Angels of Darkness

they would never find her and Emily again. And if she let herself buy into her own lies, she would never wonder what it would have been like to feel him inside her . . . She cut off that thought. The less she imagined it, the better.
    Karina opened the toothbrush. She would brush her teeth, locate her jeans, and check on her daughter. And then she would go out there and make a chocolate cake.
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    E mily seemed to have no memory of Lucas and Daniel’s fight the previous night. She slept well and when Karina had come to get her, she got a hug. The violent episode had passed her daughter by completely. Karina held her for a long time, breathing in the scent of her hair. They were both alive. She would get to keep Emily with her. It would be okay. It would be hard and painful, but it would be okay.
    Karina took Emily to the kitchen. Sunlight poured in through the open window. Nobody waited for her. Nobody demanded breakfast. The house was quiet and serene. Karina exhaled her tension, pulled the ingredients from the pantry, and started mixing the cake batter.
    Henry walked into the kitchen, looking a bit lost. “Good morning!”
    â€œGood morning!” Emily chirped.
    â€œI have something for you.” Henry put a drawing pad and a set of watercolor pencils on the table.
    â€œFor me?”
    â€œFor you.”
    Emily pried at the pencil case.
    â€œWhat do you say?” Karina murmured on autopilot.
    â€œThank you!”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Henry offered her a small smile.
    â€œWhere is everyone?”
    â€œThey’ve gone to check the perimeter net. What is it you’re making?”
    Karina glanced at him. “A chocolate cake. Did they go to check for signs of those people who sent the lizards to spy on us?”
    Henry nodded.
    â€œLucas called them Ordinators. Henry, who are they? Who are you?”
    Henry smiled again and slid his glasses up his nose. “It’s a long and complicated explanation. It’s better to wait a couple of days. Too much new information too fast will only make things worse.”
    â€œI’d like to know.”
    He shook his head. “You’ve been through a great deal of violence in the past two days and you’ve been exposed to things that conflict with your worldview. I don’t want to be the one to add to it.”
    â€œHenry, not knowing is worse. All I’m asking is that you don’t treat me like a slave who is told where to be and what to do and isn’t owed any explanation.”
    â€œNo,” he said quietly.
    They looked at each other over the table. Karina held his gaze. It might not have been wise, but she wouldn’t back down now.
    â€œLook, Mom, I drew Cedric!”
    Karina looked down at the ball of brown fluff that looked like a sheep with a sabertooth’s fangs. “That’s looks very nice, Emily.”
    When she looked up, the kitchen was empty. Henry had escaped.
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    T he cake smelled of chocolate and vanilla. When Karina took the two round pans out of the oven and set them out to cool, the familiar scents floated through the kitchen, so reminiscent of home and happy times, she almost cried.
    A door banged. She looked up just in time to see Lucas loom in the doorway. His face was grim. He glanced at the cake, then at her. She stared back, suddenly terrified that all her thoughts would pour out through her eyes.
    He didn’t seem to notice. “Would you like new clothes?”
    â€œYes.” Oh, God, yes.
    He jerked his head toward the door. “They have some things prepared for you at the main house. I didn’t know what size, so you have to come and try them on. Come on, I’ll walk with you.”
    â€œCan I come?” Emily slid off the chair.
    â€œYes,” Lucas said. “They have clothes for you, too.”
    â€œAnd Cedric?”
    â€œCedric doesn’t need clothes,” Lucas said.
    â€œCan he come with us?” Karina asked.
    â€œSure.”
    Karina washed her hands, wiped them on a towel, and followed Lucas out. The sun shone bright. Cedric already waited for them at the foot of the stairs. Emily stepped down and the bear-dog rolled to his feet and trotted next to her, nearly as tall as she was.
    Lucas led them out of the yard and down a dirt path. It wound around the hill, flanked on the left by stunted oaks and shrubs climbing up the slope and rolling off to the prairie on the right. Cedric and Emily pulled