Returning to the mansion isn’t as calming as I thought it would be. My day wasn’t terrible but navigating it alone upset me. All I could think about was going home, until I realized home was no longer the dated trailer I had grown up in.
“I’m going to get dinner started soon,” Mom says as we walk into the foyer.
I mumble, hanging my backpack up on the rack by the door as I kick my shoes off.
She gives me a patient look, tilting her head before brushing my hair behind my ear. “How does spaghetti sound?”
“Good,” I say.
Her eyes soften. “Rough first day?”
I nod.
“It’ll get better, Jellybean.” She promises before sweeping into the kitchen.
The front door clicks open behind me, and I turn to see Kaden step past the threshold. Our eyes connect, and he doesn’t bother greeting me as he pushes past and scales the staircase to his room. I stand planted in my spot, unsure of what to do with myself. The bridge of my nose begins to sting with unshed tears, and I quickly blink them away.
Kaden comes back down only seconds later, his school clothes discarded in favor of his all-black attire. The thick boots on his feet click against the marble as he heads for the terrace. I watch him leave through the sliding doors, intrigue peaking.
If he won’t show me the creek, then I’ll see it for myself. I slide my shoes back on before squaring my shoulders and following him.
Chapter six
Kaden
Acresoflandstretchas far as the eye can see, but I’m not concerned with the beauty of nature. It’s nothing more than a steppingstone—a path that leads to what I truly care about.
The back of the property is thick with dense forest, and just beyond the tree line is the creek. It’s a hotspot for wildlife activity, usually giving spoils of freshly decayed bones that a nearby predator may have abandoned. It’s my daily ritual and the only part of my bland, repeating schedule that I enjoy.
Nothing can ever shatter the perfection of death.
As I near the tree line, a hum electrifies beneath my skin. Its currents zip down my spine, and tingling awareness nips at the nape of my neck. I stop, resting my head back against my shoulders when the unmistakable sound of small footsteps fumbles from behind me.
I glance over my shoulder at Melody, my face impassive as I watch the poor girl stumble right into the dirt. She plants her hands in front of her, her face screwing up into a sour expression as she observes the fresh earth between her fingers.
“What are you doing?” I ask, causing her head to whip up.
She picks herself up quickly, dusting the mud from her skirt. “I wanted to see the creek…”
I release a heavy breath, shaking my head. Just when I think I can escape her…“Then keep up.”
Her expression morphs into surprise before her lips drag up into a smile. “Okay!”
I trudge ahead, pushing branches out of my way. The girl rushes to catch up, and a twig smacks her shin roughly.
“Ouch!” She complains.
“Falling behind,” I croon as the forest welcomes me. The thicket settles naturally, and the sounds of my boots sliding across the terrain ease the tension off my shoulders. I can hear the distant chirp of a bug and the croak of a groaning frog as I near the opening to the creek.
The break in the trees always gets to me. It’s bliss to see the clear water flowing over the jagged rocks and listen to the rushing of water as it passes through the complicated channels. The creek breathes life, and for a moment, I forget all about the girl lingering behind me.
She’s gone quiet. As my boots squelch across the muddy ground, I glance at her over my shoulder.
She stands a few steps from the tree line, hands folded tight in front of her, eyes wide as she takes in the water, the rocks, and the growing shadows that stretch as the sun slowly sets.
She looks…small. Not weak—just uncertain and new.
“Don’t wander,” I say automatically.
