Page 57 of The Howl
“Thank you.”
She gave me a small smile.
“For you, baby, anything. I made muffins this morning. Chocolate berry. Give one a try,” she said, indicating the sugar topped muffin waiting beside her.
I sank into the chair, already reaching for it. The flavor was amazing. Especially after what had been coating my taste buds since the moment I woke.
“This is amazing,” I said around a mouthful.
She chuckled. “I’m so glad you like it. There are five more in the kitchen.”
“Only five?”
“I ate the other six.”
I laughed. It felt good. I finished my muffin and thought of Piepen waiting for me upstairs.
“Hey, Mom? Can I have your permission to go to the Academy late today?”
“Baby, you don’t need anyone’s permission to do anything ever. Do what you want, and make no apologies for it. You’re too powerful to let other people’s rules stifle you.”
It was all well and good for her to say that, but she had no idea the lengths Adira would go to keep her students in line and on her right path.
“I just need to know that you’ll step in if Adira gives me trouble for being late.”
Her eyes flooded with black.
“Does she give you trouble often?” The soft way in which she asked the question made me want to shiver.
“I…uh…”
She blinked, and her eyes cleared.
“Baby, don’t protect people who won’t protect you.” She exhaled slowly and patted my cheek. “Skip school for all I care. It might force Adira to stop avoiding me. I’ve asked Anwen to let her sister know I’d like a word. However, my phone has remained mysteriously quiet. If you see Adira today, let her know I’m looking forward to speaking with her.” Her gaze skimmed my outfit. “She and I have a lot to discuss.”
I pitied Adira just then. If she were smart, she would talk to Mom before making her any angrier.
“If I see her, I’ll let her know. Thanks, Mom.”
After grabbing a bowl full of fruit from the kitchen and running it upstairs to Piepen, I headed out for the day.
The drive to the lake brought back memories of the night Megan came into her powers with flaming glory. My car still had a weird paint job because of it, not that I minded. I wondered briefly how she was enjoying her new-found abilities. Probably a lot more than I’d ever enjoyed mine.
Passing the pull off for the lake, I continued toward the marshes. The flat stretch looked inhospitable with its sea of snow-dusted cattails and long grass, but I knew it was home to hundreds of brownies. Most of them wingless refugees from the real world.
I turned onto a dirt road and followed it to a small parking area that had signs posted forbidding the hunting of brownies, winged or unwinged, in the marshes. Someone had drawn lewd images on the sign, an indication of how much the upstanding citizens of Uttira respected the law.
A brisk winter breeze bit through my thin shirt the moment I opened my car door, and I hoped Adira would talk to my mom soon. I wanted some decent clothes again.
“Hello?” I called, my heels crunching on the gravel. “My name is Eliana. I’m looking for a family to take in a brownie. He’s fourteen and recently lost his wingless grandparents.”
I hesitated a moment, looking around the marsh. Other than the occasional bird call, there was no sign of life.
“He needs a good home. I don’t think he’s ever had one before. If there’s a family willing to take him in, call me.” I rattled off my phone number.
The bird calls went crazy for a moment, then complete silence reigned.
I got back in my car and drove away, hoping that I made the right choice not to mention he had wings. I couldn’t risk sharing that kind of information if there were hunters in the marsh. Or worse, brownie families willing to sell Piepen’s wings to earn a little cash. It was common knowledge that brownies would sell their own wings, or someone else’s, if money was tight.
