told you and Lucky about Tatiana dying… I mean, that was really messed up, yeah?”
“ Yeah, you could say that. But in retrospect I can sorta see why she did it.”
“ Hmmm.”
Anastasia meets us by the side garden, almost as if she was expecting us. “Good morning, ladies. It’s nice to see you on this lovely day.”
I blink. She seems so different from the cold, guarded woman from yesterday.
“ Hello, Mrs. Havish,” Corrine says and nervously adjusts her glasses.
“ Hello, my dear. Have you two eaten already?”
We both nod.
“ Well, then come along. Let’s give you the grand tour, shall we?”
Chapter 13. Liora
Almost an hour later I am convinced we’re in some sort of alternate universe. Anastasia’s mansion is far beyond anything I’ve ever seen in the movies, let alone in real life. And as far as I can tell she lives here all alone with only a few servants. It’s so strange… and a little sad.
“ If you don’t mind me asking, what did your late husband do?” I ask her. She’d already told us that she was widowed and childless.
“ Do?”
“ For money? How did he get so wealthy? Or was it his family’s money, like an inheritance?”
Anastasia gives an amused laugh. “Oh, no my dear. This house and the money is from my side of the family.”
I stare at her, puzzled. “ Your side? But you and Tatiana are sisters. Twins. Why wouldn’t she…?” I don’t even finish my question before Anastasia silences me with a knowing look.
“ Do you really have to ask?” she says wryly.
I quietly shake my head. No. Tatiana would never want to live like this. But as I gape in awe at the splendor of the magnificent décor, I can’t help but wonder with a twinge of envy what it would’ve been like to be raised here… to have some of this obscene wealth.
But only for a second. I know beyond all doubt that I wouldn’t trade my upbringing with Tattie for all the luxurious seaside mansions in the world. I never wanted for anything growing up. I was loved, safe, nurtured. This grand estate feels like there hasn’t been any love here in years, if ever.
Such a lonely existence.
Corrine, for her part, has been observing everything pretty much in respectful silence. It’s been strange opening up so much of my life to her and seeing her witness aspects of my world that I’m so used to keeping private. But I know now how much I need her, as a friend and an ally. She is my link to the human world and to my demon sister. There are things I can’t tell Kieron. Not yet. Corrine is the perfect conduit, and I know I can trust her.
But right now I need to talk to Anastasia alone. “Corrine, do you mind if we have a moment?” I ask, turning to her.
“ Not at all. I’ll just be over at the bird sanctuary and the rose garden if you need me,” she says.
Anastasia nods. “There are some seeds in the bin next to the statue of the Three Fates if you want to toss some in the cages.”
“ Cool.” Corrine wanders off, and Anastasia and I head to the other side of the gardens, toward a small pond.
“ I was wondering something,” I begin a few moments later. “How do you and Tatiana communicate?”
Anastasia gives me a strange look.
“ I mean, she doesn’t have any sort of phone, and I’ve never seen her write a letter. And it’s not like she’ll ever use a computer in this life time. Do you guys have some sort of secret witchy way of talking, like telepathy or magic or something?”
Anastasia sighs and sits down on a marble bench. I hesitate for a moment, then take a seat beside her. “Truthfully, we don’t really communicate and haven’t for many years,” she admits. “I was stunned when she connected with me last week, and I haven’t stopped thinking of her since…” Her voice trails off.
“ How did she call you?” I press.
Anastasia looks at me and shakes her head. “It’s not like that. You want to talk to her, don’t you.”
Unexpected tears fill my eyes. I quickly
“ Yeah, you could say that. But in retrospect I can sorta see why she did it.”
“ Hmmm.”
Anastasia meets us by the side garden, almost as if she was expecting us. “Good morning, ladies. It’s nice to see you on this lovely day.”
I blink. She seems so different from the cold, guarded woman from yesterday.
“ Hello, Mrs. Havish,” Corrine says and nervously adjusts her glasses.
“ Hello, my dear. Have you two eaten already?”
We both nod.
“ Well, then come along. Let’s give you the grand tour, shall we?”
Chapter 13. Liora
Almost an hour later I am convinced we’re in some sort of alternate universe. Anastasia’s mansion is far beyond anything I’ve ever seen in the movies, let alone in real life. And as far as I can tell she lives here all alone with only a few servants. It’s so strange… and a little sad.
“ If you don’t mind me asking, what did your late husband do?” I ask her. She’d already told us that she was widowed and childless.
“ Do?”
“ For money? How did he get so wealthy? Or was it his family’s money, like an inheritance?”
Anastasia gives an amused laugh. “Oh, no my dear. This house and the money is from my side of the family.”
I stare at her, puzzled. “ Your side? But you and Tatiana are sisters. Twins. Why wouldn’t she…?” I don’t even finish my question before Anastasia silences me with a knowing look.
“ Do you really have to ask?” she says wryly.
I quietly shake my head. No. Tatiana would never want to live like this. But as I gape in awe at the splendor of the magnificent décor, I can’t help but wonder with a twinge of envy what it would’ve been like to be raised here… to have some of this obscene wealth.
But only for a second. I know beyond all doubt that I wouldn’t trade my upbringing with Tattie for all the luxurious seaside mansions in the world. I never wanted for anything growing up. I was loved, safe, nurtured. This grand estate feels like there hasn’t been any love here in years, if ever.
Such a lonely existence.
Corrine, for her part, has been observing everything pretty much in respectful silence. It’s been strange opening up so much of my life to her and seeing her witness aspects of my world that I’m so used to keeping private. But I know now how much I need her, as a friend and an ally. She is my link to the human world and to my demon sister. There are things I can’t tell Kieron. Not yet. Corrine is the perfect conduit, and I know I can trust her.
But right now I need to talk to Anastasia alone. “Corrine, do you mind if we have a moment?” I ask, turning to her.
“ Not at all. I’ll just be over at the bird sanctuary and the rose garden if you need me,” she says.
Anastasia nods. “There are some seeds in the bin next to the statue of the Three Fates if you want to toss some in the cages.”
“ Cool.” Corrine wanders off, and Anastasia and I head to the other side of the gardens, toward a small pond.
“ I was wondering something,” I begin a few moments later. “How do you and Tatiana communicate?”
Anastasia gives me a strange look.
“ I mean, she doesn’t have any sort of phone, and I’ve never seen her write a letter. And it’s not like she’ll ever use a computer in this life time. Do you guys have some sort of secret witchy way of talking, like telepathy or magic or something?”
Anastasia sighs and sits down on a marble bench. I hesitate for a moment, then take a seat beside her. “Truthfully, we don’t really communicate and haven’t for many years,” she admits. “I was stunned when she connected with me last week, and I haven’t stopped thinking of her since…” Her voice trails off.
“ How did she call you?” I press.
Anastasia looks at me and shakes her head. “It’s not like that. You want to talk to her, don’t you.”
Unexpected tears fill my eyes. I quickly
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