Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter twenty. house of sibuna

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            Amber looks at us, all of us. "You've got to start working together. It's time to reform Sibuna."

            Sibuna. God, I've missed Sibuna.

            KT whispers a question to Eddie; he says he'll tell her later. "It's a good thing, KT," Fabian tells her, a smile on his face. "Are you up for it?" KT grins, nodding.

            "And you need a new leader," Amber says. "I think two of them, in fact. As the longest standing member, I vote for Fabian and Ashley."

            Fabian immediately denies her choice. "No, no, no, no. No, I can't be leader—co-leader. I'm not the Osirian. Or the Bringer of Death."

            "The Bringer of what?" KT asks, eyes wide.

            "No, don't worry," Eddie tells her quickly, "it's a good thing, too. Right, Ash?"

            "I really hate whoever came up with that name," I mutter. "That's, uh, me—it's a whole bloodline...thing with Anubis three thousand years ago. It's a whole weird thing we can explain to you later." I look at Eddie next. "So, the Osirian and the Bringer of Death co-leading Sibuna. You up for it, Osirian?"

            Eddie looks across at us, only now seeming to realize Fabian voted for him instead. "What, you want me to co-lead Sibuna?"

            "I'm a better wingman," Fabian comments.

            "And," KT adds, "who better to explain to your dad that what he's doing is wrong? His son and his niece."

            Eddie looks at me. I give him a thumbs-up, and he smiles. "Yeah, bring it on." Fabian gives him a hug.

            Amber smiles serenely. "My work here is done. Now it's time to sprinkle some of that magic in fashion school."

            Oh. I forgot. She's leaving. She won't be my roommate anymore. I'm going to lose my best friend. She's not going to be in Sibuna with us.

            Amber notices that our smiles have all fallen. Hers falls a little as well as Alfie asks, "You have to go now?"

            "It's all been arranged," Amber answers. "Sweetie, Denby, and Victor want me out of here."

            "Did they threaten you?" Patricia asks. "What did they say?"

            "Don't worry," Amber says. "But Daddy's waiting in the car. I just snuck out to say goodbye." I look to the ground, briefly closing my eyes. This reminds me of when Nina told me she wasn't coming back—except I didn't get to give her a goodbye hug. At least this time will be different. "Well, hello, a hug maybe?"