That was a weird ass combination, but whatever. I carried Amy’s plate over and went to fetch my own. Meadow walked back into the kitchen.
“Is everything okay, Meadow?” I asked. Originally, her hours had been nine to five, but they’d changed. Most of us started work by nine, so Meadow arrived at half six and stayed until four now. She still worked five days a week and the odd Saturday, but I didn’t know how it was working out for her.
“Yes, Cassian gets up when I leave and gets the kids ready. They all get the same school bus, as their schools are on the same site, although separate. I’m usually home to collect them from the after-school clubs,” Meadow replied and looked worried. “Don’t the hours suit the club anymore?”
“No, we’re fine. Nanci and Daisy-Duke take out whatever you’ve prepared for dinner and serve it up. We eat a shitload better than we did before you came along,” I reassured her.
“Glad to hear that, I really like this job,” Meadow muttered.
With a brief smile, I began plating food and looked up as Chill entered. His eyes flew to Meadow, then to the children.
“No school?” he asked, approaching to grab a plate.
“No, someone blew up the toilets in both schools,” Meadow said with a frown.
Cassian coughed and quickly took a sip of the orange juice in front of him. Zion looked angelic. Yeah, I guessed who planned and carried out that stunt. I turned away from the kids and kept filling my plate before heading over to join them.
“What have you got on today?” I asked.
Poet pouted. “The teachers didn’t send us any work, so it’s going to be boring.”
“Why not explore town?” I suggested. Yesterday, they’d stayed in the clubhouse and had barely raised their voices.
“We don’t have any money, and Mom can’t afford it,” Zion said, and then flushed.
“You want some dough?” Chill asked. “I’ve some jobs you can do.”
The kids turned as he joined us. “You do?” Cassian asked suspiciously.
“Yup. Club has a small farm at the back of town, which is also a petting zoo. I need help to feed the animals, somebody to play with them, and someone to collect eggs.”
“Me!” Poet cried. “Mommy, can I feed them?”
Meadow looked torn.
“They’ll be safe with Chill,” I promised. Chill, although trying to help, had just made a critical error. We’d all guessed that Meadow had been abused and was overprotective of her children. Chill had stepped into that, leaving her in a conundrum. Meadow didn’t want the kids out of her sight, but now she risked being the bad person.
“How about I go too? Would that be okay?” Amy asked. Slowly, Meadow agreed, which surprised me. She’d known Amy for less time than us. Then I realised it was because Amy was female, Meadow didn’t trust men with them.
“Dude, I can play with the animals,” Zion said.
“Guess I’m collecting the eggs,” Cassian added. “I’ll stay with them, Mom.”
Meadow nodded but looked uncertain. I just hoped no problems arose because she’d never let those kids go anywhere with Chill again.
Aurora-Victoria
“Thanks for your custom!” I chirped as a customer took a laden bag. I smiled and moved away.
“Watch the shop,” I called to my assistant and locked myself in the room I used for tarot and readings. This vision was coming, and I barely had time to press record before my eyes rolled up and the flashes of images started.
Vortex
‘The cloaked man returns with his scythe and his face hidden. There are five victims left. He lurks in the shadows, waiting to pounce. Beware of the devious; they aren’t the culprits. I see caves again; they’re damp and have curtains of moss. The pool of blood is deeper. Four of the ten skulls are red and dripping blood. The reaper drops two skulls into the pool, but the whirlpool refuses to swallow them and keeps them afloat and clean. Death is coming once more.’
“Does it make sense to you?” I asked Aurora-Victoria. She’d had Klutz drive her out here.
“Yes, I’m going to play the first vision. Some of it’s becoming clear.” Aurora-Victoria pressed play, and her voice spoke.
