Chapter Two
The stormed eased up an hour ago. Sunlight poured in from the large window of the drawing room, glinting on the glass cabinets filled with porcelain figurines and hand painted china. The furniture was more modern than the rest of the house, with camel brown plush sofas, simple cream white cabinets and mint green curtains. Bellatrix had given me a small tour around the house before leaving to run an errand.
I was in the middle of prodding the keys on the grand piano, when something rustled behind me. I turned to find a boy about my age, bee lining for the doorway. Cormac LeStrange. I recalled his face from the many photos Bellatrix had shown me of the family.
He paused and slowly turned to face me, placing one hand in his jean pocket while scratching the side of his mouth, maybe contemplating something amusing judging by the slight curve of his lips. I couldn't see much more than that. His hair hung over his eyes.
I inched closer, but he stepped back, lifting rich brown eyes to mine. His brow furrowed as if warning me not to take another step. When I offered a jittering smile, his expression softened, making it was easier for me to breathe as I focused on the rest of him, his tanned skin, high cheekbones and a small scar on his upper lip. He was wearing a hooded leather jacket over gray jeans and black boots. His build was slight, but clearly muscular beneath his thin white shirt. Handsome was a huge understatement, and his photos hadn't done him justice.
His lips parted as if to speak, only someone giggled and diverted his attention.
I was leapt on as arms wrapped around my neck.
"You're here," a girl squealed.
I gazed around the room, but Cormac had left.
"I'm Myrtle," said a short, plump girl as she finally loosened her grip. "Cormac," she yelled with a pout. "Cormac bring in my violin from the car!"
Why hadn't he said anything?
I plastered a smile on my face as Myrtle led me to the couch to sit and talk about her violin lesson. Cormac name cropped up again and my ears pricked. "He hates taking me." She groaned. "He'd rather be with Luna."
I wondered who she could be, then why I cared. Instead, I tried to listen to Myrtle prattle on about her cute violin teacher.
"What were you and Cormac talking about?" she asked when she took a moment to pause. Now that my mind was willing to stop analyzing what had happened earlier, I was able to look Myrtle properly. It could have been her very nasal voice and the puppy fat cheeks, but she seemed younger than fifteen. Herwhite summer dress with daisies around the neckline was pretty but too tight around the waist. Her feet were pressed into pink jellybean sandals.
As for Cormac, I hadn't figured out what we were doing other than staring at each another
I came here to learn more about my parents anyway, not admire insanely attractive guys.
Thankfully, Myrtle didn't bring him up again and happily filled me in on her day.