The Siren at the Museum (The Girl Who Sang #1)

Chapter 8

Luz looked between Eda and Amity in confusion, "Heeey, Eda," she drawled, eyes still flicking slowly from one to the other, "Do you... do you two know each other?"

"Aaah, wellll," Eda laughed, wiping her hands on her towel before slinging it over her shoulder, "we're not on a first name basis." The tall woman tipped her head toward the quiet girl, "She's pretty famous though, kiddo." She put her fists on her hips and cocked an eyebrow at the two disheveled girls, "It's pretty late. 'Bout time you kids got here."

Luz rubbed a hand through the back of her hair and gave an embarrassed chuckle, "Yeah, we got kindaaa... delayed."

"Looks like it," the gray-haired woman said as she eyed the dried blood on Luz's face. "You done beatin' yourself up about it?"

"I— I wasn't—" Luz spluttered as Eda made an unconvinced noise.

The tall woman looked to the quiet girl and jerked a thumb at Luz, "She just spent the last hour walking, right?" Amity glanced between the two and nodded hesitantly, scrunching her shoulders afterward. "You're good, Boots," Eda assured her with a wave before turning back to Luz, ignoring the indignant huff her nickname earned, "Didja do your best?"

Luz sighed, "Yeah, I did."

Eda's face split in a wide grin, revealing a single gold canine, "Then that's all you can do, Luz." She reached out and put a gentle hand on her step-daughter's shoulder, her voice quieter, a touch serious, "Things don't always go to plan." She nodded toward the smaller girl and smiled, "Ya got her here, maybe not as smooth or as clean as ya wanted, but she's here. Good job."

Luz faked a long, drawn-out groan, but both Eda and Amity could see the smile she was trying to hide, "Uuugh, fine, can we come in?" Eda stepped aside and Luz motioned Amity forward, politely, and the golden-eyed girl stepped through the doorway. The brown-haired girl watched as she glanced around in curiosity. The living room was a fairly large space: white walls with knee-high wooden paneling; couch and armchairs with a soft red fabric and dark-wood features; eclectic decorations hanging on every side. Posters, small shelves holding single items, paintings, and photographs were all in competition for attention. One wall held a small collection of Eda's mugshots. A whine and a huff caught Luz's ear, and Amity jumped when she saw the mid-sized border collie lift its head from where it lay on the couch. Its coloring was unusual; the entire top of its head was white as bone, and the rest of its fur was black, aside from another small patch of dingy white on its chest. It licked its lips and growled a confused noise. "Go back to sleep, King," Eda said as she walked by the couch, scratching the dog between its pointed white ears. The dog stretched and yawned, then flopped back onto its side.

The quiet girl slid her borrowed cowboy boots off and lined them up beside the other footwear piled by the front door. When Luz put her hand on the wall to lean down and pull her shoes off, Amity stepped in close to her lowered shoulder, confiding, "Her motorcycle was on fire this morning." Luz hummed a curious noise; after seeing Emira's burner, the smaller girl's fact was not entirely surprising.

Eda grinned, her golden accessories flashing in the reddish lamp light, "So, this is your new friend, huh?" She lowered her voice in a knowing, conspiratorial tone, "What are the odds."

"Yes, Eda," Luz squinted her way, "what are the odds?"

The tall woman laughed, and Luz could tell by the face Amity made that it sounded guilty to her, too, "Cam's in the kitchen, workin' on the soup you asked for." She winked at the smaller girl, "Smells delicious. C'mon this way, Boots."

Luz held out a hand to Amity, and the girls walked through the open entryway in the far wall. Older but functional appliances filled the kitchen, and there was abundant counter space and room to move and mingle. A small square wooden table sat under a white globe chandelier; four matching chairs set at its sides. A delightful smell filled the air, and Luz realized she was quite hungry. Food hadn't been a concern until just now. A small growl rumbled from the quiet girl's stomach at her side, and the golden-eyed girl turned pink with embarrassment. "Amity," Luz said gently, voice lowered just for her ears, "when was the last time you ate?" The pale girl looked up at her and shrugged. Luz took a deep breath to help settle the anger churning in her chest.