Culling

Part II • Chapter XII

"Of course," Owen replied, "but don't fret so much, Miss Sorenson. I know your grandparents, they are not going to be anything less than happy to see you."

We'll see about that. I was nervous as heck, and it didn't help matters that this was to be a top tier event and only Owen was with me. Apparently President Hendricks was getting tired of being accommodating, and since the other boys had no legal rights involved - or positions of influence - no one else was allowed to accommodate us.

Still, they did what they could.

We had trained all morning, which left the late afternoon and early evening for introductions. Gabriel primped me into elegant perfection, and I spent the entire time a nervous wreck. I felt so stupid, but what if they decided that I wasn't enough like my mother and they didn't like me, or what if I reminded them of her too much and they couldn't stand the sight of me because of that? It was one thing for a brother, but I couldn't imagine what my grandparents had gone through.

Heck, they had sequestered themselves at their home in response to the heartbreak! They were probably super old now, and frail and wrinkled. I didn't have much experience with old people. From what I understood, really old people were grouchy and unpleasant.

"She's here!" I looked up and realized that we had reached the open door of the conference room. A vision of white assaulted me. A thin older woman, with long but neatly styled white hair and green eyes, was attempting to murder me with hugs.

She pushed back and gave me a once over before she pulled me back into her chest again. "She's so precious. I love her so much! Roman get over here!"

"Why?" A deep voice came from behind from the woman, whom I assumed was my grandmother. "You are hogging her anyway. An old man like me doesn't stand a chance."

I heard the familiar voice of my Uncle Lucas. "Mother, remember what I said..."

She gasped and held me out in front of her, examining me with her eyes as her hands remained on my upper arms. "Are you alright, did I scare you?"

I shook my head, I had been so stunned by my welcoming that I did not even feel nervous anymore.

Behind my grandmother was my grandfather. He was just as tall as the rest of them, had short cropped hair that was long and slicked back at the top and had a trimmed beard and mustache. He saw me looking at him and smiled at me. "Hello Sang. Hello Owen." He nodded at Owen, who was still beside me.

Owen greeted him in return, and it seemed to me that they were familiar with each other at least.

I felt my face heat as the attention of both my grandparents and the others in the room settled on me. "Hello. It's ok... I don't mind hugs... I want to get used to them." All I wanted was for them to feel comfortable around me.

I thought the woman in front of me was going to explode in happiness.

"Really, in the doorway?" Mr Blackbourne's voice interrupted the moment. "Could you not wait to take it inside the room?"

Owen spun around, and I copied his actions. Mr Blackbourne walked down the hallway towards us, straightening his tie with a frown on his face.

Owen's expression changed into a cold mask. "What are you doing here?"

Mr Blackbourne raised a blonde eyebrow. "This isn't just a family reunion. Lucas called me here, he said that he had an update about Sang's involvement in the games."

He did? Had something come up since I saw him yesterday at my appointment?

Uncle Lucas must have known what I was thinking, because he pressed past his parents, took my arm and led me into the room. Everyone else followed and Mr Blackbourne closed the door behind him.