The Girl of Colours (Book TWO)

Nobody's Perfect

Luke stepped forward, glaring at the woman who had imprisoned his mother in a painting. "What have you done with her?"

"Do you not like it?" She asked with a smile. "I mean, I know art is subjective, but I think she looks as pretty as a picture. Well, most pictures. I think we can all agree I'm in a different league, and I know that your little lady friend agrees. How long were you there for when I was being painted?"

Oh, they would have found out anyway. "We were there when he did your face. About 4 months, and Leo, well, I lost count of the amount of times he tried to marry me. I'm Calliope by the way. In case you never learnt my name. And I'd listen to my boyfriend, he's a lot nicer than I."

"Get my mum out of that painting." He shouted at her. "Now!"

The woman made a baby face, copying the exact expression I used when I was trying to get my way with dad. "So you can say sowwy?" Luke blinked, like he was really confused. "Well, only an hour ago you didn't need her. Nothing gets past me, kids and old lady. You were all we can do this ourselves."

I growled, feeling rage build inside me, and knew my voice was getting more powerful. "Leave him alone!"

Lisa smirked at him. "Not such the hero now, eh? Hiding behind your girlfriend."

"Don't worry, young man." Harding tried to say, wary of how the glass was rattling as I spoke. "Your mother is perfectly safe, just like Miss Trupp here. As soon as Mona Lisa has found her brother, she will release them both, I am sure." You may have been, but I wasn't so sure.

"Her brother?" Clyde asked, stood close to us with Rani.

"It's another painting." I got that, Moron. But then there was another growl from beneath us, and I held Lukes hand tighter. "I think."

Rani looked from the floor to them. "You mean that?"

"Oh, boy," the artist sighed. "Have we got trouble."

The Mono Lisa smiled at him broadly. "Too right, sugar. If you know what's good for you, I'd butt out."

My Luke shook his head. "I can't do that. Whatever you're doing, my mum was going to stop you, and that means now I have to, with Callie."

" Ooo, couldn't you just eat them, Harders?" She patronised. "They're so sweet and they think they can handle me."

"And you want to know why?" Rani asked

"Because we can!" Luke finished, pushing her back and she tumbled over a seat, before I let out a scream, the glass of the paintings cracking as both Lisa and Harding held their ears. Perfect aim. "Come on, let's go! Callie, that's enough!"

"Luke, what are you doing?" Clyde asked as I finished screaming, and saw he'd grabbed the painting his mother was trapped inside.

Mona Lisa paused for a moment, rubbing her ears, another part copied from me. "I keep forgetting I've got legs now. And I wish I got your mouth, that was brilliant."

I was being dragged now, the heels really not a good plan as they were starting to break. "Hold up!" Rani called as we came into an empty gallery, still being set up. "It's okay. They're not following."

"Have you got any idea how she could've done this?" Clyde asked, looking between Luke and I. "I mean, you were the inspiration for her face, Cal."

Shaking my head, Luke answered for me as I looked around. "No, I don't understand any of it, and a face isn't a mind."

"Well, we'd better work it out fast." Rani told us firmly.

Ok, ok, think. "The Mona Lisa has existed for five centuries, Florence to here. There has to be a reason she's come to life and it has to be about this gallery. It can't be me, I've been to see her before, countless times."