Chapter Seven #3
Anya sighed. “Yes, well, her parents are very good at spoiling them. It was never something that was extended to her when she was young, so this must be painful for her.”
Ted glared at her aunt and uncle. “Yeah, I remember that. She got quiet because no one ever paid attention to her. Everyone was on omega watch, and none of them showed up in the bloodline. I liked hanging out with her because when I was with her, everyone stopped looking. Her aura repelled family attention.”
Anya sighed. “I am going to speak with her grandfather. Her trust is probably gone, but if it is retrievable, I would like him to find it.”
“Ask Lucia. If the money is there, she can locate it.”
Anya smiled. “I want family to do something for her. I am going to begin handing out assignments. That includes helping her with her clothing. Is that dress really all that she has?”
“Yup. It was on the statue when it was sculpted. I was impressed. The images of her were her in bulky shirts and baggy jeans at events where the women were instructed to wear gowns. Somehow, no one ever told her or helped her so she would fit in.” Ted sighed.
“Even I had dresses, and I fucking hated them. My parents tried to help me fit in, and hers didn’t seem to extend themselves into caring about their dorky little girl. ”
Anya sighed. “She just didn’t seem interested in family events.”
“She spent every event making food. She wasn’t allowed interest in family events.”
Anya blinked away tears. “I am remembering, but she is coming back far more slowly than you did.”
“Because the family erased her first. Their minds already turned away from her and faded her to nothing. It was easy for them to take her and hide her. As she stated, no one was looking. Even me. I forgot all about her. That is a deadly fucking curse.” She flicked her braids over her shoulder before she rubbed her eyes.
Ormyet asked softly, “How many others do you think were cursed?”
“I can only feel one other. She’s strong, so it was recent.”
Her phone pinged, and Ted smiled as she left. I have already told Regis about her. They are looking for her now.
She chuckled. “Okay, just a note. Lucia is listening.”
Another ping. Through the phones. I guess I am the cellphone mage. Hah!
“You don’t mind us discussing you?”
Hurts less than being there and seeing all the blank and guilty faces. You always were better with the family. I never knew how to start.
“Go take a hot soak, Lucia.”
Rolling giggling emojis ran across the screen.
Anya smiled. “She is happy?”
“She is relaxed. I don’t know about happy. But she’s slightly unstable from her time alone. Her conversation is like talking with someone three drinks in. Lots of enthusiasm and a hefty dose of aggression.” The gif of a tongue flapping in an epic raspberry filled her phone screen. Ted chuckled.
Anya smiled. “She seems to be in good spirits.”
“She has a body for the first time in six years. She doesn’t have to fight to hold herself together. It’s like pushing against a wall that suddenly isn’t there, for years.”
Anya nodded. “Mr. Ormyet, Ted, please have a seat. We have much to discuss.”
Ted smiled and settled near her grandmother. Nora sat near them as well. Ormyet poured tea and then held Aurora and her brother while Sabin kissed Nora’s cheek and headed to work.
Ted watched the nanny, unsure whether to claim the children or not. Aurora was sitting on Ormyet’s shoulders, and the baby was content to just stare at him.
Ted cleared her throat. “Ormyet, is that a normal response by the children?”
He grinned. “It is. To me at least. My siblings used to crawl all over me. Kids love me.” He waggled his brows at her.
Anya chuckled. “So you are interested in children?”
“Oh, very. But I can wait.” He grinned. “So do you do your own hair, or do you get it done? I am trying to get an inkling of what our kids will look like. I am going to have to look into hairstyles that will be practical and warrior-like for any daughters we have.”
Ted stared at him in astonishment as he let Aurora dangle from his forearm. He spoke so casually that she was stuck looking at him as he dangled the little omega a few inches above the ground.
Anya chuckled and said, “This explains what I was seeing. They look like little dryads.”
Ted blinked. “What?”
“Their skin is a woodland green and dark hair, and they are climbing everywhere.”
Ormyet smiled and continued to play with the children. “I will show Ted how to make glamour charms for the children. They will look just like their cousins.”
Ted’s mouth opened and closed with a snap. He gave her an innocent smirk, and Nora chuckled.
Anya smiled. “I am just going to hope Ormyet is persuasive and start working on baby clothes.”
Anya’s phone pinged, and she looked and smiled. “I can make those.”
Ted looked over. “What was that?”
“Patterns for baby clothes. Super soft and easy to manage.” She grinned. “Lucia says just in case.”
Ted looked around, and her family was amused, and Ormyet had that slight smile as he played with her little cousins. She was just rescued from her fate, so why did she suddenly feel doomed all over?