Page 22 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

“I don’t know, Lucia,” she sighed. “Maybe you’re in denial.”

“And maybe you’re crazy.”

She shrugged and threw her hands up in the air. “One or two people have told me that.”

I couldn’t imagine who might’ve called reasonable, straight-laced Jenna crazy, but I doubted they were reliable sources. Still, the odds were in my favor.

I walked toward the door. “I’m going to step out and call my mother before she has a freak-out.”

“Why? She doesn’t know you're here.”

I shook my head. “Go back to sleep.”

“I doubt I’ll be able to. I’ll just get up and get ready. How about we have breakfast together?” She smiled up at me expectantly.

“I might not be able to. It will depend on when my flight leaves.”

“Flight? You’re leaving already? But you just got here. I thought maybe…” She sighed, resigned.

I peered apologetically at my friend.

“Oh, well. At least say goodbye before you leave.”

“Of course I will.”

I left and headed straight for the common room, which, at this hour, was blessedly empty. Bracing myself, I dialed Mom up.

“Lucia?” she answered groggily.

“Hi, Mom. I just wanted to let you know I didn’t spend the night. I… uh… went out with a friend and slept at her place.”

“What friend?” she demanded, sounding more awake now. She could go from zero to super-pissed-off in no time.

“You don’t know her.”

Shetsked. “How convenient? This is unacceptable, and—”

“Mom, we’ve been over this. I’m not in high school anymore.”

“But you’re staying inmyhouse, young lady.”

“Like I said, I can stay with Toni or Dani if it’s too much trouble for you.”

“Don’t get smart with me!”

“This call was a courtesy. I’ll see you later today. Love ya!”

I hung up and cut her off mid-sentence. She tried to call right back, but I ignored her. A train of text messages followed. They were all angry, calling me everything from disrespectful to ungrateful. Dani, my oldest sister, said Mom wasn’t dealing well with losing control over her last child. Whatever the case, it sucked, and I was ready to move out on my own, even if it was to a tiny dorm room.

As the next order of business, I headed toward Grant’s office. It was early and considering that we woke him up in the middle of the night, I was surprised but glad to find him there.

“Ah, good morning, Ms. Sunder. I was about to send someone over for you, though I had a feeling you would be up early.”

“Good morning. Um… do you have a plane ticket for me?”

He winced. “Straight to the point, I see. I take it that the prophecy didn’t change your mind.”

I suddenly realized I hadn’t brought the tome back. “No, and sorry, I left the book in Jenna’s room. I’m sure she’ll return it once she’s read every word in it. If there’s anything you don’t want her to read, I can get it back.”