Cumin: Book 1

Anticipating Expectation

My mother had always wanted to have more children. After father died, I remembered she often played with the idea of going out and finding a new husband, though young as I was, I could see she still couldn't let go of the memory of him. Often times, when she remembered him most, she would hold me so close I couldn't see her tears, only feel her shaking behind me. I knew to hold still. It was important that I hold still.

But I had always wanted to twist around and hug her tight. Not because I understood, but because her shaking made me feel like my whole world was about to shake apart with her. Mother had been my world. My entire world, and her grief the earthquake that might shatter it.

How much so could that be with an unborn baby than with a six year old? And what happened when your world was taken away?

I reflected on this as I kept watch on the two rows of monitors before me. The night vision camera didn't mix well with flashlights, and since just about everyone in the attic seemed to have one, I ended up having to depend on the infrared camera instead. The red of their bodies had made me think of the red world of the womb. A heavy, unsettled ache hadn't left since I had had that vision, and while it didn't actively get in my way, it did weigh on my thoughts. Monk had mentioned that I was less chirpy than usual, and I would have shrugged it off if it wasn't for the fact I realized he was right.

I heaved a sigh, hoping to blow some of it out. "Out of all the things we had to get, why couldn't it be hexers or even latent psychics? Yeah, we haven't had a good latent psychic case in a while."

The tiny speaker next to my microphone crackled. "You left the mic on, Mai."

If it had been anyone else I would have apologized and switched it off. But since Naru had that lofty, almost inaudible lilt at the end of his tone that told me he was amused, I grabbed a handful of paper nearby and crackled it against the mic.

"What's that? Didn't catch you."

"I know that's paper."

Caught in the act, I switched off the microphone and slapped my forehead hard against the table. The sting and ringing in my ears helped my annoyance just a bit. At the same time, a small part of me had been hoping...what? That he'd laugh? Had I been trying to play with him? Course I was. Arrogant narcissist needed a good laugh to get off his high horse.

The speaker crackled again. "Please care for the brain cells you have by not hitting your head against the desk, please."

I snapped up and checked the mic. It was off. I asked some questions to the others in it to test it, but sure enough, nothing.

Once again, Naru had lucky guessed me.

I could feel my face heating up. "Damn it, Naru, don't do that to me!" It wasn't like I wanted to stay in love with him, and if he kept showing how much attention he paid me—

A loud cracking of wood buzzed the overly sensitive mics. With a wince I turned down the volume on my headphones.

"The door's been glued shut, but it's here, as you said," came Lin's voice.

"I really need to rough arm you into giving me the lottery numbers one of these days," said Takigawa with a low whistle.

"I'm flattered, but this was quite obvious," said Naru.

"Wait, are you saying you know the lottery number?"

"Nevermind that. Lin, do you see them?"

After a few seconds pause, Lin said, "I see boxes or chests of sort, hold on."

I gripped my elbows, eyes glued to the screen like an episode of Sherlock I had yet to watch. The scary music had yet to play in the background, so that meant any moment now something freaky would happen.