Distant Fires of Heaven (The Malevolent Sacrifices #1)

Birthdays Are For Those Worth Celebrating

Rosemary jiggled the door to Juliet's room, learned it was locked and decided better of it than to knock.
She walked downstairs, following the trail of food until she found the kitchen.
So many Blackthorns under one ceiling, Rose wondered how Julian was whistling while he cooked.
Mark Blackthorn, Juliet's uncle, stood by a toaster, slowly putting bread in the machine.
"You have to work faster than that, Mark." Jace said to him. Okay, a lot of Blackthorns, one Herondale.
"Toasters are tricksters of the mind." Mark informed him, then pulled down the lever and watched silently.
Drusilla started laughing. "Don't mind him Jace, he hates anything that can pop out at him."
"Listen, that chipmunk had it coming." Mark stated.
"You didn't need to step on the poor thing." Drusilla said. "That's capital murder!"
"Capital murder?" Tiberius Blackthorn said raising his head from a book. Sherlock Holmes. He has good taste.
"Yes, Ty! He murdered a chipmunk!" Drusilla protested.
"It scared me! AGH!" Mark jumped back as the toaster popped the toast out. Julian pinched the skin between his eyes.
"I knew I should have asked Helen to help me." He sighed.
"I can help, Mr. Blackthorn." Rose offered. Everyone must have just noticed she was there. She smiled softly. "I know you have some mouthes to feed." She walked into the kitchen now. "I'm willing to be put to work."
"Rose, you don't need to keep calling me, Mr. Blackthorn." Julian laughed. "Call me Jules."
She nodded. "Alright then, Jules. What can I do to help?"
"Well, Liv doesn't like anything but oatmeal. I want her to eat before the rest of us because she makes a mess. Can you make her oatmeal? It's the cabinet next to the fridge." Julian said. Rose nodded and walked over pulling out strawberry oatmeal -the only one in the cabinet- and closed the door. She made Liv her oatmeal, listening to Julian as he advised her to put a splash of milk in it to help cool it down.
"So where's mom?" Rosemary asked Jace as she stirred Liv's oatmeal.
"She and Effy went back to New York with Simon and Isabelle Something happened with Ariel last night. They should be back before Juliet's party though." Jace said and cringed as Mark screeched at the toaster again.
"Okay, enough. My head hurts." Kit groaned walking in. Kit Herondale is a distant relative of Rosemary, she hasn't seen him in the longest time. "Mark, you're officially off toaster duty." He patted Rosemary's back as he walked by. "Hey Rosie." He smiled at her.
She smiled in return and then watched as he and Jace embraced a manly hug. He leaned down and pecked a kiss onto Ty's cheek. Kit then did as he said, and booted Mark away from the toaster.
Mark went and sat down next to Drusilla.
"Is it alright if I ask you Rosemary," Ty started. She looked over at him. "About these roses that have been popping up?"
Rosemary felt her veins heat. She kept stirring the bowl. "Oh, uh, sure." She thought about last night, wondering what it was Mason, Ethan and Effy found, if they found anything at all.
"What do you know about it?" Ty asked her. Seemingly so, everyone was interested.
My sister is the one behind them.
"I think they're threats. I think that whoever is planning them wants war. I think Juliet is a target, or the Blackthorns in general. I only know what Juliet has told me, I know she wants to put the pieces together."
"We all want to put the pieces together." Jace said to her.
Julian agreed. "Especially if it's my family that's the target." He continued to flip pancakes.
She could feel her veins catching fire. She watched as little Liv walked into the room for her oatmeal. This little girl could be in danger the moment this war breaks out.
She walked over to Rosemary. "Hi Rosie!" She giggled. "You have my oatmeal?" She asked.
Rosemary smiled and nodded. "Yes I do little bug."
"Keep an eye on her while she eats, little bug likes to make a mess." Julian said and Liv made a face at him.
"No I don't!" She protested.
"Yes, Liv. You do." He said and Liv sighed.
"Alright then. Come on Rosie. Do you think you can tell me a story while I eat?" She asked as Rose carries her oatmeal into the dining room for her.
"Of course I can little bug. Of course I can."
Little Livia Blackthorn, a target just because she's a Blackthorn. If it is specifically the Blackthorns and not just Juliet, Rose wouldn't know what to do if they lost their youngest in this war.