Page 10 of The Other Omega

“What has happened?”

“Someone fetch her mother.”

“Find Lord Cedric.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!”

The corridor fell quiet. Easy, Elowen. Keep it cool.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I loosened my grip on the broom. “I didn’t mean to be rude. You all seem like very nice people. I’m just a little… disoriented, you know, with waking up without my sisters and all.”

A nervous little laugh escaped me. “We’re very close, you know? I’ll be back to my normal, cheery self as soon as I see them again.”

I gave them what I hoped was a reassuring nod. “Yeah. So, if you could just… be so kind as to point me in their direction, I can be on my way, and you can all… go back to… whatever you were doing before.” I tried to smile, though I could feel my mouth shaking.

One of the older women near the front swallowed. “Lady Ivy and Lady Nora are likely still in their rooms⁠—”

“Good!” I nodded and pointed the broom at her. “That’s really good. And you know which rooms they’re in, right?”

She hesitated. “Well, of course, my lady.”

Everyone keeps calling me that. I swallowed before trying another reassuring smile.

“How about you take me to them now? This… Lady would appreciate it very much.”

“Perhaps we should wait for your mother and fathers instead, my lady.”

Fathers.

“I think you’re a little confused. My mother is dead.”

Someone gasped. The maid who’d brought the tray caught up and stood at the back of the crowd, somehow still carrying it.

“My lady, please put the broom down.”

I shook my head. “I think I’d rather keep holding it, thank you.” My voice broke on the last word.

“You are not well.”

“I—I agree with you.” I pointed at the older man who had spoken. “I was taken from my town and woke up in this house, which is… very fancy and all, but I was locked in, and my sisters are nowhere in sight, so…”

Tears burned behind my eyes. I need to get out. Find a phone. Call the police and come back for Ivy and Nora.

But I couldn’t leave them here. Find Ivy and Nora first. Then we escape together. Yes. That’s it.

Footsteps sounded beyond the crowd, and everyone moved aside. A woman appeared at the far end of the corridor with three men beside her, and the broom slipped lower in my hands.

I knew her face. I’d once known every line of it, from the shape of her mouth to the little crease between her brows whenever she was worried. She had the same dark eyes, and even the way she lifted a hand towards her chest was familiar. Mum used to do that when she was frightened.

Her hair was darker than I remembered, and she wore an elegant cream dress instead of her favourite jeans and printed T-shirt.

“Mum?” I whispered.

Her hand flew to her mouth. “Elowen, what is the matter?”

Hearing her voice was too much. “Mum.” I stumbled towards her, sobbing as she cradled my face between her hands.

“Everyone back to work!” a man said, but I was already hugging Mum.