Chapter 7 ~ House of Eyes
The next morning, Jerome and Joy were fully initiated members of Sibuna. Jerome had, of course, sacrificed a tenor, while Joy had sacrificed the hairpin she picked the lock at her house with. Nina hadn't had time to tell them of the new mystery yet. Right now the only people at the house were Sibuna and Trudy. Mick and Mara were training and the new kids were at the school, they had orientation. "I found another Eye of Horus." Nina whispered. "What?" Amber shrieked. "Shhhh!" The rest of Sibuna hissed. "I said, I found another Eye of Horus." "Where?" Fabian asked. "In the Frobisher-Smythe family portrait above the fireplace." Nina couldn't help it, she smiled a little. "I'm going to the store. See you in an hour!" Trudy called. "It's time to test this theory." Patricia smirked. The seven stepped lightly into the living room. Fabian and Joy kept lookout, and Patricia and Amber gave Nina a boost up to the portrait. Nina placed her locket over the imprint and a thick piece of parchment seemed to fall down the chimney.
"YOU HAVE FOUND AN ANSWER HERE ONCE BEFORE,
IN THE HOUSE OF THE BENDER YOU'LL FIND ONE MORE."
The lock in the door opened. "We'll discuss this later." Nina said. Sibuna dispersed. Nina and Fabian were researching "the Bender" online, Patricia was attempting to break Joy of her jeleous staring at Fabina, Amber and Alfie were planning a picnic for later in the day, and Jerome sat beside Jade on the couch. "Are you ever going to tell me why you wear sunglasses indoors?" Jerome asked her. "You want the truth?" Jade smiled. "Yes." Jerome said. She leaned in to tell him a secret. "I'm a vampire." Jade chuckled. "You're a freak." Jerome laughed with her. "I actuallly have a disease called Stargardth's disease." "Which is?" Jerome asked. "I'm slowly going blind. Let's just say my eyes aren't my best feature, so I hide them." Everyone had started listening, even the new kids. Even Amber was speechless. A few minutes later, conversation had returned to normal. At supper, Amber stood on the table. "I have an announcement to make!" She yelled as if she was speaking to an audience instead of her housemates. "Off the table!" Trudy shrieked. "Calm down, Trudes, these are brand new shoes. They haven't even been out of the house yet." Trudy quieted down. "We will be having a masquerade ball. Anyone with questions please see either me, Mara, or Mrs. Andrews. Thank you." The chatter instantly turned to the dance. "Nina will you-" Fabian began, but Nina stopped him. "Yes." They both blushed, then laughed. "Alfie, we need to go dress shopping. I want to get matching masks." Jerome was laughing under his breath. Mara had obviously told Mick about it already. "I'm taking everyone but Amber dress shopping!" Patricia said. Everyone nodded at the new arrangement. "Who are you going with?" Jade asked Patricia. "No one. I mean, it's not like I care, but no one." Jade could tell that Patricia desperately wanted a boyfriend, whether she would admit it or not.
To Be Continued...
