Novel-novel oleh Arthur St. Lean

016Brianna PoundsTrudging toward Lydia, who stood sheltered beneath the stone portico to stay clear of the downpour, I fought to keep my head straight and my gaze forward. “What is your problem? Why did you storm off like that?” Lydia scrutinized me, her eyes searching my disarrayed ones. I watched as her lips parted in disbelief. “And why are you wet, Brianna? Haven’t I warned you to stay clear of the rain? Do you want to catch a cold? Why is it that you never listen to me?” With the way she scolded me so pointedly, she should have been out of breath. Her eyes were bright, and though they looked incensed, her nose still held the same sharp ridge that I carried. All her features were intact, exactly like the Lydia of five years ago.“I needed air,” I brushed off with the lie, fidgeting with the hem of my clothes, which I hadn't managed to glance at yet. Before my eyes could stray from my mother’s blazing ones to the exact spot where I had seen that car, she gripped my shoulder g

015Brianna Pounds“You drank the wrong portion. That wasn't meant for you, Brianne. You've made a grave mistake.” Those words were the last thing I heard clearly before slipping into a whatever this was.“Can you hear me, Brianne? That was the wrong portion!” Grandma’s voice pierced through my trance, but it only worsened the nightmare I had stumbled into.I was standing in the center of a grand, unfamiliar mansion. I could tell by the expensive velvet of the sofa and the oppressive silence of the room. I was in a space I didn't recognize, yet the air felt heavy with a sense of impending doom.“Daddy?” Chills skittered down my spine at the sound of that melodic, haunting whisper. I knew that voice. “Darcy?” I spun around, and there she was. A thousand questions flooded my mind. She looked visibly frightened, her small body curled into a tight ball on the floor. “Darcy, what are you doing here?” My eyes caught the massive window behind her, the heavy curtains drawn wide. Lightnin

014Brianna Pounds“Brianne,” Grandma drawled my name lazily.Through the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of her, my chest heaving with labored breaths.Why did I return so fast? She should have let me give that fucker a taste of his own monstrous blood.“It’s a bad trait to let yourself be consumed by anger. And by rage, even worse.”“You should’ve let me punch the shit out of that good-for-nothing father of mine.” I felt disgusted calling him my father, but I tried to watch my words so as not to be too visceral, even as my anger spilled through.“Anger breaks the spell and nullifies the potion,” Grandma said, rising to her feet. She looked visibly piqued but remained composed. Still, I could sense her irritation.“Sorry,” I murmured, hoping she’d hear me, my eyes downcast in guilt.I knew I had overreacted.“Don’t be,” she drawled. “It should have been easy, but you’re not strong, Brianne. You’ve carelessly earned yourself more time in the spirit land. Congratulations,” she add

013Brianna Pounds “What did you see, Brianne?” she asked again.“Nothing,” I lied, though I wasn't sure why I was being deceptive while trying to collect myself. My breathing came in shallow heaves, my chest laboring. I sat upright, feeling entirely out of place. “Don't make things difficult. What did you see?” Pivoting my head, my gaze landed on the angelic, superior being crouched at my side, one knee touching the ground as if she had been inspecting me before I jolted awake. I wanted to repeat that I saw nothing, but the fire in her eyes forced the truth out of me. “Lydia Pounds. My mom,” I added the last part for clarity. Grandma hummed as if expecting me to continue, tilting her head with her eyes practically glued to my irises like a lie detector. “And Jack Pounds. My dad,” I looked away from her but kept speaking. “I didn't see Papi’s face, but I heard his voice.” “What did he say?” Her melodic voice lulled me into looking at her again, a frown settling on my face. “Pu

012Brianna Pounds“You can't go back just like that, Brianne. It isn't that easy.”My mouth parted, a protest forming on my tongue. This wasn't what Darcy had said, nor was it how I had imagined things would go. Wasn't it supposed to be effortless? I would come over, she would prepare Darcy and me, and we would return to the real world, back to our lives and our businesses. I could reclaim my marriage and be more cautious and wary of Nicodemo and Kariana. “Drink up,” she gestured with a nod toward the chalice, the heat radiating from the earthenware pulling my focus back to it.Taking the rim to my lips, I didn't let my gaze drift from Grandma, who in turn pinned her piercing blue glare to my eyes, a sense of fear seizing me. I didn't know what this potion was, and genuinely, I wanted to understand its purpose since it wasn't intended to take me back to life immediately. The steam rose, filling my nostrils with a warmth so abnormal it threatened to pull me into a dazed slumber. I

011Brianna PoundsEven though my eyes were glued shut, the harshness of the light coming through my lids threatened to pierce my eyelids and burn my eyes to ashes. “Nico?” I grumbled, mustering grains of strength to pry my eyes open against the intense sunlight penetrating my skin. “Baby, could you please shut the blinds for me? It's killing me.” The sound of birds chirping from hunger or excitement for life grated on my nerves along with the glare. Grumbling at the lack of response, I tried to open them again. The radiance stung my retinas instantly, forcing me to shield my face with the back of my hand until I was finally able to open my eyes, though they remained full of grogginess.“Mommy.” My eyes shot to the sound of the voice to see a tiny glowing being in a purple dress, with blue eyes and brown hair, sitting on a stone with her hands folded in her lap, watching me. She shimmered so intensely it felt as if she could easily dissolve into the glow of the sun itself, with onl