Cyrus’ house that he bought back in Greendale was beautiful. But it is nothing compared to Alivia’s house.
I realize now that there had been a long, weighted silence, and I look back to my birth mother.
Her eyes are fixed on Rath, who stands beside me with my brother slung over his shoulders.
“Rath,” she says in an emotional whisper. “It is so good to see you.”
She rushes forward and wraps her arms around the man she sent to watch over me, all those years ago.
Balancing Eshan, he wraps one arm around Alivia, and I see the complicated emotions on his face as he presses his cheek into the top of her head. He squeezes his eyes closed tightly, his lips pressed into a thin line.
They might have a complicated past, whatever it is, just like Cyrus, but it’s evident in every inch of his face. Rath loves Alivia. Cares a very great deal for her.
“It is good to be home,” he says. And as soon as he says the word, I know he truly means home with every single syllable.
There’s still so, so much I don’t know about Rath.
“I assume this is your brother?” Alivia asks as she releases Rath, looking from Eshan to me.
I nod. “He was turned a few days ago. I…” I shake my head. “I don’t even know what to tell my parents. They think he ran off to see some girl he met online. I don’t know what he’s supposed to tell them when you fix him and he goes back.”
“I’m afraid we all have stories to tell when we get involved with this world,” she says with a tired expression.
Something sharp and hot spikes inside my chest at her words.
I swallow once, but nod, instead of opening my mouth and spilling vile words.
“I’d love to just sit and…talk,” Alivia says, turning hopeful eyes on me. “But I’m sure you’re hungry, and tired from a really long road trip,” she chuckles just a little. “Why don’t we get your brother settled, and then you can eat?”
I nod. I don’t speak, because right now I can’t sort all my emotions out.
She leads us to a hallway that breaks off to the north. It’s long, and I see a dozen doors scattered on either side. She walks halfway down it, and swings it open.
It reveals a beautiful bedroom, decorated in gold and green. A massive bed sits in the middle. Behind it, thick curtains are pulled over the windows, blocking out the light that will soon be filling the world. Off to the left, I see a simple bathroom attached.
“How much longer will he be out for?” Alivia asks as Rath carefully lays him on the bed.
“Another ten or so hours,” Rath answers, brushing back Eshan’s hair from his forehead.
And I remember, Rath has been watching me, watching my family, for Eshan’s entire life.
Alivia nods. “We’ll come back in a while then, give him the cure while he sleeps, so he doesn’t even have to feel the pain.”
“Pain?” I ask, my eyes whipping up to hers.
She gives a little nod. “Just for a minute or so. But yes, it does always seem to be painful.”
I shake my head. “Rath, you said Cyrus knows about this cure. But he’s still outlawed the very existence of the Bitten. I… How did this cure even come into existence?”
A brief look is exchanged between Alivia and Rath. But she looks back at me with confidence and answers in her eyes.
“My sister-in-law, Elle,” she offers, “is a brilliant chemist. Back when she was in college, about your age actually, she developed the cure, with the help of another woman. She was risking her own life, helping innocent victims who had been turned. This was several years after Cyrus outlawed the existence of the Bitten. She eventually confessed everything to Cyrus. And he pardoned her. He told her to stop what she was doing, which she did. But we both still have some of the cure. Just for special cases, like your brother.”
I swallow once, my throat feeling tight. I understand that risk Elle was taking. How dangerous it is for Alivia to even have any of this cure in her possession, considering Cyrus told them to stop.
“Thank you,” I say. And that’s all I can manage.
Alivia just nods once. She steps out of the room, and Rath and I follow her back down the hall.
We cross the foyer once more, and to the south side. We enter into a beautiful kitchen, where a man works furiously on some food.
He’s human. I can smell it.
“Everything is just about finished, Alivia,” he says, wrapping things up.
“Thanks, Parker,” she says.
“Alivia,” Rath asks, looking around. “Where is everyone?”
She looks around, as well. She blushes just a little bit. “I asked the House to give us some space. At least for a few hours, or whenever I tell them they can come back. I thought it might be better to have some time, with just us, before we introduce everyone else.”
I nod, grateful.
Alivia gestures to a smaller, informal dining table just to the side of the kitchen. Awkwardly, I work my way to it, sitting in a chair across from Alivia.
She rests her head in her hand, her elbow on the table, and just looks at me.
My eyes dart away, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze.
“How are you adjusting?” she finally asks.
My chest tightens. My fingers curl into fists in my lap.
I shrug. “It’s…it’s not easy. But not in a way anyone else can understand.”
Her eyes fill with sadness. She gets what I’m talking about.
“How…how long has it been, since you woke up?”
I know she’s not just talking about a nap, or a good nights sleep.
“Five nights,” I supply.
Her eyes grow wide, her face blanching just a little bit. “Five nights? You…” She shakes her head, a look of respect on her face. “You seem to have some pretty incredible control for it being such a little amount of time. I would have drained Parker in about ten seconds just five nights after I woke up.”
She points her thumb over her shoulder at the human man now wrapping things up in the kitchen.
“I had a snack just before we got into town,” I say, feeling uncomfortable at the confession.
Alivia lets out another breath though, shaking her head. “Still. Those first few weeks, they weren’t easy for me.”
I nod, swallowing once. “I guess it’s easier, because I knew what to expect. I’ve done this just a few times before.”
She sits back in her seat, her eyes sobering.
Right.
Parker carries over a few platters, setting them on the table before us.
Thick French toast, scrambled eggs. Piles of fruit. A pitcher of orange juice.
And a pitcher of blood.
“Hope you’re hungry,” Alivia says. Her voice is quiet and tight.
I am actually. My stomach gives a growl, reminding me that I haven’t eaten anything since we left Dallas early last night. And even then, it was only an apple and a cheese stick.
I begin dishing food onto my plate.
I glance awkwardly at Rath, and note how stiff and uncomfortable even he seems.
“So, why don’t you tell me about yourself, …” she trails off, and it takes me a moment to realize she’s questioning what to call me.
No one, not even myself seems to know the answer to that.
“Just…” I shake my head awkwardly. “Just Logan, for now.”
“Logan,” she says, smiling a little smile. “I’d like to learn more about you, your life. If you don’t mind.”
I sigh, already tired and overwhelmed.
“I…” Alivia struggles to find the words. “I get it. This is awkward, and weird, and probably way too soon. I don’t think either of us was really prepared for this to happen yet. But,” she reaches across the table and gently covers my hand with hers. “Here we are.”
I look up at her, and I try. I try really hard to piece this woman into the picture I always had of my birth mother. But nothing, not a single bit of her, matches.
Still, I nod.
“I’m guessing you already know some things,” I say as I cut into the French toast. “I’m sure Rath has reported plenty of details. Considering he’s been watching me for you, most of my life.”
Electric and heavy. The air could suffocate us all.
“I…”