The Flaws In Everything

21 - Rumour Has It

Chapter 21 - 'Rumour Has It'

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Lyre hardly slept. By the time she arrived back in her old bedroom, the sun was winking at her, amused with her less-than-favourable situation. After coming back to the house last night alive and in the presence of a god, her family had been startled to say the least. The council had updated them, of course, but somehow seeing such a spectacle in person was vastly different.

Tenebris had told Lyre to go upstairs in an uncompromising tone, and although she would normally protest, something in his expression persuaded her otherwise. She hadn't seen her father since then, and she didn't plan to. Before entering her room however, she did have to walk through the living room.

Yara and her mother were both sat on the sofa, divulging in whispers that ceased once she entered. They didn't say anything to each other, but Lyre couldn't help noticing the tear tracks on their faces that were so alike. She didn't want to get her hopes up by thinking they were spilled over her, so instead she merely quickened her pace to her bedroom and bolted her door shut.

That incidence only added to the turmoil that spun through Lyre's mind, at the forefront of the awakening dawn. Even when she managed to sleep, her dreams were either plagued by the trauma of screams and unrelenting fire, or interrupted by the god of night. It seemed she could neither escape him, nor the consequences of the evening. She was almost grateful when it was time to get up.

By the time she made it downstairs, there was chaos.

"Like hell am I marrying that sap!" Ensley screamed. Or at least Lyre thought it was Ensley. She truly had never heard her so impassioned.

"You will and that is final. I already have one daughter who is a disgrace, I will not have another! And where is Adalyn? She should be up by now." Her father matched her tone. Lyre lingered at the entrance to the dining room, before deciding to jump straight in. They were already mad at Ensley, but Lyre knew how to take the heat more than her usually well behaved sister.

"Yeah, well maybe we should all take a page from Lyre's book and actually start looking after ourselves for once!" Ensley spit back, before abruptly stopping at the sight of her rebel sister.

Lyre grinned back sheepishly. Her father was sat at the head of the table, whilst her mother sat at the other end, looking frustrated. Yara and Ensley sat either side of their father, whilst Adalyn's usual place next to Yara and closest to her mother, was empty. Normally when her family engaged in an angry spat, Adalyn would sit there eating happily, watching the tension unfold as if it were her own personal entertainment. It seemed odd that she wasn't up yet, for usually she had front row tickets to any drama.

Without an invitation, Lyre crossed the room to sit next to Ensley. This was her usual place at the table, when she was allowed to eat with them that is. They all stared at her for a moment, identical expressions painting across their brows, as if they weren't in the middle of an argument.

Lyre retracted in on herself for a moment, unsure as to why they stared at her with such newfound intensity, tracing her features with perplexity in their eyes. It was if they were seeing a stranger, and Lyre wondered if she had something on her face. As soon as her eyebrows furrowed, consciously raising a hand to touch her face, they snapped their eyes away.

"Lyre, how nice of you to join us." Her father said with an attempt of a smile. Lyre did a double take. It seemed forced, yes, but not sarcastic in the slightest.

"Um, what?" She asked dumbly, staring at her father as if he were an alien.

"Please, eat." He answered, almost cringing at his own attempt of kindness.