The Blue Woods by Nicole Maggi Read Free Book Online Page A

I would’ve told you everything.”
    Lidia looked up at me, her face a bottomless pit of grief. “I didn’t want to believe it was true. It was easier to think it wasn’t . . .”
    â€œYeah, easier for you.” My legs felt so rubbery, I was in danger of collapsing on the rug. “My whole life, you’ve overprotected me. God, you wouldn’t even let me go to Paris on a school trip. And the one time when it would’ve been really great to have you be overly involved, you stepped back.”
    Lidia hunched over and buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook with the force of her crying. I stood in the center of the rug, my chest heaving with every emotion that coursed through me. The only other time I’d seen her cry like this was when my dad had died. That time, we had curled up together, comforting each other’s grief. This time, I couldn’t stand the thought of touching her. “Did Dad really die of a heart attack?” I asked. My words landed like barbs, and she flinched. “Or was he killed by the Malandanti?”
    She raised her face from her hands, her eyes a swollen red mess. “No. I swear, Alessia. He really did die of a heart attack.”
    I breathed in sharp through my nose. “How do I know you’re telling the truth? You’ve been lying to me my whole life .”
    â€œAlessia, everything I have done, I did to protect you. To keep you safe.” She rubbed her face. “And every step of the way, I have been blocked by that woman ,” she said, jabbing her finger in the direction of the living room.
    â€œOh, don’t blame Nerina, Mom! You know it’s not her fault.” I shook my head. “The only person you have to blame is yourself. For refusing the Call in the first place. Because if you hadn’t, I never would have been Called.”
    â€œIf I hadn’t, you never would have been born,” Lidia shot back. She stiffened her shoulders. “We choose our own destiny, yes, but there are some things that just can’t be stopped . . .”
    â€œStop saying ‘destiny’!” I balled my hands into fists and dug my nails deep into my palms. “Destiny doesn’t matter. What matters is that you knew what was going on and you did nothing to help me. What matters is that at the moment I needed my mom the most, you refused to be there.”
    â€œAlessia . . .” Lidia stretched her arms out, reaching for me, but I backed up all the way to the door.
    â€œDon’t, Mom. Just don’t.” I collided with the soft padding on the door and felt for the handle. “Dad would’ve been there for me. The minute he suspected I’d been Called, he would’ve been there.”
    â€œThat’s not fair.” Lidia stood up. A flush crept up her neck. “I did what I thought was right.”
    I flung open the door so hard it slammed against the wall. My existence in this town, my entire life , had been built on a lie. “The problem is,” I told her, my voice shaking, “that you couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Chapter Five
    I’d Give Anything for a Ritz-Carlton Right about Now

    Bree

    When Alessia came back into the living room, she looked like she’d been punched in the soul. Lidia trailed behind, her hair and face looking like something a cat coughed up. Without looking at anyone, she veered off into the kitchen. Alessia collapsed onto the couch so hard it made my ribs ache. “Jesus,” I said. “What the hell happened to you?”
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it,” Alessia muttered, shooting a death-ray glance at Nerina. “What did I miss?”
    â€œNothing,” Nerina said quickly. Whatever Shakespearean plot twist had happened between Alessia and her mom, I guessed that Nerina had more than a supporting role. “We were just about to break up and get settled in here.”
    I stretched my arms