Page 17 of Prometheus' Priestess

The hallway light flickered on and the door opened a moment later to reveal a woman in her mid-thirties at best, with strawberry blonde hair that neatly bounced around her shoulders. She wore a white button-up top with sleeves rolled up, revealing her lightly freckled arms under the glow of the light and dark-green cargo capris which were held tightly to her small frame with a simple brown leather belt and brass buckle. She was much more petite than Amara had imagined, but when she saw who was at the door, the scowl on her face became mightylarge.

“What the HELL are you doing here, Ralph?!” she hissed in a furiouswhisper.

“Hey sis, good to see youtoo.”

The scowl deepened. Ralph’s sister kept one arm on the door, the other on the doorframe, blocking the entrance with her body.

“I told you I never wanted you to turn up on my doorstep again. And who the hell is this?”

The woman in the doorway pointed straight atAmara.

“This,” the Scotsman said, pushing Amara in between them, “is a friend of mine, who needs a hot meal and a place to stay for thenight.”

“Oh no I—” Amara began, but Ralph spoke over her loudly, apparently uncaring about waking up the neighbours.

“She’s never been to Edinburgh before. Would you really be the one to turn her away when I’ve told her so much about our proud hospitality? Would you see her sleep on the street?”

“I have a good mind to turn you away alright,” his sister scowled. She turned her assessing gaze to Amara, giving her the once over. As per usual with strangers, Amara felt their tension and automatically tried to soothe it by calming her own rapid heartbeat. Ralph’s sister did what all the others in the past had done, which was to take a deep breath and allow her shoulders to drop. Surmising Amara wasn’t a threat and nodding to herself, she gestured for Amara to walk past her before she slammed her arm back across the door jamb.

“Just this one night. I mean it, Ralph.”

“Ah you’re a good egg, Liss.”

“I’m a fool who can’t bear to think of people on the street is what I am,” she muttered as Ralph followed Amara down the thin corridor and into the illuminated kitchen at the end of it.

True to her brother’s word, Liss was an impeccable host. Her home was beautifully kept. While Amara had only been shown the kitchen and the spare room to place her bag down, it was enough to tell her exactly how proud this woman was of her home. Amara immediately likedher.

The kitchen itself was small with a light, round wooden table that had been sanded back to the grain, and four chairs, sitting smack bang in the middle of it. The fridge was to the right of the table and the countertops made their way from the fridge around the room in an L shape with plenty of white cupboards above them, apart from a window above the sink countertop. It would mean Liss would have her back to the table if she was washing dishes but at least she probably had a lovely view of her back garden during the day. The blind above the window was white with blue waves decorating the edges, which matched the table placemats and coasters. All the dishes were drying neatly on the white plastic rack beside the sink and there was nothing on the countertops that was out of place. Even the eggshell-blue microwave, kettle, and toaster looked artfully placed.

“This is all I have I’m afraid,” Liss said as she placed two large bowls of heated-up beef stew and potato dumplings in front of Amara and Ralph, accompanied with cans of lager, identical to the ones they had been drinking on the train together.

“It was supposed to see me and the kids through till tomorrow. Guess I’ll have to go to the shops in the morning instead,” shemuttered.

“We’re sorry for putting you out,” Amara said, though Ralph had already scooped his spoon deep in the bowl and had his mouth full, not looking apologetic in theslightest.

“Ah nothing for you to apologise for, love.” Liss sent a daggered stare at her brother, who continued − willingly or not − to be oblivious. Amara squirmed in herseat.

“Perhaps I should leave you two to catch up?” she offered.

“No. Stay. Eat. I need to go make up the spare bed for you,” Lisssaid.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa, Liss. Give our guest the good bed.” Ralph grinned that lopsided grin of his and Amara settled on the impression that he was being deliberately obtuse.

Liss said nothing directly but muttered something under her breath about “our guest alright,” before heading out of the small kitchen, back into the hallway, and up the stairs on the right to make up the extra bed. Quietly, of course. She’d already told them − more specifically, a loud Ralph − to keep it down as all the little ones were asleep.

When Amara was sure she was out of earshot, she finally looked at her traincompanion.

“So, your sister didn’t know you werecoming.”

“Aye, I was coming to make amends.” At least now he had the decency to look sheepish.

“And you thought to use me as ... a bargaining chip?” Amara scrunched up hernose.

“Nah, not at all. I just, well, it’s always easier when there’s a buffer there, ya know? And yeah, I saw an opportunity. But I’m not sorry I took it. Can you really tell me youare?”

Amara went to argue then closed her mouth again. She couldn’t exactly disagree. Given how much the meal in London had cost her, and the train fare, being given a free meal and roof over her head for the first night in a new city had certainly been welcome, not least to her wad of cash tucked away upstairs with herbelongings.

“Still, I don’t like beingused.”

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