Part 11 (1/2)

Dakota offered to do my hair for me, but I refused. I couldn't take the risk of her touching me again. I tried to do it myself, but because it was so long and thick, my handiwork ended up looking like a catastrophe. Thankfully, Miriam walked in on me, mid-catastrophe, and clicked her tongue. ”Oh no, little girl. Here, give me the brush.”

Miriam chose to pull my hair back and then she pinned it up into a fancy bun. I smiled, impressed.

”Thanks, Grams.”

It was nice, the aura of femininity. I never had much experience with it while traveling with my father. Now that I thought about it, I wondered how Lina always managed to look so gorgeous on stage. My Auntie Zetta would often help by sewing Lina's costumes, but apart from that, Lina did everything else on her own without any female guidance.

Since I was ready and dressed before anyone else, I decided to put on a pot of coffee. Afterwards, I peeked into Miriam's room and I saw her sitting at her vanity, curlers in her hair.

”Come in,” she called out.

”I just wanted to know if you cared for some coffee.” I slowly walked into her bedroom. She glanced up at my reflection through her mirror.

”Well, look at you!” she exclaimed, whistling. She turned from her vanity and then looked me over from head to toe.

”You look beautiful, Lo. That dress is simply stunning.”

”Thank you.” I smiled. ”Dakota bought it for me.”

Miriam tilted her head. ”Well, she always had good taste.” She winked at me. She began to pull the rollers from her hair, one by one, letting the short mahogany curls spring free. ”And yeah, I could use a mug of coffee. I'm sure it will be a long night. No sugar and fat free milk.”

I nodded. ”Be right back.”

While preparing Miriam's coffee, (which didn't even look drinkable due to its lack of real cream and sugar), Annika walked into the kitchen.

”Hey, Anni,” I greeted her.

”h.e.l.lo,” she said. She wore a daring black dress, the decolletage practically cut to her stomach.

”Wow,” I said. ”You look amazing.”

”Thanks,” she replied, drumming her fingers against the counter top.

”Do you want some coffee?”

”No.” She moved towards the wine rack. ”Coffee just isn't going to do the trick tonight.” She removed a bottle of merlot from its slot. ”This is what I need.”

She smiled. It was almost a wicked smile, in a way. I wondered if something was wrong with her. The memory of last night flashed through my mind and I remembered she had left the house to speak with Gabe just as I had come inside. I thought maybe their conversation was the cause of her strange mood. It seemed reasonable, considering she hadn't seen Gabe since their break-up.

I watched as Annika slowly poured the dark red wine into a gla.s.s. She held the gla.s.s up, gesturing a toast. ”To you,” she said, before taking a drink.

I tried to laugh, but it came out awkwardly. ”Okay, then. Um, cheers to me.”

She downed the entire gla.s.s before refilling it with more wine. I quickly left the kitchen to bring Miriam her coffee, wondering what the deal was with Annika's bizarre antics.

By the time Dakota and Miriam were almost ready to leave, I found myself alone with Annika in the kitchen again, waiting.

She sat there in a daze, circling the top of her wine gla.s.s with her fingers. I silently sat across from her on a stool at the island. Every now and then, I caught Annika staring at me. Her gaze seemed. . .almost menacing. I don't know, maybe I was imagining it. Then again, I had also thought the same thing about Molly- and that suspicion had proven to be right.

But this was Annika. Sweet, docile Annika. It just wasn't like her.

”You know, I had a dream about you,” Annika mentioned.

”Really?”

”Well, it was really more of a nightmare, I suppose.”

I held my breath, waiting for her continue. A lull had grown in the room and Annika seemed to be staring into s.p.a.ce, her eyes blank of any emotion. When she didn't say anything, I impatiently asked, ”So, what happened in the dream?”

She turned her attention back towards me. ”You were abducted.” She said the words without any feeling or emotion. Her expression remained blase even as I let out a little gasp.

”Don't worry,” she said. ”Your true love will search for you. He proclaimed he would not rest until he found you.”

Startled, I asked, ”Anni, is this one of those dreams that comes true? Do you ever just have regular dreams?”

She stared at me intently for a moment, as if she were looking right through me, lost in her own little world. And then she suddenly came to, smiling widely. ”It was just a dream, Lola. Not a premonition.”

A chilling tremor ran through me, enveloping me in coldness.

Did she mean what she said?

I forced myself to brush the terrifying feeling away. She couldn't possibly mean it. I didn't even have a true love.

”Anni, can you start the car up?” Miriam shouted from upstairs. ”I don't care if the Constantins' house is next door. I'm not walking in heels.”

”Sure thing,” Annika replied and stood up from her seat. She moved towards the sink. I a.s.sumed she was taking her wine gla.s.s there to be left for the wash.

Everything seemed to happen right at once.

Annika suddenly lost her footing and tripped directly in front of me. The contents of her gla.s.s flung at my chest, splas.h.i.+ng across the front of my silver gown.

”Oh, my dear,” Annika said. ”I'm so sorry.”

My jaw was left hanging open in shock.

The stain slowly expanded as it settled into the silky fabric. It was a vibrant contrast against the sliver- a bright crimson red.

Miriam and Dakota both appeared in the doorway of the kitchen at the same time. Both of their expressions seemed to match my own: completely horrified.

”What happened?” Miriam asked.

”I'm afraid I tripped,” Annika said innocently. ”It was an accident.” Her voice didn't seem to hold any real remorse. In fact, she stayed even-toned.

Dakota's eyes seemed to sparkle with anger as she glared at her sister. ”Her dress is ruined, Anni.”

As soon as I got a hold of myself, I grabbed a towel to wipe the residue from my chest and face.