Page 7 of Voices in the Stars
My back straightened as a well-manicured hand appeared on his shoulder. Her glare darted between the two of us.
“What,” she began as her nails tapped against his shoulder, “exactly are you two doing?” Her voice was like ice.
He patted her hand, gently incasing it with his own.
“We’re simply enjoying the party you worked so hard on, my love.” He kissed her hand, smiling down at her.
He looked at her like he couldn’t feel the tension radiating off of her. While she tensed, he seemed to be filled with as much love as they both had years ago. Love filled everything, even as they tried to stop the two of us from destroying the house in earlier years. There was never so much as a harsh word between the two of them.
Now, she could barely be in the same room as him. They didn’t even sleep in the same bedroom anymore. Anger replaced the love she felt when she realized she was the only one who could easily forget our old lives for this one of luxury. All he wanted was to go back to the fields.
The entire thing made my chest hurt. I couldn’t let myself get trapped somewhere I was miserable. At least with Adrian, there was no expectation that I needed to care for him. To fall in love with him. Just the thought had me fighting back a gag. I would never letmyself fall into a place where my emotions would let me turn my back to someone’s cruelty.
“Come on, dear,” he whispered.
I tried to ignore her flinch as he kissed her cheek. He started pulling her away from me, but her stare was still locked onto me. A fire melted her glacial eyes. Her mouth hung open with the angry words I was sure she wanted to shout at that moment. The peace he created by dragging her away was going to be short lived. Tonight would probably be another good night to avoid dinner. Or any place inside the house after everyone left.
All of that could wait until tonight. For now, I would allow myself to relax, drinking another glass of champagne as I made my way over to the singing, finally ready to enjoy the party.
Soft thuds echoedaround me as I swung my feet, heels colliding with the side of the house. The white paint on the house was pristine except for a chipped line surrounding my ledge. My hand fiddled with my ring, twisting the gold band around my finger as a cold breeze moved my hair away from my face.
Once the party was over, I undid all of Marie’s work, letting my hair flow free after I changed into a nightgown. The silence was broken as my stomach grumbled.
The last guest went home a few hours ago. The smell of old tea and pastries still wafted up to me. After everyone left, my mother rounded on me. Screaming about obligations and what I owed the family. The moment she was done, I fled up here. While the sun was still up, I had spent the time reading the old novels Josi used to read years ago. The pages had yellowed, and the covers had tears along the edges.
I leaned back on my hands, staring up at the twinkling stars. They were beautiful stories of great romances. My mind was always drawn toward adventures. Women doing what they wanted, accomplishing great, world-changing things. I’d spent my entire life in Donnaway. What was outside my small world. A huff left me as I closed my eyes. Reading the novels helped, but I wanted to see the world. Not be tied down here.
When we were children, Josi and I spent hours exploring the hedges, looking for any sign of the faeries we had read about.Even caught up in our stories, we stayed near the house. I wished we tried harder. Went further.
As we got older, we lost our makeshift adventures. We started helping with the farm. As our father got older, it was harder for him to dig around the weeds. So, Josi and I started making our own competitions to see who could pick the most before lunch was ready. Our clothes tore faster than our mother could repair them. Maybe that’s why our mother clung so hard to the way life was now. No more having to clean up after us. No more having to work the land ourselves. Adrian already hired people to look after everything for us.
A low whistling started from somewhere below me. I sat back up, leaning over the edge. My brows furrowed as I tried to find it. A few people were still out working, cleaning up the mess from this afternoon. None of them seemed to be paying me any mind, though. They were focused as they brought tables and chairs into the house. A couple were picking up trash off the grass.
I jumped as a loud ping sounded from next to me. A small rock was sitting on the tiles next to me. My head jerked as I looked up. Crows liked to hang out around the rooftops. It would’ve been possible that one of them dropped a rock they thought was shiny. Except there were none anywhere near me. Several sat on the neighboring house. Their dark eyes stared at me as they cawed at each other. Something shimmered in the sky above me once again. My eyes squinted as I tried to make sense of it.
I yelped as it got closer, throwing my hands up just before it could hit my face. My skin stung where the second rock bounced off. My gaze snapped back to the ground below me. That rock had come sailing up to me.
Little had changed. Watering cans were carried out as people tended to the trampled grass. One person walked along the hedges with a large set of clippers. They sliced through any part that stood out from the uniform shape. Several branches dangled half broken. My gaze followed as they walked the length of the hedges. I got stuck on the passage that Adrian dragged me through earlier.
There had been a soft breeze when I first sat up here. Now, the air was still. It felt like the world was holding its breath as I stared at theshaking branches. The rest of the hedges stood still, reflecting the nonexistent wind. Yet, this section was shaking like it was the middle of a storm.
“What the…” I muttered, trying to lean closer.
Reaching out from the walkway, a small hand waved up at me. A jolt ran through me as I scrambled back from the ledge. I could feel the tiles tear at my legs in my haste. My breath came out in pants as I stood. None of the people walking around seemed to notice it. Each one was too focused on their nightly chores. I let out a curse. One of the children must’ve gotten lost in there. I couldn’t believe none of the parents noticed.
I started screaming, waving my hands. No one looked up. Reaching down, I grabbed the rock before throwing it at one of the chairs that were still out. Still, no one looked at me. Of course, everyone chose now to ignore me.
Running back to the rope, I wrapped my legs around it to slide down. Children loved playing in the hedges. There were all types of hidden passages for them to find. They could easily spend the entire party within those branches and be the happiest kids there. No one had ever been left behind, though, even when a brave child would try to make their way through the twisting paths. Someone was supposed to go in and check for any kids.
Climbing through the window, I raced over to the door. The rest of the house seemed quiet. There were a few groans as the old house settled. No footsteps, though. Not even a hushed voice. The door let out a soft squeak as I opened it. The house was consumed by darkness as I waited for my eyes to adjust.
As I could finally make out shapes in front of me, I worked my way through the house, avoiding the boards I knew would squeal under my weight. I held my breath as I passed by Marie’s door. I paused at the candlelight flickering through the crack underneath the door. I should ask for help. My mother would have been the perfect person to ask. She would’ve been able to recognize any of the children that showed up.
Going to her was the last thing I would do right now. The thoughtof waking her filled my stomach with dread. After I got the kid in the house, then I would go to her.
If it was a child out there, they would have been there for hours already. It was cold. They were certainly hungry. The last thing they needed was to hear screams coming after them.
I held my breath as one of the steps squeaked underneath me. My blood pounded in my ears. I was afraid everyone could hear my racing heartbeat as I crept through the dark house to the front door.
