Two days left.
I didn't know what the lady in Litropolis meant, and I didn't want to know. I needed to focus on the task at hand. We were spending one more day going over academics, and I had learned nothing so far.
"They're going to think you're stupid, Nay," Dorian said as he flipped through a chemistry book.
"Let them. I hear that's kind of cool anyway."
Bram sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. The night we came back from Litropolis, Father had flipped about Bram's ear gauge plugs and Dorian's black eye. I didn't even want to think about what Mother would say when she came back. Bram had yet to reveal his tattoo. That would be a whole new episode.
"Feeling good, kids? The day after tomorrow you'll be on your way," Father said, entering the kitchen with his tablet.
This was all Father had talked about lately. He was already planning how he would decorate our mansion in the Upper Estates. I wanted to tell him what the woman had said in Litropolis, to ask him what he thought it meant, but if he and Bram knew we had gone back, they'd kill me.
Bram blew on his coffee. "Can't wait."
"I hope I have a science class," Dorian said. Then he caught himself. Worrying about a science class wouldn’t impress Father. "I mean, I can't wait to collect all those lifestones."
"Do you think Mother will be back before we go?" I asked.
Father kissed my forehead. "I don't know, Darkness. I hope so, but I wouldn't count on it."
The doorbell rang, and Dorian ran to answer it. Mr. Dunningham entered with his dogs and assistant. It was going to be one of those days. Doyle arrived minutes after.
Thankfully, Father found a way to coax Dunningham to his study to look at some research he had been doing. That past week he had been secretive about it. Even though I often asked what he was studying, I was always told that it didn't concern me.
Keira and Josh arrived, and we took our places in the living room. Neither Keira nor I had talked about what happened the day before. It was best to keep it a secret.
After another day of looking through textbooks, Chase, Keira, and I went to Brickman's.
"I got dispatched. I'm leaving in an hour," Chase announced.
I was bummed that I wouldn't be able to see him tomorrow.
Chase slurped the last of his soda. "This might be the last time I see you guys. Ever."
Keira picked at her chipped black nail polish. "What?"
"I'm going on assignment. Who knows how long you guys are going to be gone? What if I'm on assignment when you come back and you move before I come home?"
I sighed. "Chase, we've already been through this. We will come to visit you all the time."
Chase slouched down in his seat like he didn't believe me, but I meant it. I had no intentions of making new friends in the Upper Estates. Chase and Keira were all I needed.
Speaking of the Upper Estates — the bell above the door rang as Sable walked in with two other girls. Sable had lived in Farrington up until a few months ago. An earthquake had earned her family enough money to move out of Farrington. Sable had been all right when she lived here, but once she moved, she changed into an entirely different person. I vowed not to let that happen to me.
I was surprised they were in a place like Brickman's. They had their own upper-crust hang-outs in the Upper Estates.
Sable sauntered over to our table. She had dark features like every other Grim, but her extraordinary cheekbones made her stand out. I tried not to stare as she stood over us, her long black hair falling over her shoulders.
"So I hear there's going to be a reunion soon," she said as her friends sat at another booth.
"A reunion?" Keira asked.
"Yes. We'll be able to be friends again once you guys move to the Upper Estates."
Keira rolled her eyes. "There was never anything keeping us from being friends, Sable. You can come here anytime you like."
"Yes, of course, but that's just not the way it works there, girls."
Chase cleared his throat as if to say, "I told you so."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Chase," Sable said. "I'm sure you're going to miss them, but who knows? Maybe one day your family will make it over the wall."
"Chase doesn't have to wait for one day," I said. "We'll be seeing him every day."
Chase slid out of the booth. "I have to go. I have an assignment. Good luck, guys," he told Keira and me.
Sable took his vacated seat. "What's his problem?" Neither Keira nor I answered. "Look, girls, I'm sorry. You'll understand once you get over there. Oh, it's absolutely amazing. We have the best shops and restaurants. The houses are spectacular. You'll have servants and drivers. I hardly walk anywhere—except when I come here."
Cars were forbidden in Farrington, but everyone had one in the Upper Estates.
"And the guys. Your parents can hook you up with the créme de la créme. You won't ever have to worry about anything—running out of years, money, anything. Dunningham really looks out for us. Don't even get me started on the parties and balls.”
"Is that so?" Keira asked, sounding completely uninterested.
"I can't believe you guys. You should be ecstatic, and you're acting like you don't even care."
"We care," I replied. "What do you want us to do, turn cartwheels?"
"I'm sure Bram is happy," Sable said slyly. Every girl I knew had to work Bram into the conversation.
"Why are you worried about Bram?" Keira asked.
Why was she worried about Sable being worried about Bram?
Sable sighed. "I can see you guys are in bad moods, so I'll leave you alone. You'll come crawling to me once you're in the Upper Estates and you need someone to show you the ropes."
She and her friends left without ordering anything. Clearly, she had only come to offer us her expertise on the Upper Estates.
Chapter 10
Naomi Grim (The Silver Scythe Chronicles) Part 1 Page 11