Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
As if a stranger inhabited his body, with one easy grin, Cyderial became absolutely charismatic —all smiles and politeness. “Your secret is safe with me, sir. That was a match worth remembering.”
Despite his confession of disliking my mother, General Cyderial made an effort to be kind to my family. The men traded commentary on memorable arena fights I had no knowledge of. I was left staring at Cyderial like he was some alien creature I’d never beheld.
Both were clearly passionate about the subject.
“Eh, leave the men.” Motioning for me to step into her delightful house, my mother smiled. “I have made us some fine tea. Grew the leaves myself and saved them for a special occasion.”
This was everything I hoped for, all those years I longed for her finally realized. Grinning from ear to ear, I answered, “I would love some of your tea, Mom.”
She hurried me inside, leading me down a small foyer to a tight eating space. Though maybe it only seemed tight, as the large table was packed full of my siblings and one aloof stranger.
Gesturing to each of her offspring, my mother began introductions. “You remember Dana, my eldest. As you can see, she’s about to have her first baby. And next to her is her husband, Johan.”
Nearest in age to me, but still quite young, I was surprised to see my seventeen-year-old sister not only married but pregnant. “Congratulations,” I said.
Not a word was offered in response. Instead, Dana kept her eyes downcast on the table, refusing to acknowledge me. Worse, her husband did run his eyes over my person… but with outright disgust.
“Aie, Dana, don’t be so rude!” our mother interjected, obviously embarrassed. Waving a hand at me, she added, “Hormones, you know?”
“And here is Gerald, Suzanne, Mei, Curtis, and Pauline. The little ones over there are Judy, Joon, Sarah, and Cici.”
Ten children in seventeen years, some hardly out of diapers.
Undaunted by the room’s weighty silence, I fell back on the fact that little children at the academy always loved me. Crouching down to the youngest ones’ level, I gave a grinning hello and offered my hand in play.
Sarah and Cici both instantly burst into screaming tears.
Gratuitous apologies falling from my lips, I backed away, mortified I frightened my siblings.
“Oh, don’t mind them.” My mother, clearly embarrassed, motioned for Richard to quiet the babies. “They have never seen a hybrid before.”
But we didn’t look all that different, did we?
Shaking his head as if I were indeed as stupid as I felt, Dana’s husband gestured toward my talons. “It’s the claws. Your lizard hands scared them.”
"I didn't mean to." Shoving my taloned fists behind my back, I felt shame. Yet, Cyderial eased up close, wrapping his arm around me.
To my brother-in-law, he said, “Johan Custis, son of Proctor Custis, correct? You’re an unloading agent at Sky Pier 15. Unranked worker, day shift.”
The human male seemed surprised the general knew personal details, adding to his hostility with a defensive reply. “What about it?”
Cyderial’s words flowed out with perfect articulation, as if each syllable carried its own dire threat. “Nothing at all, boy.”
This was not what I hoped for, everything having become far more complicated once I stepped inside my mother’s home. Many of my siblings did not even look pleased to see me, most too busy with their devices to so much as look up at their eldest sister.
And I was pretty sure my expression betrayed how insecure this made me feel.
“Lorieyn, General, I have seats for you here.” Gesturing toward the table, my mother asked us to sit. “Please. Let’s have some tea.”
Directly across from Dana, who refused to lift her eyes to me, I tried to ignore Johan, his posture oddly indolent and his knees spread wide. Instead, I offered a shy smile to the other elder siblings. “I have been so excited to meet you! Every year, when I would get my birthday letter, I couldn’t wait to hear all about your accomplishments.”
With a scoff, Johan muttered, “The letter Jae was ordered to write?”
Biting back the hiss I wanted to send that horrible man’s way, I set my gaze on my eldest brother. “Gerald, are you still apprenticing at the bakery with our mother?”
Johan rolled his eyes, but Gerald was kind enough to smile back. “Yes, I helped bake your wedding cake. Mom decorated it.”
“I loved it! I never knew cake could be so many colors. We’re not allowed to eat it at the academy.” Leaning forward with a conspiratory smirk, I said, “But I have had a bite or two of chocolate cake over the years. Your kaleidoscope of vorec colors was a fun surprise!”
Proudly, Gerald smiled. “For hybrid rights.”
Johan turned on the teenager, showing teeth. “What rights do they need? They are half animal.”
Verbally abusing my brother set something off inside me I didn't understand. But there was no reigning it in.