Ephemeral and Fleeting

Mara sat down as the others continued their survey.

“Are you feeling all right?” he asked her.

She waved her hand. “I’m fine. Just tired. The grippe has weakened me.”

“Perhaps you should go lie down.”

“Yes, Mara,” Clarimonde agreed.

“No, I’m fine—really. Now, if you’re ready to move on,” she said, glancing at each of the three sisters in turn, “you might like to take a look at the portraits of some of your ancestors. A number of them line the hallway near here.”

Eden took her Oathtaker’s hand. “I’ll make arrangements to have this all cleaned up first thing tomorrow. There’s no sense in wasting this space. And I’ll go through Lilith’s old belongings here for anything of interest. When I’m through, we can have what remains, burned.”

“Good idea. I’ll give you a hand.”

Mara stepped out and down the hall with the twins and Dixon at her side. Clarimonde and Vida followed.

Shortly, she stopped before some paintings. “This is your mother’s mother—your grandmother—Mae,” she said gesturing at one of them. “And here,” she motioned toward the one next to it, “is your grandfather, Max.”

Reigna neared the painting of Mae. With her eyes narrowed, she examined it closely. Then her gaze flickered toward Eden. “You look like her,” she said.

Her twin burst into laughter. “I look like her! Ha ha ha ha ha! We look like her!”

Chuckling with them, Mara took an arm of each. “Dixon needs to go meet with Jules about palace security, but there are some things I’d like to show the two of you, and Vida. They’re in our room.”

“All right,” Reigna said.

“You go along,” Clarimonde said to her charge. “I’m off to check on the children. I’ll see you when you’re through.”