Page 12 of Blood Match
“I’m not ready for this, Lake.” My mother’s voice is a low, husky murmur as she faces my father.
I shift uncomfortably on the couch, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve. The tension in the room is so thick I could slice it with a knife. Dad’s face is rigid with pain as he stands by the fireplace, his fingers drumming an uneven rhythm on the mantel.
“We can’t keep avoiding it, Georgia,” he says, his voice gentle but firm. “It’s been a year since it happened. We need to talk about Mia.”
My sister Kara sits ramrod straight in her armchair, her eyes fixed on a point somewhere beyond the wall. I can see the muscles in her jaw working, clenching and unclenching.
“What’s there to talk about?” I blurt out, my voice sharper than I intended. “She’s gone. End of story.”
“Rowan,” Dad warns, but I can’t stop myself.
“No, really. What good does rehashing it do? It won’t bring her back.”
“Dammit, Ro!” Kara snaps, her eyes flashing. “Just because you can’t do magic doesn’t mean you get to be a total bitch about this.”
“What does this have to do with my magic – or lack of it?” I snap back. “This is about—”
“Girls, please,” Mom interjects, her voice trembling. “This is hard enough without you two at each other’s throats.”
I bite my lip, shame and anger warring inside me. I want to lash out again, but the hurt in Mom’s eyes stops me cold.
Dad takes a deep breath. “We need to discuss the possibility that Mia might not—”
“Don’t you dare say it,” Kara interrupts. “She’s alive. I know it.”
“Sweetheart,” Mom starts, reaching for Kara’s hand, but my sister jerks away.
“No! I won’t give up on her. Unlike some people,” Kara adds, glaring at me.
I feel the familiar sting of tears and blink them back furiously. “That’s not fair,” I whisper.
Dad is silent as he faces the room, waiting for us to settle before he speaks. “It’s time for us to send her to the stars.” His voice grows choked on the final words. He’s trying to be brave. To be strong for us. But I know he’s hurting as much as we all are.
The stars…
I suck in a breath. Even though I’ve tried to convince myself that I’d be fine when this time came, I’m still not prepared. I choke down the flood of emotions that rush up my throat like bile. The air in the room suddenly feels too thick, too heavy.
“The Starlight Vigil?” Kara’s eyes are wide. “Dad! No! It’s too soon.”
“Darling, your father is right.” My grandmother’s features cloud with pain. It’s an unfamiliar expression on her usually serene face.
“But, Gran—”
“I haven’t felt her in months, Kara.” Gran’s voice is raw.
My sister’s head jerks at her words. “You haven’t?”
My grandmother shakes her head slowly. “I’ve tried, darling. I’ve tried so hard to reach to her. But there’s just…nothing.”
“Oh, Gran…” Kara makes a little choking sound. “It’s true?”
Our grandmother nods slowly, and I swallow down a lump in my throat.
Months.
The finality of it crashes over me like a tidal wave.
You knew this was coming, Rowan.