A Hunger to Share ( Book One )

chapter 28

Ada   

Ada hadn't had time to talk to her sister about coming to the house so she'd just texted her a quick summary. Nora had been eager to help.

The front yard of the Brooks mansion was quiet. No sign of Ada's Father or any of his gaurds. He really was gone. Ada tried not to think about the hellish week she'd spent in that storage room, about the thirst, the loneliness, the fear.

Maggie laced her fingers through Ada's. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

She told Ada about coming here as a child, her grandfather reading her stories about different mythologies, visiting during summer breaks, helping her grandfather take care of his plants and trees.

The Miller brothers walked in silence, feet crunching on the gravel, weak autumn sun warming their backs.

When they got to the mansion, the door was already open. Ada was tackled by Nora.

"You literally saw me yesterday." Ada croaked out, and tried to push her away.

"I missed your ugly face." Nora turned to Maggie, and gave her a hug as well. "Hey Mag. Good to see you again."

"Same here." She smiled geniunly at her.

Nora's eyes landed on James next. "You must be the hot hunter." James waved. "and his equally hot brother." She winked at Jack.

"The pleasure is ours." Jack spoke for the both of them.

"Well come on in. I made coffee."

"Can I use your bathroom?" James asked Ada after stepping into the foyer.

It was the first time he'd talked to her since they had returned to the car. Ada felt guilty even though they weren't together anymore. She didn't like to see James sad. He looked like a kicked puppy.

"Down the hallway. Last door to your left."

"Thanks."

"He'll be Ok. He needs time." Maggie whispered in her ear and gave her hand a kind squeeze.

"I hope so." Ada sighed and took Maggie and Jack to the living room.

"Aren't you going to see Mom?" Nora asked, placing the tray on the coffee table.

"I rather do it after we have the cure. That'll definitely cheer her up."

"Yeah." She shot her a grateful smile.

"Where should we look next?" Jack spoke up. He haden't touched his coffee.

James, who had came back from the bathroom, was standing next to him, gaulped it down like his life depended on it.

"Give me a second." Maggie walked towards the fire place, crouched down and stuck her hand up the smoke chamber.

"The cure can't possibly be there, we would have noticed." Ada sipped her coffee.

"It's not but the pass to the celler is." She explained, biting down on her lip in concentration.

"Need any help?"

"I almost got it."

"This place has a hidden celler?" Nora asked enthusiastically.

"According to my grandfather it does."

"Cool. I always wanted one of those."

There was a clicking sound and the fire place started sliding away slowly, the creaking sound echoing through the silent house. Maggie withdrew her hand and stood up, frowning at her sooth covered arm.

"Woah. How did you do that?" Ada put down her coffee and took a closer look.

"Pushed a botton." Maggie accepted a wet wipe from Nora and started rubbing it on her arm.

"It's so creepy."

"I love it." Nora grinned.

They all stared at the cave like entrance. The smell of old, closed up places made Ada scrunch up her nose.
She felt her heartbeat speed up.

"You sure you want to do this?" Nora gave Ada a knowing look.

Ada nodded. "Yeah."

"Is there something wrong?" Jack was frowning.

"She's claustrophobic." Maggie explained.

"Used to be." Ada corrected her.

"It's not something that goes away over night." Nora pointed out.

"I said I'll be fine."

"Right." Nora sighed. "Take care of her Maggie." She crossed her arms. "well chop chop. I don't have all day."

"You're not coming?" Ada asked her.

"I'm the sexy lookout." Nora flipped her hair dramatically.

"Of course you are." Ada rolled her eyes.

Maggie went in first. As soon as her feet made contact with the ground, the whole place lit up like a christmas tree. There was a long string of black wire stretched along the roof, with light bulbs dangling from it, warming the interior with their pale glow.

"This is heaven." Nora whistled, looking at the dimly lit walls littered with rows upon rows of old wine bottles.

"Difinitely." Jack agreed.

"Mag your grandfather was an great man." Ada mused.

"I don't think it's all his." Maggie said, running her hand along the wall of bottles. "some of them probably belonged to the previous owners."

"You know what this calls for?" Nora asked, a wicked smirk tugging the edge of her lips upward.

"A celebration." Maggie answered with a matching expression. "but don't get drunk on duty. Wait for us."

"I make no promises." Nora winked.