Page 67 of A Silence So Divine

My stomach drops. I know what she’s done, but her admitting to it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Still, I try to rationalize with her.

“People who would have killed you without a second thought,”I argue.

She tucks her lips into her mouth.“Not everyone.”

This gives me pause, and a sense of foreboding fills the room. Lightning flashes in quick succession, illuminating the stark expression on her face. The ground beneath me quivers.

The storm rages.

“Who?”I’m not sure I want the answer, but I have to know. I’m not afraid of Eden, and I don’t believe she would ever hurt someone on purpose. But if she’s capable of taking someone’s life unintentionally, that’s a serious issue.

“I can’t,”she answers weakly.

I take a step closer. My fingers envelop hers, and I stroke my thumb down her palm.

“Who?”I repeat.

She stares at me unwaveringly, expression harried. Fractures of light are mirrored in her eyes, as though the bolts dance within her. The trees outside are nearly bent in half, the rain blows sideways. There’s a continuous rumble throughout the house, as if the walls themselves are agitated.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I’m unsure if the electricity is coming from the weather or the girl in front of me.

Her eyes flicker with defeat. Finally, she raises her thumb to her chin and signs a singular word.

“Mama.”

Hands folded on the kitchen table, I watch the window and wait for headlights to peek over the horizon. My brother has been gone the entire day, and I’m more than a little angry that he chose to pull one of his disappearing acts.

After Eden made her admission, there wasn’t a lot of talking. She was inconsolable for at least an hour, to the point I was worried for her wellbeing. I attempted to ask questions, desperate to understand, but she could only get out bits and pieces before she would crumble again.

At a loss, I took her to my room and laid with her until she fell asleep.

Which brings me here, waiting for my dickhead brother to grace me with his presence.

Lights finally shine through the post-storm haze and announce his arrival. I stay seated, knowing he’ll come straight to the kitchen in search of dinner. He’ll be disappointed to find that I was not his personal caterer tonight. For good measure, I hid the muffins in Eden’s bedroom.

Stalking into the room, my brother looks like a wet dog. Raindrop stains dot his long sleeve shirt, and his hair is stuck to his forehead. The moment he catches sight of me, he halts with a look of bewilderment.

“What–”he begins, but I’m quick to cut him off.

“Where have you been?”

Cecil cocks a brow, pissing me off further. God, he’s such a bastard. Walking past me, he signs the whole way, eyes darting over the kitchen in search of food.

“I hoped the nagging would stop once I told you everything.”

Stepping into his path, I press a hand to his chest. My nostrils flare, and he takes in my expression.

“Where’s Eden?”He asks, suddenly looking nervous.

“Asleep. She had a rough day, not that you give a shit.”

Cecil grimaces.“What happened?”

Answering his question with a question, I ask,“What do you know about her mom?”

Frustrated, Cecil’s lips part and shoulders sag on a long exhale.“Nothing. I assume she’s dead.”

“She is,”I confirm.