Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter two. house of necklaces

            Amber sits back beside me on the bed and gives me a tight hug. "This was so thoughtful, Ash! See, now I have a locket just like Ni—" She cuts herself off halfway through Nina's name, and I glance over to her empty bed. It's exactly the reason I chose the locket, so she would match with Nina when we got back and all three of us would have our own special necklaces. I bought it before Nina told me she wasn't returning.

            I set a gentle hand on Amber's arm, telling her, "You can't let Nina not being here ruin your day. I'm sure she'll call though, or text at least."

            (Yeah, Nina better send at least a text wishing her a happy birthday, or else next time I actually manage to get a hold of her she's gonna get an earful from me.)

            Amber gives me a small smile as she tears her eyes away from Nina's bed. She raises the necklace to put it around her, but stops before she can clasp it. "The post is here!" she states, dropping the necklace onto the bed as she gets up.

            "How did you know that?" I question, quickly throwing the covers off me and grabbing the locket to follow her out into the corridor. I didn't hear anything to suggest that the post had come. She's halfway out the doors already. "Are your ears, like, fine-tuned to the sound of possible presents in the post?"

            Amber's standing at the top of the stairs by the time I catch up with her, looking down and questioning excitedly, "Was that the postman I just heard?"

            Mara responds, "No!" while at the same time Trudy counters, "Yes." Okay, odd. I look at the two of them strangely as Mara adds, "I mean, yes, but with no deliveries."

            My eyebrows raise. "Seriously?"

            Amber starts slowly, "The postman...came to the door...without any mail?"

            "Any mail for anyone?" I ask. "Anyone at all? Not even Victor's taxidermy tools?"

            "Yes, he wanted to apologize for not bringing anything. Right, Trudy?" Mara says pointedly. I narrow my eyes at her as Trudy gives her a confused look. I'm glad to know Amber and I aren't the only ones confused. "Should I help you get breakfast ready?"

            "What?" Trudy asks, snapping out of her confusion. "Oh. Yes. Thank you, Mara."

            Trudy and Mara walk into the kitchen, out of our sights. I turn to Amber, inquiring, "It's not Sunday, is it?"

            Amber doesn't seem like she's heard me. She whispers, mainly to herself it looks like, "No mail?"

            "There has to be mail," agrees Victor's voice from a few feet away. Guess he really was expecting some taxidermy tools today. Corbierre doesn't wake up like that.

            "I know right," Amber states. "There really isn't. Birthday fail."

—

            I grab a glass from the kitchen cupboard for breakfast, glancing at Eddie as he comes in. I was the first one down here while Amber's still sulking in our room over the lack of mail, which makes him the second person. Before I sit down to my chair at the end of the table, I make sure to smack him on the back of his head.

            "What was that for?!" Eddie questions, holding the back of his head.

            "Gee, I wonder what's the best thing to say to a girl you've only just met?" I ask him rhetorically, grabbing the pitcher of orange juice. After last night's events with KT, he deserves a head-slap.