Book of the Hidden by Annalynne Thorne

blanket from the back of a recliner and covered the small boy up to his chin.
          “So much has changed,” Jean said as though she had lost some kind of battle.
          “What?” Vivian looked over to see her sister sitting on the edge of the bed next to Jake.
          “We were not to get close to humans, we were not to bring anyone that had family into the Underground. We’re changing them even, which is strictly forbidden. Feels like we failed Maeve….”
          Vivian’s heart felt like it dropped somewhere on the floor, and someone had stomped on it. “Maeve didn’t write the book Jean, and she never agreed to not change someone back if that is what they desired. I don’t think that I failed her, and you shouldn’t think that way either.”
          “Yeah, you’re right. Don’t get used to me saying that,” Jean laughed.
          “Of course not.” Vivian climbed in bed next to her.
          It seemed they had not slept at all when they woke the next day. Vivian wondered if she had slept at all. They had no need to set the alarm clock anyway for Jake had bounced onto their bed an hour before they had to get up.
          “Vivian! Jean! Wake up, it’s morning!”
          Jean had outstretched her arm, and grabbed the boy by his shirt tugging him down. She leaned over him with her finger to her lips to indicate silence. “Shhhh. You have to be quiet.”
          “Why?”
          “Because, if you don’t I will be forced to send you outside to sleep with the bugs.”
          Jake smiled humorously, and jumped back down. “When we going?”
          "It's 'when are we going', not 'when we going,'" Jean corrected. “And we? What's we?” She raised her brows. “No no no,” she changed her voice to a sweet cooing sound. “You are not coming with us. You are going to stay in this room, and keep out of trouble. You keep the door and window locked. You stay in bed.”
          “Oh c’mon.” Jake looked over at Vivian who had her back still turned to him. She could feel his eyes on her, and she stirred pulling the blankets around her tighter.
          “No, despite Jean’s lack of comprehending that you are older than the age of six, she’s right. You can’t come with us.”
          “But Seth – “
          Vivian had sat upright and looked at him seriously. “Seth may be your brother - your guardian, but while you are here with us, you do as we say. We are responsible for you now. So don’t argue.” She swung her feet onto the floor rubbing her tired eyes.
          “Ugh. We have an hour to waste.”
          The red luminous numbers on the clock were right. They had a full hour until they had to leave for the funeral. Vivian stood up reaching her fingertips to the ceiling, but they did not reach, and then splashed her face with cold water in the bathroom.
          “How does breakfast sound?” Vivian turned to lean on the wall separating the bathroom from the rest of the room. She pointed the question at Jake who was sulking on his bed.
          “Fruit Loops with m&m’s?” jake asked?
          “What?!” Jean stopped brushing her.
          Jake shrugged, not surprised at her yelling. “Seth and I used to eat them with mom and dad.”
          The corners of Vivian’s mouth curled in a smile. It was the first time Jake had mentioned anything of his and Seth’s past. Seth didn’t even mention it.
          “Okay, Fruit Loops with m&m’s it is.”
          They dressed for the funeral hoping they wouldn’t spill any food on themselves. She didn’t know about Jean, but Vivian really wanted to make a good impression, to let them know she is perfectly well without them. She brushed her hair pulling it neatly back into a ponytail, something she hasn’t done since she was human. She wore a silver silk skirt draping to her knees, and a silver silk top, the neckline cutting into a