Uprising (Alternate Earth Series, Book 2) by S.J. West

Author:S.J. West [West, S.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Watcher Publishing
Published: 2015-06-16T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

When we go back upstairs, we find Leah and Xiulan in the kitchen. Apparently, they decided to take it upon themselves to finish making the pie I had requested from Mason. Leah is just beginning to pour the apple filling into the piecrust while Xiulan cuts out strips of dough for the final latticework. Xiulan looks up at me expectantly. I simply nod my head to her unasked question, to which she smiles back wanly but says nothing.

“Any luck?” Leah asks me, unaware of the significance of my talk with Lucifer, and how it will ultimately affect her life forever. Mason and I walk over to the kitchen island. “Or did he give you the runaround like he normally does?”

“A little bit of both,” I admit. “He isn’t sure he can help the infected, but he’s willing to give it a try.”

Leah sets down her now-empty bowl and looks up at me.

“Now all we need to do is bring an infected person here,” she concludes. “Maybe Jai Lin would be willing to help us with that.”

“Mason,” Xiulan says, “would you mind finishing this pie for us? I need a moment to speak with my daughter.”

“I’ll do anything you need me to,” Mason replies, not only telling Xiulan that he will do the simple task she asked him to perform, but also letting her know, if she needs more, he would willing do it. “I just need to take care of one thing first.”

Mason leans over and whispers in my ear, “I’ll take Lucifer some clothes so he’s not naked when you take them down there.”

“Thank you,” I whisper just before Mason phases.

Xiulan looks back to me. “Jess, would you mind coming with us?”

“Of course,” I say, grateful that I can be there for both of them when Leah hears the truth.

“What’s wrong?” Leah asks, as perceptive as ever as she looks between her mother and me. “Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen?”

Xiulan lifts her left arm and offers Leah her hand. Leah looks at it for a moment, and I can tell by her expression that she knows taking her mother’s hand will start her on a path she might not want to go down. Hesitantly, Leah takes hold of her mother’s hand.

Xiulan leads Leah out of the room and into a small living room off the kitchen area. They don’t stop walking until they come to a bay window with a built-in, padded bench. Xiulan sits down, still holding Leah’s hand as she watches her daughter sit beside her. I take a seat on the other side of Leah, remaining close in case she needs me after she hears what her mother has to say.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” Leah says, straightening her back, as if such a small act will help her bear the weight of what Xiulan is about to tell her.

Instead of using words, Xiulan lets go of Leah’s hand and lifts the sleeve of her shirt to reveal her injury. When Leah sees it, her eyes immediately begin to water, and she starts to shake her head in denial.

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