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Chapter Seven
Rebel
I ring the bell with some apprehension. I know as she rushed off, Raven - shit Charlotte - said to not come by unannounced, but I was hoping that because I was on my own she might not mind too much. Oh well, it’s too late now, I think as the door starts to unlock. Hopefully she won’t slam it in my face.
When the door opens and I don’t see anyone, I drop my gaze. Confusion fills me at the pint-sized kid standing in the doorway. Shit, did I get the wrong house? I frown in confusion. I’m pretty sure this is the right one. I’m looking around to check this is the correct block when a voice calls from inside.
“Who’s at the door?”
I’m pretty sure it’s Raven’s - Charlotte’s goddamnit - but I just can’t fathom why there’d be a kid opening her door. Maybe she’s babysitting for a neighbour or something? Yeah, that would make sense.
“Moooooooom,” the girl drawls with a slight American twang, “it’s Rebel!”
Before I can blink in surprise that this kid seems to know who I am, the door is slammed in my face.
What the fuck?
I hear the voices inside as clearly as I had when the door was open. Shit the walls are paper thin in this dump. I can’t help but wonder what has happened to...Charlotte...to put her in such a place. Especially as she’s Cordelia Deighton’s granddaughter. Surely she can spring for nicer digs than this?
“What have I told you about telling lies Phoenix Elizabeth?” I chuckle at Raven’s stern voice, telling off - I’m assuming - the little girl. She sounds exactly the same as when she used to rail me out for shit. Believe it or not, I’ve missed it. Still, it’s nice not to be on the receiving end of her sharp tongue, for once.
“But Moooooooom, I’m not lying!” the little girl’s voice insists.
Hang on a fucking minute...mom? As in MUM? As in…Raven? What the actual fuck? That little rugrat is Raven’s kid?
Ah fuck it, that’s too much information to take in whilst still trying to get my head around her name change. I’m going to keep calling her Raven and she’ll just have to lump it.
Mum! Fuck! My head is spinning; I think I’m going to pass out.
The door clicks open again and this time it’s the face I expected to see: Raven’s. She’s so stunning she takes my breath away. She always did. Although I know it’s my brain playing tricks on me, to me she looks the exact same as the last time I saw her.
“Hey?” I say lamely and it comes out as a question. Shit.
“What are you doing here?” she hisses at me, clearly mad. Okay, maybe she was serious about not coming by unannounced.
“Didn’t you get my text?” I hedge.
“Bullshit, you didn’t text.” Of course she calls me out on my bullshit.
“Mumma!” The little sprog’s voice is indignant. “You said a bad word.”
I laugh and that earns me a death glare from Raven, making me laugh harder. Fuck, I’ve missed her so much; every expression, every mood. I want more.
“Sorry, Nix, I was surprised.”
I watch with amusement as the girl, Phoenix, tuts at her mum like she’s not amused and I see my way in. Bending down to speak to her directly, I give her a level stare.
“Hi, Phoenix, can I come in?”
She nibbles her lip in a really cute way like her mum used to absentmindedly do when she couldn’t reach a decision.
Actually, now that I’m down at eye level with her, the similarities between her and her mum are like a punch in the gut. She has beautiful huge green eyes and the same wicked smile. Her skin is paler than I remember Raven’s being and she has a veil of long white-blonde hair, where Raven’s is black.
Actually, I realise, doing a double take, that she has Lizzie’s hair. Phoenix is like the bridge between Raven and Lizzie, showing me what I can’t believe I missed before. Whoa.
I realise Phoenix hasn’t spoken and has been staring at me as intently as I’ve been looking at her. “Will you tell me secrets about my mom?”
“Phoenix!” Raven cries.
