Chapter 0392

Mark starts towards dad's armchair, tugging me along with him. I let him pull me, knowing he's scared. "Do you think they meant it?" Mark asks, looking at me as I perch myself on the arm next to him. "That they're...going to wait until after the Midwinter holiday? Or...I mean...are they going to do a sneak attack?"

"They probably meant it," Jackson says, walking over with us and standing tall behind the chair, so close I can feel the warmth of him. "The Atalaxians are...very religious. They take their worship of the gods very seriously."

"Well then you'd think they'd give me and Ella a bit more respect," Cora says, her voice a bit dry, coming to join our conversation as other small ones break out elsewhere in the room. "Considering who our mom is."

*Do they...know that? About your lineage?" Jackson asks, frowning, considering it.

"Who knows," Cora sighs, waving her hand.

"I'm not sure it matters," Jackson says with a shrug. "The Cult of the Goddess never really took hold in Atalaxia, except perhaps amongst the women. Which, considering the official state stance of sweeping misogyny, probably makes sense."

"Well, then who do they worship?" Mark asks, looking curiously up at Jacks.

*The Dark God, primarily," Jackson replies instantly, looking down at my brother.

"Oh god, him again," Cora groans, her head tilting back on her shoulders. But then she snaps it back up, frowning at Jackson a little. "Wait, how do you know all this?"

"I go to...school," Jackson replies, frowning back like it's obvious. "We study this. We're supposed to know our enemy, through and through."

"Well then why doesn't Jesse know it?" She tilts her head to the side.

*Jesse..." Jackson gimaces a little, measuring his words. "Doesn't try very hard with the books. He concentrates more on the fighting."

Cora scowls a little, her eyes narrowing, and I can see in her her very clear intent to have some words with her son later. "Well, I'm glad one of you is paying attention," she murmurs. I turn my head to look up at Jacks again, and see him fighting a smile, genuinely pleased to be complimented like that. It brings a smile to my face too, surprising after such a horrible announcement.

Cora and Jackson continue to chat about the Atalaxian world and viewpoint, Mark listening closely, but I let my eyes drift around the room. Daphne sits quietly on the couch, studying her hands, while Luca and Ben each lean against the wall, looking sick.

I sigh, feeling sorry for them, my eyes starting to drift away and move on, seeking my mother and my sister, but... My eyes snap back to the pair. Because Luca I understand - he's battling a hangover and what I can only imagine was an intense conversation with my dad before the meeting. But Ben?

Ben came home with me last night, and I'm....fine. Plus, before the meeting, he was laughing and joking with us. But now he looks...sweaty, and unsettled, and just plain ill. I frown, not understanding. What on earth is wrong with him?

But there's no time to think on it.

We all turn as one as the door opens again and my father steps through, Roger, Jesse, Rafe, and grandpa Henry coming in behind him. We fall silent.

"Good," dad barks out, still livid from the events of the afternoon. He stands in front of all of us and crosses his arms, glaring around at us like we're all his troops. Obviously, we all know that he's not mad at us, but still...it's very intimidating.

"Is this real, Dominic?" mom asks, her voice breathy, scared. My eyes dart over to see her sitting in the other

armchair, Juniper squeezed in next to her, looking smaller than she usually does.

"It's very real, Ella," my dad snaps, focusing on her now. "And we need to come up with a plan, right now, if we intend to survive."noveldrama