Read Online The Prophecy (Daughters of the People Series Book 1) by Lucy Varna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lucy Varna
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Maya said. “Will you
stay the night here or at the dorm?”
Dierdre grimaced.
“At the dorm. We’ve got a hike first thing in the morning and I don’t want to
miss it, not with the exhibition coming up.”
Maya stifled her
disappointment. A month-long absence wasn’t enough to justify skipping planned
activities no matter how much she’d missed her daughter. “An early night, then.
Maybe we can make up for it with a little extra family time this weekend.”
Dierdre lightly
hit the side of her head and cupped a hand behind one ear. “I’m sorry. Maybe I
didn’t hear you right. What was that you said about taking me to the mall on
Sunday?”
Maya laughed and
shooed the giggling teenager into her bedroom and the homework awaiting her
daughter’s attention.
* * *
Half an hour later,
Maya knocked on the door leading into Director Upton’s office.
“Come in,” a
muffled voice called.
Maya entered and
closed the door behind herself. Rebecca was seated behind her desk talking on
the phone. Maya looked politely away, giving the director at least the
appearance of privacy.
The room was
spacious and richly appointed, a testament to the wealth and power the
Daughters had accumulated over time. An antique settee and two matching chairs
were artfully arranged on top of an antique rug to one side. Rumor had it the
rug had been gifted to a previous director by an infatuated foreign dignitary,
and that the man had pursued the Daughter over the ends of the Earth.
The truth was
probably far less romantic, but even the most pragmatic Daughter sighed over
the tale, true or not. Maya preferred the romance, even as she chastised her
soft heart.
Late afternoon
sunlight filtered through the curtained windows, showcasing the sitting area.
She’d be out in the sunshine tomorrow, maybe on a nice winding trip through the
forest surrounding the IECS along one of the dedicated bike trails. The chain
on her bicycle had probably rusted from disuse. She could do a thorough check on
it that night after the movie, unless Dierdre changed her mind about staying
home.
Maya rolled her
shoulders, easing her disappointment, and shifted her gaze. The opposite side
of the room held glass cases filled with Director Upton’s personal collection
of antique weapons and memorabilia, including her first sword, Silverthorn,
earned during the Battle of Hastings when the director was very young. Many Daughters
had similar collections, though most put theirs to the uses they’d been created
for. Rebecca had retired her weaponry when she’d fallen in love with her
husband nearly thirty years before, but she still kept her hand in. To do
otherwise would be suicide. Even if they hadn’t made an appearance in a
long while, it was never wise to allow one’s defensive skills to wither. No
Daughter worth her salt would be so unwise.
The phone
clicked into its cradle, and the director rose and crossed the room. “Maya. It’s
so good to see you.”
“And you,
Director.” Maya bowed as Rebecca stepped lightly across the wooden floor,
dressed in one of her signature power suits, this one carnelian red paired with
matching heels. Maya preferred the freedom of her loose cargo pants and camp
shirt, but had to admit the director looked lovely in her tailored outfit.
Rebecca perched elegantly
on the settee. “How was your flight?”
Maya dropped
into one of the chairs and crossed an ankle over one knee. “As expected.”
“And Dierdre?”
Maya smiled.
“Also as expected.”
“I saw her a few
days ago. I couldn’t quite resist checking up on her during your absence.”
“I appreciate
that.”
“She’s getting
so tall now.” A wistful note entered the director’s voice. “They do grow up
quickly, don’t they?”
“Much too
quickly,” Maya agreed, and bit back her own nostalgia. Dierdre had grown
an inch or so over the past month, and Maya had missed seeing it.
“Down to
business then, so you can get back to your reunion with
stay the night here or at the dorm?”
Dierdre grimaced.
“At the dorm. We’ve got a hike first thing in the morning and I don’t want to
miss it, not with the exhibition coming up.”
Maya stifled her
disappointment. A month-long absence wasn’t enough to justify skipping planned
activities no matter how much she’d missed her daughter. “An early night, then.
Maybe we can make up for it with a little extra family time this weekend.”
Dierdre lightly
hit the side of her head and cupped a hand behind one ear. “I’m sorry. Maybe I
didn’t hear you right. What was that you said about taking me to the mall on
Sunday?”
Maya laughed and
shooed the giggling teenager into her bedroom and the homework awaiting her
daughter’s attention.
* * *
Half an hour later,
Maya knocked on the door leading into Director Upton’s office.
“Come in,” a
muffled voice called.
Maya entered and
closed the door behind herself. Rebecca was seated behind her desk talking on
the phone. Maya looked politely away, giving the director at least the
appearance of privacy.
The room was
spacious and richly appointed, a testament to the wealth and power the
Daughters had accumulated over time. An antique settee and two matching chairs
were artfully arranged on top of an antique rug to one side. Rumor had it the
rug had been gifted to a previous director by an infatuated foreign dignitary,
and that the man had pursued the Daughter over the ends of the Earth.
The truth was
probably far less romantic, but even the most pragmatic Daughter sighed over
the tale, true or not. Maya preferred the romance, even as she chastised her
soft heart.
Late afternoon
sunlight filtered through the curtained windows, showcasing the sitting area.
She’d be out in the sunshine tomorrow, maybe on a nice winding trip through the
forest surrounding the IECS along one of the dedicated bike trails. The chain
on her bicycle had probably rusted from disuse. She could do a thorough check on
it that night after the movie, unless Dierdre changed her mind about staying
home.
Maya rolled her
shoulders, easing her disappointment, and shifted her gaze. The opposite side
of the room held glass cases filled with Director Upton’s personal collection
of antique weapons and memorabilia, including her first sword, Silverthorn,
earned during the Battle of Hastings when the director was very young. Many Daughters
had similar collections, though most put theirs to the uses they’d been created
for. Rebecca had retired her weaponry when she’d fallen in love with her
husband nearly thirty years before, but she still kept her hand in. To do
otherwise would be suicide. Even if they hadn’t made an appearance in a
long while, it was never wise to allow one’s defensive skills to wither. No
Daughter worth her salt would be so unwise.
The phone
clicked into its cradle, and the director rose and crossed the room. “Maya. It’s
so good to see you.”
“And you,
Director.” Maya bowed as Rebecca stepped lightly across the wooden floor,
dressed in one of her signature power suits, this one carnelian red paired with
matching heels. Maya preferred the freedom of her loose cargo pants and camp
shirt, but had to admit the director looked lovely in her tailored outfit.
Rebecca perched elegantly
on the settee. “How was your flight?”
Maya dropped
into one of the chairs and crossed an ankle over one knee. “As expected.”
“And Dierdre?”
Maya smiled.
“Also as expected.”
“I saw her a few
days ago. I couldn’t quite resist checking up on her during your absence.”
“I appreciate
that.”
“She’s getting
so tall now.” A wistful note entered the director’s voice. “They do grow up
quickly, don’t they?”
“Much too
quickly,” Maya agreed, and bit back her own nostalgia. Dierdre had grown
an inch or so over the past month, and Maya had missed seeing it.
“Down to
business then, so you can get back to your reunion with
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