Shadow of the Day (Wolf Moon Sequel)

Chapter 62: Curfew

Ivy POV

Lila came knocking at my bedroom door, distracting me from my pathetic attempt at homework. I had to lie down after getting home from school in the dark with a few advil until my head stopped hurting enough for me to sit and try to do some studying for history class, and it was so boring I was almost glad for the interruption even if I was behind in my reading and had a test coming up this week. 

"Thirty minute warning," Lila said, poking her head into my room. "Matt's gonna be here soon to do some studying so--"

"So? What does that have to do with me?" I said, gripping my highlighter. Thirty minutes? I had looked and felt so gross after another long day at school that I had already showered and thrown on pajamas and there was no way Matt was going to see me like this so soon after he had already seen me sick in bed for days on end.

"Nothing at all, just giving you a heads up. Do with that information whatever you like, but feel free to come down and study with us," she said, with such a knowing grin it felt like Matt coming over was designed specifically to drive me crazy. 

I turned back to my textbook, highlighting the first phrase I saw. "Okay, great, have fun."

"Suit yourself." Her footsteps sounded down the hall and down the stairs, bypassing Dad in his room who was catching up on work he'd missed while I'd been sick. 

As soon as I was sure Lila was downstairs, I got up from my desk and went hunting for a cute but casual outfit to relax at home in but still look attractive enough that if Matt saw me I'd be happy with.

I got as far as getting into a pair of leggings and a long blue shirt that brought out my eyes, and had only just grabbed my pink hairbrush from the bathroom when my phone rang in my room.

It rang once, twice, and I hurried from the bathroom with my hairbrush still in hand and reaching for my phone with the other.

Until I saw who was calling.

I froze, hand falling empty to my side, other hand clutching my brush tightly until I heard a crack in the plastic.

My phone stopped ringing, the missed call notification lighting up the screen.

A second later it rang again. Same name. Same paralyzing undecipherable feelings.

Answering it would be a mistake. There was no way any good could come from it, but Lila had also been hunting Devin for days and what if he was still around? What if they could get rid of him before he did something else?

My phone went dark before I could decide. Choice made.

I turned back to the bathroom, intent on pretending I had never seen it but my phone rang again.

What if it wasn't Devin? What if it was Joe and he was calling for help?

Before I could talk myself out of it, I snatched up my phone and answered.

"Hello Ivy, how is my darling daughter doing?" The voice was Joe's but the tone was all wrong, so cheerful and light and utterly patronizing. It almost wasn't even recognizable. He wasn't hiding behind Joe's face anymore. "Not still sick, are you? When you didn't answer the phone I worried something had happened to you, but I suppose you were just busy. Or maybe mad at your dear old dad for being away?"

"Devin."

He sighed heavily, dramatically disappointed and not at all surprised. "Cat's out of the bag now, is it? Not surprised. It was about time your sister fessed up."

"I don't want to talk to you."

"I think you do. If you didn't, you wouldn't have answered the phone."