QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD

The strange lady

DINNER

And finally, dinner was going smoothly, I had to think about the benefits of my going to that school, it wasn't difficult. Max didn't join us as he complained of losing his appetite because of the miso soup. Jerk.

“I called your dad...he'll back tomorrow” she informed, her eyes not meeting mine. I know she thought I was still pissed off about the academy stuff, but, truth be told, I wasn't. She was doing it for my good, even if she didn't consider my interest.

“Yeah”

"So...would you like to change your name when you get there?" She asked, Her look interviewing.

“Uh... I haven't thought about that and...no offense but I don't like my name, so I think I'll go with the Maisie I know” I sighed “that's still my middle name so you should be okay with it”

“Maisie?” She reiterated, like tasting the name on her lips. It wasn't her fault, this was the first time she had said my middle name since I was birthed. It also sounded foreign hearing her say it.

“Sounds wonderful right?”

She hummed with a smile in response before giving her dinner the undivided attention it needed.

The night was cool, fitting for the humorous dinner we had.

SUNDAY

It was Sunday already, so I spent the rest of my morning In Allure for new clothes, while Mom and max went grocery shopping. She wanted me to have enough food during my first week, she would bring more whenever it was

visiting day.

My Afternoon was going fine until Max decided to ask his question. He was too curious for his good. Mom was already making lunch so Max and I were left to arrange my things.

“Seriously though, where are you going?” I thought mom already told him a lie or maybe the truth, but knowing Max too well, he would want to hear from the horse's mouth.

For a moment I was quiet, I didn't know what mom told him but if I didn't say anything, Max would find it suspicious so I blurted out the only reasonable thing in my head.

“College, didn't mom tell you?” I gazed at him expectantly, was what I said different from what mom told him?

“That's what mom said” his lips curved

Phew! That was close!

After lunch I was allowed to go see aunt lacy, I had so many questions and she, was the only one available who could answer my questions.

I changed into a pink floral dress and white sneakers as quickly as I could with Max watching my every move keenly.

THE TORRES’ MANSION

I walked in to meet aunt Lacy emptying a grocery bag and grouping the contents on the counter.

Three full bags sat on the marble floor, with canning jars filled with tomatoes, beets, and cherries. And Merry–aunt Lacy's first daughter–Leaning the full weight of her pregnancy into stuffing noodles and cornmeal into the cabinet.

“Hey Aunt Lacy, Merry”

“Hey... Nami when did you get here?” She washed her hands in the sink before walking to the fridge.

“Nami, can you please help me with the cereals” Merry whispered.

“Yeah sure, how's the baby? And Louise?”

“Louise? He left for a business meeting, it was urgent so he asked me to stay with mom, he doesn't want me alone” her cheeks tinged in red as she explained. “...and the baby is fine, we went to see the doctor before visiting the grocery store” I nodded with a small smile before handing her the pack of cereals. I have always wanted a normal life, to graduate, marry a sweet man like Louise and have four kids, but now Ithink it was never my fate. Did Merry even know about the Academy? the powers? and even Ms. Westbrook?

I had always looked up to her, she was nice, sweet, and everything thing you'll ever love in a sister.

“Thanks, I made some cookies, I know you love them. So why don't you go join mum in the living room while I make some hot chocolate to go with the cookies?” Did I say she was good at baking?

“Alright then, if you need help call me okay?”

She nodded and gestured me to leave.

Aunt Lacy was watching a soap opera when I stepped into the living room.

She noticed my hesitation then smile. “Unlike her, I was too lazy when I was pregnant” she laughed.

“Yeah. Where's Kevin?” He's Aunt Lacy's second child.

“He volunteered to mow miss Martha's lawn every summer, so that's where he is”

I made myself comfortable on the white sofa.

“I know you have questions” She sighed when I gave her a questioning look. “Your mum called. But I'll answer them when I'm done with lunch. Merry wanted pizza so I ordered one” She informed with a grin. Nothing was gonna stop me from acknowledging the fact that Aunt Lacy knew what I was going through.

“So tell me, how's Shelley?” She asked.

“Mom is doing great, she wanted to tag along, but lunch wasn't ready yet and dad is coming home...” I paused my reply when Merry walked in with a tray of three mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of snowman cookies.

??? ????:

The halo around the sun proved my thought that it was going to snow, the cold breeze brush my sleek hair to my back as I trudged home with my shoulders hunched in disappointment under the warm ray of sun. I was shaking with what I assumed was the truth, no matter how much I didn't want to believe it. But doubt came and went like an enchanting phantom. My thoughts were in chaos and my feelings mixed. I wished everything was just an awful dream. Too many thoughts and weariness overwhelmed me that I fell asleep on the sofa in my room immediately I reached home.

The wind was blowing and puffs of cold air were swaying the red damask curtains which shut out the fog-laden drizzling atmosphere of the freeway. And I was too desperate to sleep away my worries and too deep in slumber to notice the mist in my room that materialized into a seductive aqua blue-eyed lady with sleek ivory hair.