Page 39 of The Blairville Legacies

I couldn’t very well say no, because Ms. Adams was still being kind to me.

“Yes, I’d be happy to drive your daughter.” I winked at Bay, who reluctantly pushed back her chair and jumped up.

She seemed to be seething inside.

“Over my dead body,” it escaped her, and she shoved the chair back against the edge of the table with a clatter that made Diana wince.

“Bay!” her mother admonished.

Mia had to smirk.

Then Bay stomped up the stairs, visibly annoyed.

“She’s been unusually short-tempered since we got here. I’m sorry...” was Ms. Adams’ apology for her daughter’s behavior.

“I can still hear you, Mum!” Bay yelled, annoyed, down the stairs.

Oh yes, and how short-tempered she was. The thought of her stunned expression brought back my grin.

“I understand her,” my little sister joked with a big smile. “Julian often drives me up the wall, too.”

My sister, as I knew her. A little devil personified, pretending to be an angel.

I ignored her and finished my plate, but this time, I suppressed the urge to take another spoonful.

“The food was very good, Ms. A....” She looked at me appraisingly, and I corrected myself. “Diana.”

She smiled as if she hadn’t almost hit me with the ladle. “I’m glad, Julian.”

At least I’d made a good impression on one woman.

After we had finished the second casserole, Diana said goodbye to us.

The evening had been basically okay, even though I felt there had been some unspoken words between my father and Diana.

Whatever it was, they would probably leave it at that.

Because if all that she had told us today was true, she was no better than we were. Dad had moved us here, into the territoryof our actual enemies who hated us, and was having dinner with one of them. And we acted like that was normal, like we were normal.

And for a moment, I was envious of Bayla and the life she had been allowed to lead.

“Julian!” a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the night.

I found myself on an abandoned road in the middle of a gloomy forest. Dark mountains of clouds towered on the horizon, and thunder could be heard in the distance. Powerful, almost threatening.

I had lost my orientation. The road looked familiar, but as hard as I tried to remember, I couldn’t.

“Julian!” it rang out again. It was the cry of a woman. But I couldn’t hear where it was coming from.

All of a sudden, it started to rain. The cold drops hit me like pinpricks, and I winced.

“Julian! Help me!”

With each cry, the voice sounded more desperate. And abruptly, I recognized its sound.

“Mum!”, I yelled into the gathering darkness. “Mum! Where are you?!”

I had to look for her. Something had happened, but I didn’t know what it was, and this uncertainty was driving me crazy.

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