Vicious Minds (Children of Vice 4)

“So? I don’t care about your mother.”

“They called us nobodies. It’s a big party, and just a little bit of paint. It’s not like anyone would care. A few minutes and everyone will go back to having fun.”

The corner of her lips turned up. “Look at you, the quick thinker. You’re right. It is a big party and it is just a little paint. But you see, it’s not what I want. I want nothing out of the ordinary for my children today. Nothing. And because it is my house, my party, my goddamn paint, what I say goes.”

I blinked back my tears. She made me so mad.

“No, you don’t even get to cry because that is also a distraction from my children. So, hold those tears in your eyes until you get home, and then you are free to do whatever you please.” I blinked and let go of the tray and she gave it back to the maid but not before giving her a scary look.

“Everyone around you is pretending,” I whispered, and her focus returned to me quickly. “They don’t really like you.”

She chuckled. “I know, little one. That’s what grown-ups do, they play pretend, they lie, and they cheat. Do you know why?”

I shook my head. Why did they do that? Why was my mom pretending to be so nice?

“Because they are afraid of each other.” She smiled. “Do you know they’re getting scared of you right now?”

Scared of me? I looked around and all the adults were looking at us. “Why?”

“Because you’re talking to me. I’m the scariest and most important person here. They want to know what we’re talking about. What makes you so important that I would take my time to speak with you. They don’t have to like me. But whenever they see me, they have to pretend to, meanwhile I’m free to do whatever I want.”

“You’re like a queen,” I whispered.

She laughed and nodded. “Sure, I’ll take that.”

“Then I’ll become a queen too.”

“There is only one queen of this kingdom, little one, and her last name will always be Callahan.”

“I’ll be that then.”

Her eyebrow rose, and she stood. “I doubt it. My son can’t marry someone so weak she’d cry because someone made fun of her mother.”

“I’m not crying though,” I said, wishing I was taller so I could stand eye level with her.

She looked me over and shook her head again. “You’re weak, like your father. It’s a shame, because you Orsinis used to be great.”

Orsinis?

“Calliope!” Mom appeared at my side. I don’t know what took her so long. She put her arms around me and looked to Ethan’s mom. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course! I was just asking Calliope here if I missed something. She doesn’t look like she’s having fun at all, and I really wanted all the kids to have something they could enjoy here. She was giving me advice for next year,” she said simply. My mom searched my face.

“Really? Calliope, there is so much to do.”

I nodded, thinking of something quickly. “Paintball.”

“See? I suggested that, but my husband said that you would hurt each other or end up shooting at your parents.” She turned to her husband who looked back confused. “Next year we are having paintball.”

“Yes!” Their other son, Wyatt, threw his fist in the air and his dad smacked his head. “Ouch, Dad!”

“Can you believe these kids? I haven’t even finished paying for this bloody party yet and they are getting excited for next year,” he grumbled as she walked back to him. A few of the men around him laughed. “Ungrateful little brats.”

Once Ethan’s mom left me, the crowd focused their attention elsewhere…except for Ethan, who caught my eye again but I looked away quickly. When I glanced back, he was talking with his brother.

“Was that all she asked you, Calliope?” my mom asked me. Her voice was soft, but she seemed…angry? No. She was scared. I could see it in her eyes. She was terrified. I’d never seen that before. She held my arms too tightly, and it hurt. My dad joined us with my sisters in tow and they were frowning, upset that I was making us leave.

“Yeah. That’s all she asked,” I lied.