Chapter. 25 Unmasking Betrayal and Hidden Powers
“Why else would she say that unless she remembered? She knows what she did to me. I demand justice.”
“Wow wow wow, what?” Diana put her hands up and took a good look around at how tense everyone was. Veins were visibly throbbing and the air was thick with tension. Like the static in the air before a storm. “Look, I don’t know who you are. I don’t remember much about my past other than my Ma. Hell, I didn’t even know that Anna existed before I was…summoned…” Elaina didn’t look at Diana, but her crimson lips curled into a smirk. “Fill in the blanks for me here? Jessica was it?” Diana shrugged. Man these women have like no chill in them. “What exactly did I do to you?”
“What did you do to me?” Jessica’s voice wobbled and her right hand slowly reached up to take off her sunglasses.
“Jess no you don’t have t-” The glasses came off and scuttled across the table at Diana. She caught them instinctively with both hands on the counter top. Jessica then took hold of her hair and pulled that off as well. Other customers in the waffle house saw the blonde suddenly bald and stared. They could only see the back. At the front Diana saw she had no eyelashes or eyebrows. She also saw a dark ragged pink handprint splayed wide across the top of her head and forehead. Like a burn that had long since healed. “P-put the wig back on Jess.” Olivia tried to do it for her, but Jessica shrugged her off and continued to try and kill Diana with her eyes.
“Take a good look. Do you remember what you did to me now bitch?”
“…I don’t.” Diana shook her head and frowned as she took in the root of this woman’s pain. “…do you have alopecia? I went to school with a girl who wore the most amazing wigs. A different one for every day of the week. She-”
“I was not born with alopecia. I had the same thick blonde hair as my sister before you-”
“That is enough.” Anna pushed herself out the booth and stood toe to toe with the Robinsons. “You are making a scene. You should know better than to attract attention to us. Put your hair on, or don’t, but you will get out of my sight. That is an order.” Anna looked up at the taller women and Knox stood on the table behind his keeper. His arms reached forward and prepared to rip the faces of either one of her cousins if they didn’t obey their coven mother.
“Dear cousin.” Olivia pulled her sister, spectral snake and all, into her side. She smiled and tried to diffuse the situation. “This is simply-”
“That is Coven Mother to you Olivia. When I give an order, I expect it to be followed. Immediately. Regardless of our relationship.” Anna stared up at Olivia, who seemed to be the dominant twin. Now that Jessica wasn’t wearing her wig and glasses, Diana could see that they were identical. Well…other than the lack of any hair on Jessica, and that creepy hand shaped scar on her head. One of the fingers wrapped across her forehead, which likely explained why she chose a wig with a block fringe and to wear sunglasses. Jessica was replacing her apparel as Olivia turned her icy stare onto Diana. She felt the chill of hate down her spine under those blue eyes.
“Of course. Welcome back to Salem Diana. I do hope you remember your youth soon. We…had such fun times together.” With a slow and regal bow of her head Olivia gave Anna the respect her title demanded and then walked her sister out of the waffle house. Once the door closed and caused the bell above it to chime Diana exhaled the breath she’d been holding.
“Okay, what the hell just happened? What did I apparently do to her? I mean, I have no-”
“Diana.” Anna snapped at her and then stiffly returned to her seat. “You can’t use your skills to distort how they are heard by potential eavesdroppers, so don’t speak of that here.” Diana blinked and then realised why they were all suddenly fine with discussing ‘the family business’ out in the open.
“You can do that?”
“We can do things you haven’t even dreamed of.” Elaina finally spoke again and crossed one leg over the other elegantly. She wiggled and waved Jackie over. “Poor dear was cowering by the serving counter. She’s one of us, you see. She could see what was happening and stayed back. A wise move.” Elaina offered to Diana’s curious gaze. Jackie finally approached and had two plates full of fresh waffles, maple syrup and whipped cream.
“Goodness that was scary. Are you all alright?” Jackie spoke to Anna with genuine concern as she put the four plates out before them. Elaina shrugged and helped herself to the sweet treat she hadn’t ordered. Anna politely lifted her knife and fork and started to cut into her stack whilst reassuring Jackie.
“Yes of course. All is well. Our friends are just over protective. That’s all.”
“Oh, right.” Jackie seemed relieved to hear that, and excused herself to return to her other customers.
“…translation?” Diana was the only one no longer interested in the damn waffles and confused as hell. Elaina looked to Anna for her to make the decision. Anna hummed, and then smiled and nodded to the redhead as she retrieved her cell.
“Give Diana your cell for a moment.” Elaina raised a coppery brow, but handed it over regardless. Diana darted her eyes from the screen to her sister as she saw her fingers tapping a flurry across the table. Yeah, I’m totally up for letting her get me a new phone after breakfast. I have no idea what minefield I just ended up in the middle of, or how I ended up there. At least if we can text privately then I can-