8 In which Evelyn burns

Something was lovely and warm near by. I had drifted out of my head slowly. Like I was by my grandmothers fire all those years ago.

Some thought pulled at the edges of my mind.

Where's Mina?

The room came into focus, a large brown couch worn around the edges, draped in a dark green blanket. An aged coffee table in the corner, leaning hard on its legs. My living room. I turned to see my mother. She looked down on my face and pinched her lips together.

"You've already asked ten times today," she said gently.

I looked around but there was no warm fire. Of course not it was my living room. We had no fire place.

"Mina comes home today," mom said, glancing at a clock mounted on the wall. "She's be here any moment."

I turned toward the door, leaning forward on my knees. For I knew who was with her and I won't miss it for the world.

Then I heard the foot steps, clumping ones occupied by an even set.

My father.

Mom stood by the door, prepared to let them in. Mina came running in first. She was young, her cheeks rosy, and red hair pulled into pig tails, clipped with two little pink bows I'd never seen before. She clutched a bundle of toys, new toys.

"Evelyn," she launched into my arms, "I missed you! I missed you so much!"

I laughed. But I peered around her head at the man with her. He was still towering, still dark with focused eyes. Mom talked to him quietly, so I couldn't hear her words. His face was drawn, listening uninterested.

I pulled Mina off me and walked toward him nervously. I waited for him to see me, but before I got close mom closed the door between him and I. I came right up to the door and pressed my ear to it. Mina fluttered at my side, still clutching a doll with a plaid dress.

I heard murmuring from the other side.

"They're your girls too," I heard mom say.

"Penny you know I'm busy with work, it was nice to see Mina for the first time. But I really can't."

"What about Evelyn,"

A long drawn sigh.

"She's your daughter,"

I leaned hopefully forward. I wanted to see dad, I wanted him to hold like he did when I was young.

"Penny I can't right now, maybe in a few months if things settle," he said.

Then I heard their voices get louder and more heated. Mina backed away in fright. She sat on the floor a couple tears running down her cheeks. I retreated, pulling her into my lap I stroked her hair.

"It'll all be okay," I said gently.

Then I heard the door slam, I stumbled when I ran to the door.

"Daddy," I cried.

"Eve."

The voice was wrong though, it was a girls. I felt hands on me, pulling, but I wasn't awake. The living room flickered and disappeared, and everything was black.

"Wake up!" I heard her again.

I was being carried now, the warmth was disappearing from me. I felt grass under me. But my eyes won't open.

"Drink this," I felt something cold at my lips, then liquid pouring down my throat. At once my energy surged back, as did my memory. I snapped my eyes open, I was looking at the sky, and it was getting dark now. There was something far to bright nearby.

It was the fire.

Mina! Where was Mina.

I sat bolt upright, but the only person near me was a girl with glowing eyes.