Page 2 of Shadow's Sinner

I roll my eyes, turning the plate forty-five degrees so the hummingbird faces the clock on the wall. There’s a long list of things our parents don’t allow in this household—no boys, no alcohol, no drugs, and no movies. While going to the movies on that list is odd, I don’t question them. So if Lilianna thinks they’ll let her go out with friends to the movies, that won’t happen.

“I’m sure your father and I can discuss it.”

I swing my head around; my jaw hits the floor. Aliens have taken over her body. That’s the only explanation. Mom would have shot her down before Lilianna could even finish that question. They’re strict, and while it’s worse for me, most of the same rules apply to her.

“Lakelyn, close your mouth before you let the Devil inside,” Mom hisses.

I snap my mouth closed, my hands clamping to fists against my side.Breathe, one, two, three, breathe.

“Lilianna, go get your father,” Mom says, smiling over at her favorite daughter. Lilianna leaves the glasses on the counter, smirking at me as she crosses the kitchen.

“Don’t just stand there!” Mom's voice cracks in annoyance.

I grab the cups, not saying anything. It wouldn't matter if I did anyway. I place them on the table and grab the Brita for Lilianna and me while Dad enjoys his whiskey and Mom enjoys her red wine.

I hold my breath, take the liver dish from Mom, and place it in the middle of the table. I stand to the side, waiting for Dad and Lilianna to return. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long before Dad enters the kitchen.

“Hmmm, smells good,” he says a little too cheerfully. I bite my inner cheek, forcing the bile back down. “Let’s eat.”

We each sit down one by one. Dad gets the first helpings, Mom, Lilianna, and I last. They left the biggest piece of liver for me, as they do once a week when Mom makes it. My hand tightens around the serving spoon, despising the second I place it on my plate.

“Lakelyn, how about you say prayers tonight?” Dad announces.

I bow my head and fold my hands together. “Our beloved king, thank you for this food we are about to eat. We ask that you bestow this food with your protection and continue guiding our family along your path. In the name of your disciple, Master Simon, amen.” I repeat the same prayer I say most nights.

“Amen,” the rest of them mutter around the table.

“How was school today, girls?” Dad asks, cutting into his food. I keep my eyes down on my plate, the liver mocking me.

“It was wonderful. I got my essay back. Guess what? I can’t even hold it in, and I got an A plus!” Lilianna chuckles before I hear the scrape of her teeth against the fork. My eye twitches, my fingers tightening around my own.

“That’s amazing news. I knew you could do it,” Mom praises her. If only they knew what her daughter was really up to, they wouldn’t be that proud of her.

“And what about you, Lakelyn? Your mother told me you had a study group with some girls at the library.” I can feel his eyes fall on me, boring into my skull and mind. He’s picking the lie out of me. Sweat beads at my forehead, and my throat feels tight, closing around my windpipe.

“It was good,” I mutter. As much as I don’t want this liver, I force a forkful into my mouth so I don’t have to say anything else.

“What did you have to study?”

I hardly chew my food, swallowing the bitter liver. The taste is almost like a dirty penny as it explodes on my tongue and slidesdown my throat. I reach across the table for my water, trying to drown out the taste. My mouth is drier than the desert, and I can feel the food stuck in my throat.

“It was math, was it not?” Lilianna asks. My eyes dart to her, brows drawn together. What is she trying to do?

“Uh, yeah,” my voice is muffled and uncertain. I set down my glass, unable to see any of their eyes.

“Really? I thought your mother said it was English.”

My eyes snap up to Mom before I blink over at Lilianna. Her lip tips up in a smirk before she takes another bite of her food. Smacking her lips as she chews her food.

“You’re right, I forgot.” I pull my bottom lip between my teeth.Stop freaking out.

Dad grunts but doesn’t comment on me “forgetting.” He doesn’t believe someone can forget anything so simple. Thankfully, the rest of dinner goes over smoothly, even as I dry heave half a dozen times, getting my dinner down. Lilianna keeps the conversation focused on her as usual, and this might be the first time I’m completely okay with it.

By my last bite, I feel nauseous, and my fingers tingle with the need to reach down my throat. I force myself to save the last bit of water until my plate is empty before draining the rest.

“Thank you for dinner, Mom,” Lilianna says, leaning over and kissing Mom’s cheek.

“Thank you for dinner,” I say mindlessly.

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