“Dani. You are so beautiful…”
“Enough with the sweet talk, Elaine. Tell us what the fuck you’re doing here and why,” Jules says bluntly.
My mother’s eyes glare at Jules.
“Answer her,” I say.
“Ma’am, this is a crime scene. Please return to your home,” Carter says, folding his arms.
“Carter, this is Elaine, Dani’s mother, whom she has never met,” Jules says casually, and I admire her for her assertiveness. “Oh, shit. Uhm, okay. I’ll leave you guys to itthen. Mrs. Shay… or uhm, Elaine, lovely to meet you. I think…” Carter looks up at me, and I shake my head. He walks away, mouthing ‘sorry.’
“I have to work.” I slam my trunk closed and push past her, but she grabs my arm. Her touch burns my skin, and my necklace, which is hidden under my shirt, begins to beat rapidly.
What the fuck?
She quickly pulls her hand away.
“So, you’ve spent over three decades in this place... not a single greeting, not a ‘how are you doing,’ and certainly not an ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ after my father passed away?” My voice is tight with emotion as I turn away. The air between us feels heavy, and I can sense her footsteps trailing behind me, echoing with urgency as she follows me and Jules into the uncertain distance.
“Yes. I never left. Please, let me explain. I can make us some tea,” Elanie gestures to her house. I take a mental note on which house is hers, with its ivy-covered facade, ensuring I won’t forget which one it is.
“Did Dad know? Know that you were here?”
“Yes.” My eyes wince at that answer. I should have known. My father drank himself to sleep every night just to avoid any type of communication with me. He was always good at keeping secrets. When my cat died, he told me he ran away. A few weeks later, I found his body in the backyard where some animal had dug up his carcass.
“But he didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you wrapped up in any of this. Oh, Dani, I was so wrong to leave you. You belong here, with me.”
“The fuck I do! I want nothing to do with you or your little fucking cult. Do you even know who you fucking worship here?” I stop walking and raise my voice at her.
“Danika, you have a foul mouth like your father. You will be respectful when you are here.”I snort, “Oh, fuck off.Answer my question. Do you know who you even worship in this cursed town?”
“Yes...” Jules and I fix our gazes on her, waiting for her to finish the rest of her response. “Octavia.”
I feel my nails digging into the tender flesh of my palm, a physical manifestation of my rising anger. Sensing my tension, Jules grips my arm tightly, urgency lacing her voice. “Come on, let’s go, Dani.”
“She is misunderstood. We must make her stronger so she can rule again. She will save us all!” I turn to walk away but her next words stop me. “You are not their mates, Danika!”
I’m ready to explode.
Stepping closer, I invade my mother’s space, my eyes blazing with intensity. “You know nothing of my mates! Octavia is nothing but a deceitful little twat, and she deserves to rot in the deepest, darkest corners of the seven realms of hell where she belongs. I never want to see you again. Is that understood?” My words hang in the air, a heavy silence following my declaration.
She leans in, her fingertips grazing through my hair with a delicate curiosity. I instinctively recoil, resulting in a gentle tug on a loose strand that causes her to look momentarily surprised. With a swift motion, I swat her hand away, a clear signal of my discomfort. I notice a symbol, tattoo, on her inner wrist. I can’t make it out, but I have a bad feeling about what it is.
Understanding the unspoken message, she withdraws her hand, slipping her hands into her pockets, her expression shifting to one of quiet resignation.
“You know, Dani… our bloodline weaves closely with the illustrious legacy of Octavia. She is on her way, and when she arrives, she will conquer all. You’ll see.”
An icy, mirthless laugh escapes my lips as her words hang in the air.Is this woman fucking serious?
“You’re living in a fantasy. Octavia didn’t have a family to call her own. But...” I pause, wanting a reaction from mymother. I say, “Suzanna did.” The moment I utter her name, disbelief floods her expression, and her eyes widen in shock.
“Suzanna… how do you know about her? She was... she was a traitor! Her whole bloodline is a curse!”
“Well, then, I suppose that means we’re cursed, Elaine,” I voice, a wave of frustration tightening in my chest. “I know far more than you realize.” With that, I turn on my heel, my footsteps brisk and unyielding as I march back toward the house, Jules following in my wake. Behind us, I can feel my mother’s gaze.
“Holy fuck-balls! Dani, are you okay?! I can’t fucking believe this…”
“Yeah… I’m—” Carter’s strong arms envelop me in a comforting embrace, creating a warm cocoon of safety around us. He leans down and presses a gentle kiss atop my head, his presence grounding me in the chaos of my emotions.
