Amaranthine

Chapter Seventeen

© Copyright 2011 

All work is property of Leah Crichton, any duplication or reproduction of all or part of the work without explicit permission by the author is illegal.

Atonement: (uh-tohn-muh-nt)

satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury, to make amends

reconciliation

 

That night my dream returned with one shocking difference. I was back in the car, then on the road, but this time the footsteps coming to save me didn’t belong to Orion. They were Damien’s. I woke up startled, but was now so used to the nightmare I didn’t scream anymore. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and trudged downstairs for cereal to find my mom and Luke already in the kitchen. My mom was busying herself making bacon and eggs.

“Morning, honey,” she said when she saw me. “How was your night?”

“It was eventful.” I didn’t want to reveal anything to her, but I didn’t want to lie, either. Tiptoeing around the subject and not providing any details was the solution.

“Well I must say, Ireland. That young man, Orion, is it? He seems like quite the catch.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I allowed. There was no way I was going to disclose to my mother that I had my heart crushed last night, that Orion was kissing someone else. I couldn't tell Luke either, especially not Luke. My pride couldn't take the hit. 

Luke rolled his eyes. “What is wrong with you people?”

My mom flipped the bacon. “Is there a problem? Am I missing something?”

“Yeah, Luke, is there a problem?” I said.

“You. Her,” Luke started, pointing his finger at my mom first, then me. “I can smell a jerk from a mile away, but you two are so superficial, so hung up on looks you don’t even see it! Instead you see a set of muscles, pretty eyes and a nice smile. This Orion guy is bad news, Mom. I know it.”

“Whatever, Luke!” I scowled, suddenly defensive for someone who didn’t deserve defending. “So Helena must be a member of Mensa, then? Cause God knows it wasn’t the fact that she is exotic and looks like a supermodel that attracted you to her.”

“That’s different, I.Q.”

“How is that different?” I retorted. “You have no idea at all what he’s like, so don’t pretend you do! You haven’t even said two words to him.” I could feel the anger bubbling up, threatening to explode. “So don’t you judge him.” I knew deep down that Orion deserved to be judged, because exactly as Luke had predicted, he wasn’t at all what he seemed to be—but Luke's constant disapproval still pissed me off.

 “The flipping dog doesn’t even like him. Did anybody else notice that, or was it just me?” Of course I knew now how right he was, but I’d watch paint dry before admitting it to him.  

“Well I like him, Ireland. Even if your brother doesn’t, and Luke, who is this Helena person your sister is talking about?”

I glared at Luke. Apparently my mother was unaware he had been spending so much time with a girl, or any time with a girl for that matter. Luke banged his coffee cup on the table and gathered the book he’d been reading. “You two are unbelievable.”

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Lost my appetite,” he said. He stomped up the stairs and slammed the door.