It’s going so well, I decide to keep things moving. “Now that Cissy’s dating Zeke, she goes to the Ryder mansion after school. Her parents want a chaperone, so they asked me along.”
Mom bounces in her seat. “Oh, the Ryder mansion’s beautiful! I have a map around here somewhere.” She takes to her feet and disappears into her room.
Okay, it’s totally sketchy that Mom has maps of the Ryder mansion squirreled away. She returns to the living room and plunks down onto the sofa, a pile of folded papers on her lap.
Opening the top map, Mom runs her finger across different points. “The Ryder mansion’s shaped like a giant letter ‘U.’ In the center of the building–the base of the ‘U’–is the reception hall. From there, you go to the West Wing–that’s where the Ryders live–or the East Wing.” Mom sighs. “The East Wing’s especially beautiful. It holds the ballroom, diplomatic offices, and library.”
“Diplomatic offices, huh?” I let the words hang out there. Mom doesn’t take the bait.
Instead, she points to another spot on the map. “Oh, and there’s the hedgerow maze right between the two wings. A lovely fountain’s at the center. After that, the grounds have tennis courts, botanical gardens, and all sorts of other things to entertain diplomats.”
“Whoa. Zeke’s house is way huger than I thought.” How-oh-how am I going to segue this conversation to get actual answers about Mom’s past?
Mom makes a tsk-tsk noise. “The grounds are actually a lot smaller now. You should have seen it before the war.”
“I would’ve liked that.” Man, it’s taking all my personal control (of which I have very little) not to push her right now for details.
“The library’s a marvel, be sure to check it out, Myla-la.” She flips to a different map that shows only the East Wing. It’s a long and thin rectangle made up of four floors. “The first floor’s the ballroom, the second’s diplomatic offices. The library covers both the third and fourth floors.” She shakes her head from side to side. “That library is unbelievable. The records cover everything from quasi government to demon history to ancient diplomatic archives.”
My personal control issues reach the breaking point. “Aren’t I doing a great job not asking you about the diplomatic stuff you did before the war?” My mouth starts moving on its own. “I mean, it’s pretty clear you worked in the diplomatic offices in the Ryder mansion. Maybe you met my dad there? Researched stuff in the library together or something?” I lean forward, my restraint level at zero. “Am I right?”
Mom opens her mouth as if to speak, but the words choke in her throat. She lets out a long sigh instead. “Has Verus sent you any dreamscapes yet?”
“Not since the first one we talked about.”
“Ah, well.” She rises to her feet. “Maybe soon.”
With that, Mom walks away and hides the maps again.
Damn.
***
I race up to the front door of the Ryder mansion and slam on the bronze knocker. I am so freaking late meeting Cissy and Zeke, it isn’t even funny.
The pristine white door whips open, revealing a blissful Cissy. “Welcome to the Ryder mansion.” The way she works the entrance, you’d think she and Zeke had dated for years instead of weeks.
“Hey, Cissy.” I step into the reception hall. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Betsy broke down again.” Over the years, carburetors, wadget screws, and manifolds have all become my personal bitches. Normally, I appreciate the extra smoke, drama, and grease, but today it was a big hassle. I loathe being late.
“No worries.” Cissy makes goo-goo eyes at Zeke. “We were just chatting.”
I scan the reception room. It’s two stories tall and filled with ornate golden furniture and matching nick-knacks. Normally, it contains Zeke’s parents, too. “Where are the Ryders?” To say Zeke’s parents took an instant liking to Cissy is the understatement of the millennium. For the last two weeks, Zeke’s Dad has been hovering beside the pair of them, glaring at his boy with a look that says ‘don’t screw this up, literally.’ Today’s the first day I can actually play chaperone.
“They’re playing tennis.” Cissy wraps her arm around Zeke’s. “Do you want to join us in the West Wing?”
Ah, no. I see enough of the ‘Cissy and Zeke Love Show’ at school. My goal here is plain and simple: get some intel on my dad. “Thanks, but I thought I’d check out the East Wing today.”
Cissy leans her head against Zeke’s shoulder. “Are you sure? We’d love to hang with you.”
Ah, sure you would. I appreciate Cissy trying to be nice, but I couldn’t be more of a third wheel if I were a tricycle. “Thanks, but I’m good. I honestly want to check out the East Wing.”
Cissy tilts her head to one side and frowns. “What aren’t you telling me, sweetie?” She elbows Zeke in the ribs. “I told you, she’s hiding things from me lately.”
“I’m fine.”