Page 31 of House of Pawns
So instead, I have Lillian holding my hand. I have Samuel standing behind me, one of his hands gently on my shoulder. I have Anna beside me, glaring darkly at my mother’s headstone in front of her tomb. And Rath, standing so close beside me that I can feel the heat of his body radiating to warm my side.
I may be alone, not a single family member to my name, but I have my new family, there to support me in what is mythird darkest hour. They stand here with me, for as long as I stand there.
Until the sky lightens. I know the pain they must be feeling as with every minute, the sky grows brighter. But they do not leave my side.
So finally, I have to think of someone’s unease other than my own. I hug every one of them. Take Lillian’s hand once again. Take Anna’s. And together, as a family, we walk back into our home.
Chapter
Twelve
“I’VE CAUGHT HIS SCENT HERE and there, but it’s days old,” Anna says as we make our final loop around the House. “I don’t think he’s been back to the House since you heard him the night of your party.”
“You’ve found no traces of him around town?” I ask as we walk up the steps and into the house.
Anna shakes her head. “Not yet. The new security cameras are high speed, but they still might not get a clear shot of him, but it will be something. And the UV motion lights will go off with any movement at all.”
I nod, feeling frustrated we still have not made any headway in the last week in finding this spy. I have faith in Anna, but I expected she’d produce results within days. I remind myself to be patient. “Thank you,” I offer.
We step inside the foyer and Anna pauses. “I wanted to ask you something but if you don’t want to talk about it, just tell me it’s none of my business.”
“Okay.”
“Jasmine was telling you the truth about the King wanting to know right away if you’re his Queen or not,” she says. She takes a seat on one of the stairs. She rests her forearms on her knees. Between her fingers she twirls a narrow silver shaft. I have no idea what it is, but in the hands of Anna, I’m sure it’s deadly. “Do you really want to leave it in his hands to kill you on his terms?”
I ponder her question for just a moment. “Yet if I choose to end my life now, isn’t that kind of on his terms too, because his coming is forcing my hand? It’s all about choice. It’s all just a matter of when, however you look at it.”
Anna thinks this over for a bit before she finally nods. “You’re a smart woman, Alivia. The way your mind works, it’s unexpected.”
I’m not sure what to say to her compliment. “Thank you.”
“And you have this air of humility about yourself, but there’s something about it that reminds me of sheep skin. There’s a vicious wolf underneath it.” Anna studies me with those dark eyes of hers, a small smile tugging on her face. “I will admit, I’m glad I’m not on Jasmine’s side in this war.”
Lillian walks into the foyer, skin-tight, black leather pants hugging her thin legs, a long jacket hiding her white button up shirt.
“The new playground equipment was installed this afternoon at the elementary school,” Lillian says as she stands there, proper and tall. In many ways, she reminds me of Rath. “The donation plaque was also set up. The school sent this for you.”
Lillian hands over an envelope with my name written on it in shaky handwriting.
The card is simple, cardstock folded in half. A picture of five stick children holding hands under a sun decorates thefront. Inside are the words THANK YOU and the names of dozens of children all around it.
“Thank you for arranging that,” I say. My stomach rumbles and I start making my way to the kitchen. Lillian and Anna both follow me. “Is anyone else starving? I’m starving.”
“If you’re making cinnamon rolls again, I’m certainly starving,” Anna says with a smile.
And I realize, for the first time in a very long time, I have girl friends.
“You got it,” I tell her with a wink.
Katina has gone for the day since it’s eight o’clock, so I have the run of her kitchen to myself. Things are going to have to change soon. She’s still working a regular day schedule, but everyone in this house is now on a graveyard one.
I’ve just finished pulling all the ingredients I need out when the cell phone in my back pocket dings with a text message. I pull it out to find it’s from Ian.
Sorry I haven’t called back. Family needs me.
And that’s all he offers.
“Ian?” Lillian guesses.
