Read Chapter 24: THE LAST LYRE

In May, a package appeared on Élise’s studio table.

Inside was the bronze lyre from Atelier 7.

No note.

She carried it to Solène.

“Yours?”

Solène looked offended. “I have taste.”

“Hugo?”

“Too sentimental.”

“Lucien?”

“Ask him.”

Lucien denied it.

So did Camille and Nora.

For a week the lyre sat on Élise’s desk gathering dust.

Then Maxime emailed.

I thought you should have it. You wanted the table. Consider this the centerpiece.

She stared at the message for a long time.

There was no apology.

There was, however, something close to acknowledgment.

She replied with one sentence.

The table is gone.

Then she brought the lyre to the metal workshop and asked Camille to melt it.

Camille’s eyes lit up. “Finally. Ritual sacrifice.”

They cast the bronze into twenty small door wedges.

At the end-of-year student exhibition, the wedges held open doors throughout Saint-Aurelie.

No label explained them.

Most visitors never noticed.

Élise preferred it that way.