Mom kissed my forehead before fading out of the room.
Fading.
Funny that Dad called our way of transportation fading, knowing that it would also be his fate if the end of everything happened.
“What do we do?” Prudence’s trembling voice made my skin itch. The sad sound made a person want to disappear.
“We hold on,” I said, swallowing down a cookie. “Don’t be upset. Shepherd will sense your emotions and come running.”
Prudence’s shoulders relaxed. “Good. I need him.”
Maureen plopped into the seat beside me.
“More than Dad, I worry about you.”
I dunked another cookie into the milk and met her gaze. “Why?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You know why. If what Nova says is true, you’re in danger—especially as a mortal.”
“You know what’s nice about being mortal?” I said with a grin. “Not having these dang hunger pangs!”
“Kitty,” Maureen warned. “I’m serious. I won’t let the Devil hurt you.”
“If the Devil wanted to, he had years to go after me. I don’t see that changing. If anything, I’ll be his problem. I’m going to stick this size-nine boot in his—”
The glass of milk tipped over. Before I could jump from the stool, the liquid spilled into my lap, soaking me.
“How did you knock it over?” Maureen tsk-tsked me like I was a child.
Before I could answer, my eldest sister materialized a dry pair of jeans onto me.
“Would you go baby Jack instead?” I huffed.
A hunch told me Shadow had knocked over my glass. The pesky thing could make itself invisible, even to me. If it didn’t want to be seen, I didn’t see it.
Its mischievous behavior usually meant it was angry with me, which—honestly—was normal. I irritated it on purpose most of the time. But I had no idea why it was misbehaving now, of all times, when my family was falling apart.
An ungrateful little shade.
“I’m going to my room.” I needed to yell at Shadow.
Maureen grabbed my wrist. “Just be careful, okay? When things go crazy, they go crazy. We don’t always get to be near each other.”
I placed my hand over hers. “I love you, too.”
She rolled her eyes before pulling me in for a hug.
A few minutes later, I was in my room, glaring into the darkened corners.
“All right, you pest.”
It fluttered out like a damned queen, letting its man-shaped silhouette ripple as it crossed its arms.
"It's like you're glad my world is collapsing," I said, throwing myself on the bed. I closed my eyes and exhaled..
Honestly, it was nice having something to take my frustrations out on. I’d never admit to Shadow that it had saved me from my thoughts more than once. Shadow might’ve stopped if it knew I enjoyed our arguments.
I heard the rustling of paper and opened my eyes. A sheet fluttered in the air above me. When it landed on my chest, I picked it up.
