Page 3

Amari

The woman narrowed her eyes at me and glanced down at my clothes, probably looking for designer brands.

I held Alcina’s hand as we stood at her school’s reception area. They refused to let her attend and I knew for a fact that Christos had paid for the entire school year upfront.

“I can assure you there is no mistake. If you cannot pay, you should look into a state school,”

she said to me, but the vindictive glint in the ginger-haired cow was accompanied by a smirk.

“Thanks, Sarah,”

I said sarcastically before turning to Alcina. “Let’s go, Alcina,”

I said, not wanting to do or say anything that would get me arrested.

“Have a great day,”

Sarah said in a sing-song voice as we reached the glass double doors.

“But I had a project due today,”

Alcina said, her head drooping.

When we got outside I knelt in front of Alcina.

“I know a lot is happening right now honey, but we are family and we will stick together,”

I said with a cheerful smile and bopped her cheek.

“I miss Daddy,”

she sighed.

I thought of Christos and hugged Alcina. I’d known him since I was around Alcina’s age, he was the only father figure I knew.

“I miss him too, sweetie. Why don't we have some ice cream on the way home?”

Ice cream cured everything because school and sadness were forgotten for now.

I knew Christos’s family were behind my getting made ‘redundant’ and Alcina being unceremoniously thrown out of school.

I was sure there was more to come but I couldn't get any social help until we were completely destitute. Hiring a lawyer at this point would be impossible.

What on earth has Christos been thinking not providing for my mum or Alcina?

***

“I’m sorry miss, your card has been declined,”

the shopkeeper said.

My cheeks flushed and I put my ice cream back in the freezer before going back to the counter.

“Can you try just this one?”

I asked, raising my sister’s Twister ice cream.

He smiled at Alcina and tried to scan my card but it bleeped again. The man smiled kindly at me before he looked at my sister. It was our local shop and this was the first time this had happened.

“Here just have it on the house,”

he said, handing it to Alcina.

She beamed at him before thanking him.

I blinked at the tears welling up and nodded my thanks before I shoved my card into my pocket and rushed out of the shop.

I would be back one day to repay his kindness.

He was a small business owner, and everyone felt the pinch these days.

After I opened Alcina’s ice cream for her, I tried phoning my bank but my phone wouldn't connect.

They were going too far.

How could I tell my mother any of this when she was still grieving? I saw Stefanos at the funeral, he was a taller, younger version of Christos, but there was a coldness to him.

Christos had been warm and vibrant.

My mum introduced me to him years after she met him.

I was a shy and timid child, it isn't a surprise I turned out to be an introvert.

It was only when I was much older, my mother told me Christos was married, which was why he didn't live with us.

My mum was in too deep to break it off. I watched them over the years, and they loved one another, this became enough for me. My mother was happy but he died too young.

My mind was a jumbled mess by the time I reached our street.

A black car slowed down close to us and I took Alcina’s hand to draw her away from the road.

It was a long, sleek, and expensive can, and sure enough, it halted to a stop and the electronic window slid down.

Stefanos Karalis sat there with his dark hair slicked back, resembling a villain in his black clothes and car.

“Take her inside, we need to talk,”

he said, closing the window without waiting for a response.

I stood there for several seconds shocked, dismayed, scared and a million other things.

When I could move, I took Alcina’s hand and ran.

My heart was fluttering by the time we got to our gate with my little sister asking too many questions.

She was the same age as me when I met Christos.

Old enough to understand some of the cruelty in this world.

She was half black and half Greek. It looked like her half-brother held nothing but contempt for her. That hurt my heart because Alcina was an angel.

“Amari, who was that man in the car?”

she asked again.

My stomach churned as I looked into her innocent brown eyes and almost lied to her.

“Someone from Christos’s family,”

I murmured to her before helping take her coat off and washing her face.

“Hi, girls,” my Mum.

When I turned around she had a smile on her lips but her eyes were swollen and lifeless. My mum had been through too much in life for a spoiled rich boy to try and ruin us.

Alcina ran to hug her.

“Why aren't you in school, poppet?”

my mum said lifting her to hug her close before kissing her.

“There are a few things happening mum. Alcina’s school is one of them,”

I said gently.

“It was to be expected,”

she said sadly.

“Why didn't Christos make provisions for you and Alcina?”

I said trying not to let my anger seep through.

“It’s complicated but Christos wanted his son to accept his sister. He believed in him, Amari,”

she said sliding Alcina down to the ground again. “If he was right then it will get better.”

My mother was gullible if she thought everything would be rosy and happy families with Christos’s son. I saw the disgust in his eyes when he glanced at Alcina. The way his eyes trailed over my clothes. We weren't all born with a silver spoon in our mouths.

“I have savings, and Christos left us the house, provisions and a Trust for Alcina,”

my mum said softly, but she had a distant look in her eyes.

I wanted to tell her to snap out of it but it had only been ten days since the funeral.

“The school refused to take her,”

I said, but the words didn't seem to register with her.

She frowned and was about to speak when the doorbell rang. I left her in the kitchen to answer the door, she wasn't in any state to talk to Stefanos. When I opened the door, it was the driver. Who made their drivers wear a uniform these days?

“Mr Karalis would like to speak to you,”

he said with a tight smile.

My mum came to stand behind me.

“What’s going on?”

she whispered.

“Nothing, I will be right back,”

I said with a smile.

“But—”

“It’s okay, mum,”

I said before I followed the driver.

I’d had no intention of speaking to Stefanos but couldn't have any drama unfold before my Mum or little sister.

When I stepped outside, the impending feeling of doom was there.

I don't know how he managed to cut me off from my bank or mobile network provider but he was no friend to me or my family.

I dragged my feet on the ground until I reached his car and the back door opened as I approached.

My heart started to race but my pace slowed down as I reached the door.

Panic began to eat away at me when I realised he got to my employer and had me fired.

Christos was wrong about his son.

He was here to destroy us.