Page 60 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

I make my way upstairs and look at the photographs that are scattered across the wall along the stairs, and I look at a picture of Aunty Raven holding five babies or trying to. Her arms barely stretched around them all, but the smile on her face and the happiness in her eyes make up for her tiny frame.

I smile softly, recognising Jayce from his hair and frown; he had such juicy lips.

“They were a cute bunch, weren’t they?”

I turn as Uncle Liam walks up the steps and stops by my side, his eyes softening as he looks at the picture. “When I found out we were having quints, I actually fainted.”

I stare up at him, surprised, then giggle. “Really? Well, that would be a shock to anyone.”

“I was more worried about how she’d manage, but she was always a fierce thing,” he says, brushing his finger along the photograph. I look up at him before turning back to the picture.

We stand there in silence for a few moments before he looks at me and smiles. “He’ll come around,” he says softly, patting my shoulder before he moves past me and continues up the stairs. I remain there for a while longer before I realise I’m not alone and look to the bottom of the stairs where Jayce is standing.

Will you be ok without me near? I ask.

He cocks a brow. Of course.

I nod slowly before I turn and make my way to Renji’s room, pausing in the doorway. I wonder if he’ll really be ok, but I have to respect his wishes. I get into bed and close my eyes, the exhaustion of the day hitting hard.

As I groan, not realising until now just how achy I feel, I turn on my side, my mind wandering to Aunty Kiara. How did she get ill? Where did this illness, or whatever, come from? How did she catch it?

I yawn as I curl up; those are questions I will ask tomorrow.

My eyes close and I find myself drifting away into the depths of sleep.

In the Darkness

Sienna

It calls to me; the pulsing that thrums through the very earth makes my heart hammer as I walk towards the egg. It’s alive, and it invites me.

Wait, I shouldn’t be here, though. These drakaths – what are they waiting for?

I hesitate.

Come.

No, this isn’t right… I should-

Sienna.

Jayce’s voice rings through my mind.

Warmth washes through me, and my eyes fly open as I suck in a breath, my heart racing as I half-sit up, looking around, trying to comprehend where I am.

That dream again… Even in England, it’s happening.

I brush my hair back and exhale slowly. I shouldn’t be so surprised. I was dreaming of the crawlers from England even when they were all the way over in Puerto Rico. I kick off the blanket. Even though the sheets are washed, with the scent of peonies and lilies coming off them, I can still smell Renji’s faint scent, and it’s odd.

It feels almost… wrong for me to be here.

I shiver as my mind returns to the dream. What if I go to Jayce and ask if I can sit next to him? I just know that I must not touch that egg.

Sighing, I rub my arms. Once again, I need him, but this will benefit us both, what with his hallucinations.

Deciding not to overthink it, I get up and walk over to the door, opening it quietly before I peer out. I then step out silently and close the door. I pad down the hallway towards Jayce’s room, pausing before I raise my hand to knock; I don’t want to disturb anyone else.

Jayce? I call through the mind-link. The wall he used to always keep up isn’t there. I smile softly, calling him again. Jayce? Can you hear me?