Seventy Seven

Raven

I returned home for the weekend and was still not speaking to Nova. The tension in the house ran like a red-hot wire. Clarissa gave me strange looks and after muttering a greeting, I went straight upstairs to my bedroom.

I dropped my bag on the floor and flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, my mind racing in high gear.

Vlad's interference in my life and my family had taken its toll on me and had turned our lives upside down.

Lost in thoughts, I drifted into a deep sleep, and when I woke up, the darkness outside surprised me at how long I had slept.

I made my way downstairs, and the maid informed me that dinner was ready. My heart skipped several beats when I heard my dad's voice booming through the house.

The conversation at the dinner table was filled with forced pleasantries and strange smiles. I ate my meal in silence and excused myself from the table afterward.

On my way upstairs, Clarissa stopped me at the staircase.

"Can I speak with you outside?"