Page 40 of Whispers From The Dark

His sister says nothing for a moment, picking at a loose thread on her shirt.

“It happened really fast, Jack. I don’t…I don’t know.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter,” he says, quiet as a mouse. But he perks back up a moment later as a baby squeals in the background. “Come soon, okay? This baby never stops crying, and it’s giving me a headache. Plus, it’s Christmas.”

A small smile softens Petra’s lips. But it turns, far too quickly, into a frown as she pulls her phone away to look at the screen. “Alright buddy, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Gotta go, love you.”

“Why are you calling me?” she demands as she answers another call.

“Can I tell Jack Merry Christmas?”

“He’s not with me right now,” she replies, terse.

“Okay, well call me when you’re together?” Jack’s father asks, not even bothering to wonder where his son is. “It works out that he’s not with you because, well, I don’t know if I want to pursue this custody thing anymore. It’s a lot, and the kid doesn’t even really know me.”

Petra hangs up, slamming her phone down on the armrest of the chair. And then she starts to laugh. She tries to stifle it, but tears stream down her face as she’s overwhelmed by hiccups.

“Fucking asshole,” she says.

“I can fix that for you,” I offer, and she nearly jumps out of her skin. “The custody arrangement.”

“You gonna kill him too?” she asks, another wild burst of laughter escaping her before souring into something bitter and sharp. I know what this is going to turn into moving forward. I should have known. I should have expected it. But still, it’s a blow. “That’s what you do, isn’t it? I’m not going to pretend I’m upset that she’s dead because I’m not. I hate her and I’m glad to be rid of her forever. But that should have been my choice. Not yours.”

“It would have haunted you,” I say, knowing any argument is futile.

“It’s going to haunt me either way, Az.” She walks over to the window, watching the sun peek out from behind the top of a building. The streets are already busy with traffic, and Petra wonders just how many people have stood at this window, watching the world continue to spin when their own has ended. But hers has just begun, she realizes. I reach up, wiping away her tears, and her entire body goes tense as I take over once more, knowing it will be the last time.

When she asks me to leave a moment later, asks me to negate the contract, citing the murder of her mother as just cause, I agree.

15

PETRA

“I’m sorry, Petra, I really am. I can give you until the end of the month, but that’s it.”

“It’s not your fault,” I say, and there’s an awkward pause. I worry she’s about to tell me she’s sorry for my loss, but thankfully, I’m spared.

“Any fun New Year’s Plans?” she asks, and I just stare. She gets the message and hefts my package onto the counter.

“Thanks, Dominique,” I say, sliding the heavy box closer.

“Cremated remains?” Her eyes widen as she looks at the orange writing on the side. Her voice tips up an octave in horror. “They just put that in the mail?”

I snort. “Wild, isn’t it? It’s way heavier than I thought it would be, too.” I pick up the box containing all that’s left of my mother, and make my way toward the door. I tug my hood over my head before braving the cold back to my apartment.

Not for much longer, I guess. With my shitty credit, of course I wasn’t going to qualify to be on the lease by myself. But I had to try. The last thing I want to do is uproot Jack right now.

But at least we won’t be homeless.

It’s cold as hell, and this box is way heavier than I anticipated. I shift, holding it against my hip, so I can take out my phone and double-check my bank account once more.

It’s Az’s doing, I’m sure, but there’s got to be some sort of flag on the transaction. It’s only a matter of time before the bank takes it all back. There’s no way they’ll just accept that a mysterious benefactor would dump seven figures in my account. But it’s been over a week now, and the money is still there. I suppose Asmodeus would have handled that too.

I could buy a house in cash if I wanted to. It’s not Gold Coast money, but I certainly have enough to live comfortably with Jack. I’ve just got to figure out somewhere to live that gets us through the school year, then I can follow my dreams and move out west.

Only if Jack wants to, though.

I’m about to shove my phone back in my pocket when it starts to ring.