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Chapter 364
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The Birthright Series Chapter 365
They started out flinging the ball to each other, increasing the distance and when the lumpy ball tired their arms they kicked it, the wool filling with leather cover soft enough to not bruise their shins. Addy, standing near the end of the corridor, took a deep breath before dashing forward to kick it at Mila. With a shout Mila lunged, hitting the floor with her knees but catching the ball in her arms. She grinned at Addy, scrambled to her feet and kicked as hard as possible.The ball flew down the corridor, too left of Addy, lurching off a wall. It hit a corner and tumbled from view.Both girls dashed after it, their feet making soft padding noises as they ran. They reached the corner at the same time, Addy squealed when Mila banged into her, both of them falling into the short dark section of corridor.'Where's it gone?'Mila blinked and blinked again. She saw four walls of the corridor, a single door to the right, but nowhere was the brown leather ball.'Mila! Where's it gone?
The Birthright Series Chapter 366
The floor of the manhole was grimy with dust and greasy. The moment Mila straightened up to move, she slipped, legs flicking out from under her.Her stocking clad foot connected with leather.'MILA!' Addy shrieked, hanging onto the edges of the manhole opening to peer in. 'You knocked the ball!'Mila sat up in time to see the brown leather ball rolling rapidly off, down into the darkness of the narrow space.'No, no, no!' Hands and feet slipping over the greased surface, she scrambled after it, hearing Addy call her name as she got further into the dark.The initial rush of excitement faded as the tunnel grew even darker until Mila couldn't see anything at all.She stopped, still on hands and knees, a pounding in her ears so loud she couldn't hear anything at first. The horrible sickening sensation passed and her hearing seemed to be normal again. The solid darkness terrified her. Frozen still, not sure what to do next, Mila whimpered, trying to resist tears, or at least resist p
The Birthright Series Chapter 367
In the spacious room below, Addy's papa, one of Mila's DeNaga uncles, paced the wood inlaid section of flooring, right alongside the thick carpet spread throughout the centre of the room.Mila understood why, the clip of his smart red dress shoes on the wood sounded impressive. She'd have to try it herself when she got back out the tunnel, marching back and forth, clipping her heels to create that compelling beat, like Mama did. Important people must do it, Mila thought while admiring the red shoes, wondering if she'd be allowed shoes that red when she grew up.He paused when he reached the full height bookcases on the far wall, parallel to where Mila secretly watched, and turned his head toward the door.Watching, waiting to see what caught his attention, Mila hunched over the ball, trying to get a better view of the doorway.Two voices rang out.'In here.''This better be important! I didn't rush back for the funeral to be dragged into a meeting before I even get to say goodbye
The Birthright Series Chapter 368
Barely breathing, body stiff with tension, Mila forced herself to roll toward the vent. It was harder than it should be, as if that awful sound had stolen energy. Each rock she made sounded loud to her own ears, making her flinch each time, holding her breath.Neither of the DeNaga uncles moved the other still on lookout while Uncle Vidna rolled his shoulders and swung his arms, humming a tune Mila knew well. The familiar song was oddly comforting, helping to relax Mila just enough to push over and sit up in front of the vent.The sight before her made her head spin, stomach lurching.Uncle Jeran lay crumpled on the floor, face stone coloured, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. His curled hands twitched, limbs jerking. His head jerked, those blue eyes she knew so well met hers for a single moment.Mila jerked away, hitting the back of the tunnel, her blood drained to her feet making her face prickle.'What was that?'The loud demand made her flinch, hunching
The Birthright Series Chapter 369
Finally, Mila turned back, body shivering, and made her way through the tunnel, pushing Addy's ball out in front. The tunnel seemed shorter on the way back but it felt like she crawled from another time.An awful time.The growing light caused a rush of hope. Mila hurried faster, seeing Addy's swinging legs hanging into the manhole. She screamed when Mila popped up beside her.'Mila!'Mila jumped, hefting herself up and over the edge of the opening and wriggled, dragging herself out onto the floor.'Look!' she tried to smile at Addy. 'I found your ball.'Addy did look, staring at Mila in open mouthed shock.Mila looked down.The lovely black dress looked grey, with small clumps from when she'd vomited stuck to the bottom.'Mila,' Addy stared still her pretty white eyes filling with tears. 'What happened?'Mila opened her mouth to answer but stopped, staring back at Addy as shivers of cold ran down her spine.Unable to think, mind stumped over whether what she'd seen had even
The Birthright Series Chapter 370
Safe in their quarters, Nanny set to stripping Mila's dress and stockings off and with a frown stripped off her knickers too.'Quick, quick, into the shower with you.'She caught Mila's hand, guiding her toward the bathroom.'But, Nanny,' Mila tried to protest, voice rising and falling with her exhaustion. 'Uncle, Nanny, Uncle.''Come on lovey, let's get you into the shower. There's nothing to be done, Great Uncle Ilder had been unwell for a long time. You remember that. He needed to pass on, to be reborn again strong and new. Stop crying now that's enough.' As she spoke Nanny pulled the cord to the bulbous shower head, starting the flow of water. She held Mila's hand tight, keeping her back from the scalding water that always came out first.'No, Nanny, Uncle Jeran. Poor Uncle Jeran.'Nanny at last looked down at Mila, her eyes wide. She laughed.'Silly girl! Uncle Jeran isn't due back for a couple more days, but he's fine. You know he's fine. We'd all have felt it otherwise.'
The Birthright Series Chapter 371
Huddled with her knees pulled up, Mila considered her options. Her throat seemed to grow drier and scratchier by the second.That decided her dash to the bathroom, even though it meant the risk of bumping into someone. Along the dark corridor she crept, a hand skimming the wall to guide her. Mila didn't risk turning the glow lamps up. Instead she snuck around in the half light, making her way to the bowl-like basin. Its width made it awkward to lean across but she was able to reach the stream of water with her mouth. Gulping the cool liquid down, Mila tensed when the murmur of voices seemed to move.Faster than an eharie sprite she darted back the way she'd come, hands extended at waist height to help navigate the way. Just as she zipped around the door to her and Nanny's bedroom she heard the 'woosh' of the kitchen door being pulled wide. Resisting the urge to slam the door, Mila pushed it ever so slow till it closed. The sound of the footsteps entering the corridor made all the tin
The Birthright Series Chapter 372
A clunk on the table made her jerk around, looking in shock at Papa, her own earthenware mug steaming away on the table.Papa reached out to tousle her hair.'We love you, little one. Try to learn from this lesson. We don't like having to be angry at you, Mila.'The gentle voice and his sympathetic smile and gaze had the tears running down Mila's cheeks. He held out his arms, and she flung herself into them.'Papa, I didn't mean,' Mila couldn't finish her sentence, not wanting to say she'd lied because part of her was certain she'd seen what she'd seen. But the tears seemed to satisfy him. Papa cuddled her on his lap and wiped her cheeks with the large square handkerchief he kept up his sleeve.'There now, have a sip, it'll make your tummy better.'Mila nodded, accepting the mug he passed to her. She held it with both hands while she sipped at the hot liquid. The scent and taste of ginger plus wild mint did help to unknot the tension in her stomach. About halfway through her mu
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