I smiled as I watched my sister's interaction with her stuffed animals. I
noticed how much older she looked. It seemed, just yesterday, that she was a toddler, running through the house.
Come now and read, Mara, I heard as I reminisced about the times my little
sister brought me her favorite book. She would insist I read it, over and over, until my voice felt raspy.
“Miles, come here before your tea gets cold,” Meg called out, interrupting
my memories.
The echo of her voice told me she was in a large room. I wished the area around her would clear up. I had no clues telling me exactly where she was being kept. A small, brown table with child-sized chairs was not unique enough
to help.
“Patience, Meg,” a female voice purred. “He wanted to look his best for
you.”
Blanche Drygen entered. Her short, silver hair was perfectly coiffed.
"How lovely of you to take time out of your kidnapping to look so lovely, Blanche," I growled at the image. My eyes narrowed when I noticed a small child holding the woman’s hand.
The boy had dark brown hair and large greens He looked to be about five
years old. Like Meg, he was overdressed, but he looked comfortable in his black
suit with a small lavender bow tie.
“Isn't your brother handsome?” Blanche asked.
As if on cue, the boy did a small turn to show off his outfit.
Your brother?
The boy stepped towards me, and I was better able to examine him. He
looked so much like Meg that I had no doubts. Miles was Eliza's son.
"Are you the reason she left us?" I questioned the boy, knowing he wouldn't
answer.
The boy moved out of my line of sight, and Blanche stepped back into view.
“And you, also, look pretty, Meg. Isn't it nice to finally be dressed up like a reputable young lady with fine clothing?”
Meg clenched and unclenched her fists. I knew my sister, and this was taking
every ounce of will she had inside her not to tell Blanche what she really thought.
"Go on, Meg. Tell her that we have better things than money," I encouraged.
Instead, in a cold, rehearsed way, she said, “Yes, Grandmother Drygen. I'm
very lucky that you have taken me away to such a lovely estate and taught me
how finer people live.”
The small boy stood next to Meg, and pensively asked, “Did I present myself
right, Grandmother?”
“Very nice job, Miles. Your manners are always impeccable. Now, enjoy your tea with Meg.” Blanche patted the boy on the head before she walked away.
I kept my eyes trained on the brother I didn’t know we had, but I could hear
the click of the woman’s shoes striking the hard floor and a door shutting.
Miles looked towards Meg for direction.
She pointed to the only empty chair. “I was saving the best seat for you.”
Miles sat amidst the stuffed guests. He wore a big grin as he sipped the pretend tea. "Meg, can I ask you something and will you promise not to get mad?" The child bit his lip as he waited for her response.
Meg set her teacup down and narrowed her eyes at the small boy. "How many times do I need to tell you that, in my family, it's ok to ask questions?"
Miles blurted out, “Grandmother said you would teach me your magic. She
