Page 88 of Illusory

“Funny. Are you going to be eating any of this?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder at me as she pointed to the plate that I assumed Isa had prepared for me.

“Seriously, Tess? Where are you putting it?”

She stared back at me blank-faced. “What do you mean?”

Had she really not noticed that she hasn’t stopped eating since the second Isa got here? I mean, sure, Isa’s cookingwaspretty amazing, but still. Tessa was taking it to a whole new level. Not that it was any of my business.

“Nothing. Never mind,” I said, deciding to just drop it. I wasn’t about to shame her for having a big appetite…even though it was completely unlike her.

“So, is that a yes…or?” she verified, still eying my plate.

“Sure. Have at it.”

It wasn’t a big deal since I knew Isa would happily make me another plate if I asked her to, which I wouldn’t because I wasn’t a spoiled brat, but also because I’d already lost my appetite at the mention of The Roderick sisters and my missing mother anyway.

I gave the room a quick scan, having just noticed that Isawasn’t at her usual magic-making spot by the stove. “Where’s Isa anyway?”

“Grocery run,” said Tessa as she spooned the scrambled eggs off my plate and packed them into the bottomless pit formerly known as her mouth. “We were basically out of everything.”

Everything?I made a confused face as I took in the gargantuan spread on the table. Last I checked, even the pantry was stacked to the rafters. I hadn’t seen that much food in this house since my uncle was still alive and running things. “Oh, yeah. We’re practically starving to death here.”

“Right?” she agreed, completely missing the part where I wasn’t serious.

I blinked at the back of her head a few times, wondering who this alien implant was and where the heck my sister had gone and then shook away the thought. “Well, it’s been real. I’ll be in the dining room if anyone needs me,” I said and then started to leave before pausing to look at my sister again. “I’m assuming you’re training with me until mom shows up, right?”

“Actually, I vote we take the day off.”

I gaped at Tessa as Gabriel did his own slow double take.Thank you. Finally, someone else was seeing her for the obvious impostor she was.

“What? Don’t look at me like that,” she snapped at Gabriel. “It’s not like we’re going to be able to concentrate on anything with Jackie missing,” she added, as though that might convince the rest of us.

“We really don’t have the luxury of taking the day off,” advised Gabriel, looking at me as though I were the lunatic that had suggested it.

“You’re speaking to the choir here,” I said with my hands up, letting it be known that Tessa and I were most definitelynot on the same page with that vote. “I have no problem training today.”

“Whatever. Suit yourselves,” said Tessa as she grabbed a last piece of bacon from the plate and then shoved her chair back to stand. “I’m calling in sick today. If anyone needs me…call someone else,” she said and then nonchalantly walked out of the kitchen, apparently having a grand total of zero fucks to give on all fronts.

“She didn’t just do that,” I said incredulously as Gabriel scrubbed a hand down his face. “Please tell me I’m not the only one that thinks there’s something seriously wrong with her lately?” I asked.

“Define lately,” answered Dominic as he sank back in his chair.

I tried and failed not to roll my eyes at him.

“She definitely seemed a little off today,” agreed Trace.

“Exactly. Thank you!” I turned to Gabriel and searched his face for confirmation. He probably knew Tessa better than all of us combined. “Did she say anything to you?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Nothing at all.”

“But you noticed it too, right?”

He didn’t confirm or deny it, but I could see the answer in his eyes. He’d seen it too. Something was definitely up with her. “I’ll talk to her and see what I can find out,” he offered.

I nodded, confident that if anyone could get to the bottom of Tessa’s sudden bizzarro behavior, it was Gabriel.

Distracted with thoughts of my sister, I shifted my weight onto my other foot and then noticed how awkwardly quiet the room had become. My gaze lifted to Trace and Dominic who were both staring at me with undiscernible expressions on their faces. I could only imagine what was going through their minds then, though nothing that I came up with was positive or good.

Must. Escape. Now.