s no way you can know that. Lying isn’t an emotion.”
CJ cocks their head, eyes narrowed. “Guilt is.”