Maelstrom (Inferno 5)

“The show’s back on,” he says absentmindedly and I let out a sigh as I go back to join him on the sofa.

We’re watching reruns of Night Court, and while I’m doing my best to pay attention and laugh along with him, I’m still more concerned about what in the world could be taking Luna so damn long with Mom.

“I think I should go see what’s up,” I say after five minutes of blindly staring at the screen.

“Don’t worry about it. If she had run into something she couldn’t handle, I’m sure she would have come to let us know. Besides, it’s not like Hailey isn’t the easiest person in the world to take care of,” he reminds with a wave of his hand. “It’s just having the time in the day to do it.”

I want nothing more than to believe my brother, because he has more common sense than I do, but it bothers me that she's been gone for so long.

“Are you sure we should just wait it out?"I ask him uneasily.

He nods as he reaches for the remote control and raises the volume on the television. Clearly, Kalen is done with this conversation for now.

I rake a hand nervously back through my hair as I kick my feet up onto the small coffee table and cross my arms over my chest.

If I could just focus on the damn show, then I wouldn’t be so preoccupied with what’s going on one floor above us.

And just as I’m finally starting to lose myself in the antics on the screen, I hear a door close.

Sitting up almost instantly, I perk an ear up and glance toward the living room door expectantly.

What I’m hoping is that she’ll give us a chance to explain, but what I’m expecting is to see her running out the front door. Just like everyone else.

To my obvious surprise, it’s neither.

Kalen chuckles next to me when I give him a confused look, then get to my feet.

I walk with cautious, quick steps toward the kitchen, stopping when I reach the doorway.

Luna is busy washing the plate she took up to Mom, humming a low, melodic tune to herself.

I watch her hands.

They move so methodically and effortlessly.

Beautiful, pale-white, flawless skin.

When she finishes with the plate, she puts it in the strainer, then busies herself with the utensils and the glass, then finally shuts off the water and reaches for a small hand towel to dry her hands.

“Oh!”

I startle slightly when I realize that she’s looking at me and giggling nervously.

“I didn’t realize I had company,” she says as she puts the hand towel back on its rung.

How did I not realize she would see me?

In a weird way, I understand Mom now.

I almost saw through Luna instead of at her, and it makes me feel uneasy to know that I can be more like her than I realize.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” I mumble. But the kind smile that Luna gives me—the one that crinkles the corners of her eyes, makes me feel better almost instantly.

And like much less of a creep for standing here watching her goddamn hands.

“So...” I begin as I start to rock on the balls of my feet, “how did it go?”

“Fine,” she responds with a shrug. “I helped her eat, we sat around for a bit afterwards. I’ll tell you though,” she continues as she tucks her hair behind her ears, “I can understand why you’re both so protective of her. She’s a very tiny lady, not much for conversation either.”