Page 20 of Cyber
My eyes scanned the room again. There were two people missing, but I didn't get a chance to ask where they were before Fang opened his mouth and yawned loudly.
Maggie's eyes flashed. “Keeping you up are we?”
Giving her a cheeky wink, he settled himself back on the cushions. “You know I will always make time for you, beautiful.”
“Your charm won’t work on me, Fang. You called this meeting, so what have you found out?”
Fang's brown eyes narrowed, and he glanced at me. He was trying to work out how much he could tell her. It wasn't that we didn't trust her. We all trusted Maggie with our lives. I shook my head quickly. I didn’t even know what made me do it, but Maggie had been hurt enough.
“If you shake your head one more time when my back is turned, Cyber, me and you are going to have problems.”
Hiding my grin behind my hand, I shook my head again. I wasn't sure how she had seen, but somehow she had. Maybe that particular superpower came from being a mother.
Did Iris have that power?
What kind of mother was she?
I would bet she was a loving one. It was clear she doted on that little girl of hers, that she would do anything for her.
“It won't happen again, ma’am,” I chuckled and Maggie's huff was loud in the sudden quiet of the room.
“What have you found out?” Her eyes bored into mine as she turned back to me. “We haven't seen you here in weeks and now here you are. It's pretty clear you have found something.”
I couldn't help it. I looked away, running my hand through my hair.
“Cyber?”
“Just tell her.” Fang's voice was soft, and his usually hard eyes were filled with sympathy. It was strange seeing that look in his eyes.
“Do you have a photo of Violet?” I couldn't bring myself to tell her outright what we had found. It was hard enough having the thoughts in my own head. I didn't want to burden Maggie with it as well. For all her toughness, Maggie was a kind woman. A loving one.
Her lined eyes widened. “Why?” She sounded small. She knew why. I could see it in the despair that settled over her face. “Why, Cyber?” Her age spotted hands clutched at the blanket over her legs, twisting the material in her fists.
“I just need to see a photo.” I kept my voice soft.
“I don't know where she keeps it. Iris has a tiny one from when Violet was a toddler. That's all…” She trailed off into a small sob. “I’ll go and…”
“I'll go and get it from her, you stay where you are.” Wearily, I climbed to my feet. It was probably best if I spoke to Iris alone.
“I can go.”
I shook my head at Fang. No, this was all on me. I was the one she knew and hated. We had history. I knew that I should be the one who spoke to her.
“Is she in her room?” I had to admit I had been looking forward to seeing her.
“No.” It was Maggie's turn to pause. “She isn't here.”
I froze. “What do you mean she isn't here?” A pit opened in my stomach, a sinking feeling that threatened to swallow me up. “Where is she?” My voice rose, and Fang shot me a warning look that I ignored totally.
“She's on a date.”
I blinked slowly as I struggled to make sense of Maggie’s words. And when they did, the rage boiled over, scalding me from the inside. My hands clenched into fists at my side. “What do you mean she’s on a date?” My eyes darted around the room again.
There were two people missing.
Iris.
And Monster.
