I look back at Owen, and he looks up to meet my
gaze. “I’m not sure, but from what I heard,” I lower my eyes and fiddle with my
fingers, picking at my nails. “I think it is safe to say that they were. My
family is the only Velde’s in the city. All my dad’s siblings still either live
in New City or have moved out East. But what I don’t understand is why it
sounded like…” I can’t say it, the phrase that hangs heavy in the air, like his death was intentional.
Owen just nods his head, his face grim. He understands
me so well. I have never longed for a sibling because Owen is like a brother to
me. He’s someone I can confide in, fight with, and love, all at once.
“We should go check on your mom in the morning.”
Owen says as he gets up off the couch, taking our now empty mugs of hot
chocolate and placing them in the sink. “I’m sure she’s fine, it didn’t look
like those men knew who either of us were.” He stretches his arms over his
head, and lets out a large yawn. “Man, am I tired. When the adrenaline dies down
you really feel it after.” He laughs, a big grin on his face. I give him a
small smile in response.
Just then the front door slams open, and I jump so
high I nearly fall off the couch. I hear a raspy voice, and immediately relax
again, knowing exactly who it is. “SON OF A BITCH!” Mrs. Carnell curses from
the front entrance. Owen lets out a large groan in response.
“Mom, seriously?! Sia is over! Can’t you be
slightly normal when you walk in the door?” He lets out an exasperated sigh and
then heads over to where she is to help. Shortly after they both walk into the
house, carrying a handful of groceries each, with Mrs. Carnell’s worn leather
purse hanging from Owen’s pinky. I get up off the couch and stride over to the
kitchen to help put the groceries away.
“Owen don’t be such a bore.” Mrs. Carnell says. “Entering the house with a curse is
exciting! You are too much like your father. Lighten up.” She waves a hand at
him, dismissing his appalled face. “Besides, Iryssia practically lives here.
She has heard worse from me.” She looks over at me and gives me a wink. I smile
back in return, sending a wide grin to Owen as well, feeling his glare on me. I
wouldn’t necessarily call Owen anything like his father, though. His father is
a stone cold man. I have never seen him smile once, and I suspect, although
Owen has never outright told me, that he can be aggressive and even abusive.
How his parents met is a mystery to me.
“Iryssia, darling, are you staying for dinner
tonight?” Mrs. Carnell rummages around in the grocery bags before finding what
she is looking for, and placing it in a shelf above her.
“If you don’t mind, I would love to.” I answer,
helping put away some more of the groceries, maneuvering around the kitchen
it’s my own.
“Of course I don’t mind!” Mrs. Carnell gives me a
smile that reaches her pale blue eyes, deepening the laugh lines around them.
Mrs. Carnell is surprisingly short considering how tall her son is. The top of
her head reaches just past my shoulders. Her hair is piled on top of her head,
with a few dark brown pieces having escaped from the mess hanging limply on her
shoulders. Strands of grey streak her hair, showing her age in a way her
personality does not.
