Everneath Chapter 24 Summary

  • In the now: Jack and Nikki drive to Meredith's old house. Her mom, Mrs. Jenkins, opens the door, but she says Meredith is living with her father; she starts to close the door.
  • Nikki sticks her foot in the doorway and says she knows Meredith was in the Feed—she knows it because she was, too.
  • There's practically nothing in Mrs. Jenkins's house. They sit and drink tea and talk. The Daughters of Persephone exist to purposefully prepare their children to participate in a Feed.
  • The goal is to have one survive, because she would become the next Persephone, which would grant eternal life to her entire family, even those who've already passed.
  • Nikki asks if Mrs. Jenkins knows how she managed to survive. Nope—and only one other person has survived like Nikki. Her name was Adonia, and when the current queen found her, she drained all of Adonia's energy, thus killing her.
  • Apparently Adonia's Everliving host wanted her to be his queen, but she refused—so he told the queen where to find her, and the queen killed Adonia. Nikki kind of freaks out upon hearing this… would Cole do the same thing to her?
  • Nikki says she doesn't want to be queen, or Everliving at all. Mrs. Jenkins asks how that's even a choice given that the alternate is—but Nikki coughs to cut her off before she can mention the Tunnels.
  • When Jack goes to get Nikki a glass of water, Nikki begs Mrs. Jenkins not to tell Jack about how she's doomed to the Tunnels forever. Mrs. Jenkins implies that in return for her help, she wants a favor from Nikki if and when Nikki becomes queen.
  • They leave without telling Mrs. Jenkins about how Nikki now has the silver bracelet. Nikki explains to Jack that she doesn't trust Mrs. Jenkins.