Shadows (Ultrahumans Book 2) by Niall Teasdale

I’m scared to put the mask on. I’m scared I won’t be able to take it off again. I’m scared of finding out what we’re capable of.’
    ‘I don’t think split personality disorder is supposed to work like that,’ Cygnus replied.
    ‘There aren’t that many studies on Ultrahumans with the condition, but I agree.’
    ‘When you get back from Boston, you’re going to see Hugh. If there’s anything wrong with you, I think it’s best we find out sooner rather than later.’
    Andrea sighed. ‘I guess you’re right. If he’s willing to check me out…’
    Cygnus giggled. ‘Are you kidding? He’ll be as enthusiastic about it as he was about me.’
    27 th March.
    ‘You’re looking a better colour,’ Andrea said as she looked down at Jacob.
    ‘Still feel like hammered shit, but they tell me my temperature is more or less normal.’
    He did still look sickly, even if she had said he did not. His normally healthy, black skin had a distinctly blue sub-colour and his eyes had a rather sunken quality. Of course, her eyes were not doing so well either.
    ‘How are you doing?’ he asked.
    ‘Health-wise, I’m good, but… You know you have this problem with Ultras?’
    ‘I have a problem with some Ultrahumans who seem to think having powers…’ He stopped. ‘What happened? And now I think about it, why are you wearing dark glasses?’ Andrea sighed and took her glasses off. It seemed to take him a second to realise what he was seeing, and then he said, ‘Oh.’
    ‘Yeah. The drug… The Excelsior triggered some… alterations. I’d be dead without it. Maybe. If you want to keep your distance…’
    He gave a weak laugh. ‘I don’t think I’m going to be up to any athletic activities for a while anyway. I think you were not exactly unpowered before this, right?’
    ‘I could teleport. It’s how I could always get into your house.’
    ‘I’d come to the conclusion it was that, or walking through walls. If you suddenly start craving camera time I’ll dump you. Barring that, I don’t think this is going to be a problem. If it was, I’d probably have said something before now.’
    Andrea grinned. ‘Well… Now you’re awake I’m going up to Boston. I need to tell my parents about this. So, uh, I guess you’ve got time to change your mind and dump me anyway.’
    ‘Don’t hold your breath.’
    28 th March.
    ‘You take care of yourself,’ Andrea said as she stood in front of the gate looking nervous.
    ‘You know me,’ Penny replied, smiling.
    ‘Yeah, bulletproof and crazy.’
    ‘Maybe. You be careful too. You don’t blend in as well as you used to.’
    Andrea adjusted her glasses, brow knitting. ‘I know, but I’ll be fine.’ Around them people began to shuffle toward the gate. ‘Time to go.’
    ‘Good luck.’
    ‘Thanks. Hopefully I won’t need it.’
    Boston, MA.
    The taxi pulled over to the side of Salem Street and Andrea got out of it, pulling her case out with her. Behind her, LeFey Coffee was waiting, and within it her parents.
    She had insisted on taking the taxi from Logan. It meant she was not going to be asked about the dark glasses until she got inside, and there would be no scene because there would be customers in the shop. For a little while she could just enjoy being back with her family.
    Looking up, she grinned at the sign. The name had been her mother’s idea. Morgana le Fey, and they were the Morgans, so LeFey Coffee. It was an appropriate sort of name for a shop on Salem Street, and neither of her parents were religious enough to take witchcraft in the least bit seriously. It actually attracted more than its fair share of women in gothic-looking dresses. One had even commented on the collection of original artwork; her parents snapped up witchcraft-related art where they could find it to decorate the interior.
    There was a small bell mounted over the door; the jingling brought the attention of a grey-haired woman at the back of the shop. Audrey, her mother, had not