Page 55 of Hunger & Harmony

BLOODTIES

Carved amongst limestone waves and maritime adornments, this statue remains the crown jewel of this old opera house, even in the quiet of the night. Moonlight scatters across the dead leaves near the placard, two simple words proclaiming the statue’s title: The Siren.

Familiarity settles my nerves as I stand here, even if I’ve only dared to meet her stone eyes a handful of times. While it was the closest I got to a big city before leaving home, this timeless statue is more out of place in downtown Halcyon Fields than I remember, with farmland surrounding for miles.

Huddling into my coat, I let my gaze go past the statue to the entrance. Staunch pillars, and flawless stone and brick command the Gothic structure’s full regard, even with an audience of one. It’s humbling how full circle it feels to be back. I used to beg for tickets here. Not even my wildest fantasies had me coming in through the artist’s entrance.

We’re a day early. Redmare was both a nightmare and a daydream, and I’m grateful for our smooth exit. Ezren’s mischief is slowly returning, and Selene seems more at ease.

Truth be told, a certain chocolate bar made its way into my luggage.

I don’t like sweets, but I like him. How hard and fast this infatuation has deepened is a little alarming, but I think I like that, too. Adventure and the unknown have always been my thing, right? Nothing more reckless than falling for a vampire king.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach. “Juice box” has suddenly become “cherry cheeks.” I suppress a smile. In the end, Niko is hardly maintaining his resistance. Cute.

I should be up in the clouds right now, but the anxiety eating away at my bliss is sobering. The hour-and-a-half proximity to my hometown is making my skin crawl, and my phone has been off since we got here.

I’ve had enough fresh air. I'd better get back before Lorelai comes searching.

My eyes linger on the siren statue as I back up. I want to remember her, even more than I used to. Not that anything’s the same. I crave something different now that I’m here on my own terms. Maybe an approval she won’t give. Maybe answers she doesn’t know.

I turn on my sneakers and scurry across the plaza. This part of the city has ritzy shops and high-rise glamor, though it’s still small enough that everything’s closed until daybreak. It’s nearly four in the morning, but there’s a bounce in my walk as I cross into the warmth of the hotel. I’m used to this witching hour schedule.

Rumbles sound off from my stomach as I enter the lobby. Thankfully, the hotel’s ground floor restaurant is open all hours.

But when I change course and turn, my appetite dies.

“Hey, uh, Cadence . . .” Lorelai says as she approaches, her fake meek tone not fooling me.

It helps that I see my parents sitting on the other end of the lobby.

“Your parents are here. I assumed you knew?” she asks, and every breathing technique I can think of fails me.

What the fuck. They ambushed me. I don’t know how, but they managed it. If I had to guess, my first thought is Viola. I clench my teeth, willing myself not to react in any kind of way. Good or bad.

Especially when I see Ryel and Niko. In the shadows of the hallway leading to the elevators, they hang just outside of my parents' view. Their full attention is on me, anyway.

Even from here, I can see the furrow of Niko’s brows. I wish I could muster any kind of reassuring gesture when our eyes meet.

Ryel, on the other hand, looks ready to throw me to the wolves.

I want to scream. Run away. Preferably into Niko’s arms. As far away from my parents as I can manage. With everyone right here, and even the front desk staff idly watching, I have no choice but to play nice.

And they know it.

Sucking in a silent breath, I then nod to Lorelai.

“Yeah, sorry,” I say, and she tuts softly.

“You should always inform us if relatives are visiting.”

I understand completely. There’s no way to tell the truth when they’re getting up from their seats and approaching, though.

“Noted,” I say, though she feels further away the closer they are. Like they’re ripping me from my current reality and trying to drag me back to theirs.

“Oh, Cadence!” my mom exclaims, nearly knocking Lorelai over as she forces me into a hug.

“Hey there, freckle-face,” my dad says, remaining off to the side. That nickname feels like an old pair of shoes that doesn’t fit anymore.