The Devil's Pawn

Chapter 4

                Mom wasn’t there when I arrived home. Dad was locked in his study, working furiously. I went straight to my room, ignoring the growl from my stomach. I dropped my bag on the floor, falling down on my bed.

                Exhaustion flooded my body. Sam always made me feel weak at the knees, but I felt like I had just run a mile.

                But in a good way.

                I rubbed my eyes furiously, realizing that I needed to get a start on the homework that had been assigned. I sat up at my desk, taking out my history work.

                I took out a pencil and a note book to take notes on the article before me. Pressing my forehead into the palm of my hand, my eyes began to scan the page, reading the 13 page article.

                It was an easy read, thankfully, just reiterating the process through which parts of Europe had gone through to try and make Catholic the main religion in the region. At the time period, the Protestant religion had formed successfully, a much easier option than the strict rules of Catholics. It explained in detail more of the effects that the newer religion had on the people compared to the elder.

                I wasn’t sure what the point was considering the fact that this had been a freshman topic, but I left that alone, content with the easy read.

                I took the notes that were appropriate regardless, making a mental one to ask the teacher why we were going over this again.

                I groaned, gently resting my forehead on the desk. The sun had began to set, giving my room a slightly darker shade.

                I felt my phone buzz in my pocket furiously.

                “Hello?” I asked, not checking called ID.

                “Hey, Taylor” Mom said. I rubbed my eyes, assuming this probably wasn’t good “Can you do me a favor and tell your father that I won’t be able to make it home for dinner? There are leftovers in the fridge if you’d like.”

                “Alright, I will.”

                “Good, thank you.”

                “Sure thing.” I mumbled the last part, closing the phone quickly.

                I stood up, running a hand through my hair as I walked out of my room. It was silent in the house, my footsteps obnoxiously loud.

                Dad was in his study, hunched over paperwork. He seemed to be so in thought that he didn’t notice when I entered.

                I cleared my throat politely.

                Dad looked up, taking his glasses off. “Hey Taylor.”

                “Mom called.”

                “What did she say?”

                “She won’t make it home for dinner, and there are leftovers in the fridge if we want.”

                Dad sighed, “I’m so sick of her lasagna.”

                I laughed politely, actually enjoying it. “I know you are. Do you want some?”

                “I guess so.”

                I nodded, and turned around.