Chapter 2: Family Breakfast
617 Words
Chapter 2: Family Breakfast
The first thing that greeted Lyrielle when she came down for breakfast was the cold, piercing gaze of her mother.
She was used to it—her mother always looked like that—but this morning, a strange chill ran down her spine. Maybe it was because of the dreams, or maybe because, for the first time, her mother’s stare felt different.
"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Mrs. Williams’ sharp voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Lyrielle blinked, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Oh… Uhm… Sorry, Mom." She hesitated before stepping closer, leaning in to give her mother a peck on the cheek.
"Good morning." Her voice was lower than usual, and her eyes darted to the floor as she moved to her seat.
Her feelings toward her mother were complicated.
Sometimes, she felt afraid of her—and she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was her piercing gaze, her suffocating presence, or the way she remained unmoved by emotions that should have affected her. It was as if she wasn’t entirely human.
And yet, other times, she felt safe. Like even in her mother’s coldness, there was something undeniably protective.
Mrs. Williams studied her daughter with narrowed eyes. Something was different.
Lyrielle had always been strange, but this morning, she carried an aura that made the air feel… warm. Her soft, innocent gaze held an unexplainable pull—a purity that made others instinctively want to protect her.
And that was dangerous.
Mrs. Williams knew how the world worked. She had spent years teaching Lyrielle and Scarlett to be reserved, to protect themselves. But both of them were stubborn. Especially Lyrielle—her light was too bright, too obvious.
Her thoughts were cut off as Scarlett’s voice rang out.
"Here comes breakfast!"
Scarlett waltzed in dramatically, placing a covered thermo bowl in the center of the table. She was beaming with pride.
"Today’s meal is a very special one, and I am extremely proud of myself for making such a five-star dish—"
Lyrielle, who had long stopped thinking about her dreams, stared blankly at her chattering younger sister.
"Are you sure you didn’t cook poison?" she asked dryly.
Scarlett froze mid-sentence. Her eyes darkened, but Lyrielle was never a prey to her little sister’s anger. She simply raised a brow, daring her.
Scarlett bit her lip, cursing inwardly.
'I can never get under her skin,' she thought.
"It would take a lot more effort than that," Lyrielle replied lazily.
Scarlett’s eyes widened. She turned to her mother, who didn’t seem to notice anything—though in reality, she had.
Scarlett hesitated before blurting out, "Did I say that out loud?"
Mrs. Williams scoffed. "I heard nothing."
Scarlett froze. Her thoughts had been private. She was sure of it.
She glanced back at Lyrielle, who looked indifferent, as if she hadn’t noticed anything unusual either.
Scarlett shook her head. No, it must have been her imagination.
"Okay… so! Who's ready for the dish of the day?!" she announced dramatically, lifting the lid off the bowl.
Silence.
Mrs. Williams and Lyrielle stared at the dish.
Lyrielle snorted. Mrs. Williams closed her eyes, exhaling in frustration.
Scarlett glanced between them. "What?! It’s just noodles!" she defended.
"Forget it, Ella," Mrs. Williams muttered, shaking her head. "Just eat and leave Scarlett in her delusion."
Lyrielle nodded in agreement, serving herself a small portion.
Scarlett frowned. "Are you sure that's enough? Because if not, I’m eating it all."
"We're perfectly fine, thanks," Lyrielle replied.
Breakfast was peaceful. Mrs. Williams kissed them both goodbye before stepping outside—
The moment the door closed behind her, her expression turned terrifyingly cold.
- Writer
