Nothing about Eric’s face would convey that he was being anything other than truthful. And after Adria’s conversation with Vega, he doubted her father would even care.
Daniela’s eyes flashed through a variety of emotions but settled on a petulant loathing. She gathered her shoes and marched past him into the house.
Good girl.
CHAPTER 29
The tile was cold. Adria moved through the house, inhaling the familiar scent of her mother’s cooking. It was dark, and the ambient light was barely enough to illuminate her way down the steps. She found herself propelled forward, despite wanting to turn back.
As she approached the kitchen, she heard quiet voices. Two people were arguing. Adria tried to listen. For some reason, she was desperate to hear what they were saying. But as she leaned into the darkness, all her ears picked up were cries of pain.
It wasn’t typical tears or sadness. This was a cry that came from someone’s middle. As if a core piece of them was being removed.
Adria hated how small she felt. Why couldn’t she be brave?
For a moment in the dark, she was frozen, like time stopped.
But then she moved.
Adria felt her feet padding on the cold floor below.
Right foot.
Left foot.
They moved one at a time, silent, and without her control.
As she rounded the corner, making her way into the kitchen, her heart hammered in her chest. Her body screamed to go the other way.
Go back. We don’t want to be here.
Closing her eyes, Adria refused to look, but when she felt her body slow, she opened her eyes once again.
The kitchen was filled with a dark haze.
When she finally reached the deep blue door with the gold handle, her tiny hand reached up to open it.
Her breathing was shallow but erratic. Adria was sure whomever was beyond could hear her.
The door opened, and she saw Jonathan.
Cut and bleeding. His blue eyes finding hers.
As Adria opened her mouth to scream, Jonathan’s body flickered.
And changed.
Now he was someone else.
And Maxim was there holding a knife.
“Adria, you shouldn’t be here,” he said softly, lowering the blade.
Adria tried to back up, but a hand clamped around her shoulder.
Adria woke up to Kaydon’s loud breathing, mirroring her own. Sweat and anxiety clung to her like morning dew. She tried to shake the feeling of the dream.
It seemed even in death, Jonathan was still haunting her. But now Maxim? Something about the dream stirred memories in her.
