I endeavored not to think of it.
“I can’t make any promises,” I said finally.“If Edmund wakes up, explain what happened.And if there’s any news about him, come to me right away.”
Maddox nodded.“See you, then.”He turned toward the road, then stopped.“Actually, it’s dark and I don’t know where I’m going.”
Christabella skipped out of the door, her skirts flouncing behind her.“I’ll show you the way!”she said cheerily, producing a bright ball of light on her palm.She stopped before Maddox.“What did you say your name was again?”
I sighed as the two of them headed down the path.A part of me was sorry to see Maddox go—he was the last tie to my life aboveground.Without him around, it would be as if I had never left home.
***
PA WAS IMPASSIVE ABOUTeverything, but when I walked into the sitting room, he actually stood up from his armchair.Bobbing witchlights floated in the lanterns around the room, casting everything in a warm glow.
“Giselle?”He adjusted the silver frames of his spectacles, his face all surprise.Aside from the unusual expression, he looked the same.Same brown skin, same receding black hair, same gray shirt and breeches.“You’re back.”
“Pa,” I said, nodding awkwardly.
He and I had never been close.He wasn’t close with Christabella either, preferring Sonny over us daughters.Even still, he was a constant physical presence in his armchair; I supposed that was its own kind of comfort.
“Come to the dining room,” Ma shouted from the kitchen.“Wash your hands first!”
Movement came from the floor above, then the sound of rapid footsteps.Sonny stumbled from the stairs, grabbing the mahogany banister for balance.When he saw me, his eyes widened.
“Hey,” I said to my little brother.He was twelve now and must have grown at least a hand’s width taller since the last time I saw him.He looked like the smaller version of Pa, but with more hair.
“Ooooooo, Giselle you’re in soooooo much trouble,” Sonny said.
I rolled my eyes.A delight as always.
Minutes later, Christabella came back from escorting Maddox, her face flushed and hair coming out of her double braids from running her way back.She hurriedly washed her hands in the kitchen, then joined the rest of us in the dining room.
Ma set out dishes of roasted vegetables, a thick stew, and a bowl of spiced yellow rice on the rounded wooden table.Christabella took her seat beside me.I glanced at the spot beside her, where Grandma used to sit.It had been over two years with her gone, yet seeing that empty chair still brought a pang to my chest.
“That guard of yours doesn’t talk much,” Christabella said, nudging my shoulder.
I raised my brows.That didn’t sound like Maddox at all.
“You have a guard?”Sonny said, leaning over the table.“Ooooooo.”
“Stop being annoying, Sonny,” Christabella said.
He stuck out his tongue.
Ma took her seat beside Pa and briskly began scooping rice onto her plate.“Well, serve yourselves,” she said when no one else moved.
We all began helping ourselves to the food.My stomach growled as I heaped a helping of roasted vegetables on my plate.I managed to shovel two forkfuls of cabbage and sweet potato into my mouth before Ma locked her sharp gaze on me .I chewed and swallowed.
“Giselle.Are you going to tell us why you got up and left nine months ago without so much as a word?”Ma asked.
I cleared my throat, my appetite fleeing.Begging for forgiveness was far better than asking for permission with Ma, but neither option was ideal.I had spent nine whole months dreading this confrontation; some nights I even had nightmares about this.
“I wanted to apply for the Witch Committee,” I began cautiously.“I didn’t think you would let me.”
Ma glowered.“You joined that committee?Are you insane?You didn’t tell them aboutyourtype of magic, did you?”
The disgust in her voice still felt like a stab to the chest.The sensation was exacerbated by the fact that I had indeed told them about my hypnosis magic—it was the sole reason I had gotten accepted in the first place.
“I worked as a seamstress,” I said.
