Each step creaked under her weight, echoing through the silent house. As she reached the bottom, she paused, the soft murmur of voices filtering through the slightly ajar kitchen door. Her heart quickened, curiosity tinged with a hint of dread. She edged closer, careful to remain unseen.
"...we need to tell her the truth," her Aunt Nadia's voice was a whisper, urgent and pleading.
Ariella's breath hitched.
What truth?
Her father's reply was a gruff murmur. "No, Nadia. Not yet. The seals are breaking. We need to find Silas to fix them again."
Ariella's mind raced, the unfamiliar terms weaving a web of confusion.
Seals?
Silas?
She swallowed the questions, steadying her expression before pushing open the kitchen door.
"Hi," she greeted, her voice deliberately light, forcing a smile that felt brittle on her lips.
Her father and aunt turned towards her, their conversation abruptly silenced. Her dad's gaze softened as he crossed the room, kissing her forehead.
"Where are you off to, Ariella?" he asked, his tone forced casualness that did little to mask the tension in his eyes.
Ariella shifted her gaze between her father and aunt, her smile unwavering. "Clark is having a party at his house. I was wondering if I could go," she said.
Her dad opened his mouth to respond, but Nadia's sharp elbow to his arm cut him off. She gave him a look that spoke volumes, her eyes urging compliance. He sighed, the fight draining from his posture.
"Okay," he relented, his voice heavy with reluctant approval. "Just don't stay out too late."
Ariella leaned to kiss his cheek, a quick peck that conveyed her thanks. She turned on her heel and headed for the door. "I won't."
The moment she stepped outside, the cool air hit her. It was better than the suffocating atmosphere inside. Lana stood by the car, one eyebrow raised in silent question. Ariella gave a brief nod, not trusting herself to speak. Without another word, Lana slid into the driver's seat, and Ariella settled into the passenger side, the engine's roar filling the silence as they sped away.
