Olivia is a very generous woman with a kind heart that matches her flawless skin and regal grace and I'm sure she'd put any woman half her age to shame. Me, however, is anything but. I'm always short tempered and I was told that I curse like a sailor. Olivia doesn't mind, she still treats me like her own child and at nineteen she still irons some of my clothes whenever she has some time to spare not that we can't afford helpers, oh no, Olivia is loaded but according to her, it is her only way to show me her motherly love. I don't mind, I love her to bits and she knows that.

I arrived at Olivia's house earlier than I intended. I usually come here late so I won't have to accompany Olivia when she enters The Union and be greeted by some of the class A's that I'd kill to avoid, but hearing her slightly panicked voice through the phone makes me feel uneasy so I guess I'll just have to practice smiling instead of my usual eye roll.

''Mom?'' I called out, entering her front door to her massive ivory white living room complete with a cream-colored leather sofa and scarlet plush carpet. ''Mom? I'm home'' still no answer. I continue walking on the granite floors until I reached the elegant kitchen with modern design and spacious open floor plan. Olivia loves her kitchen and is very territorial with it ''Olivia?''

''Olivia? I thought I'm your mom.'' I rolled my eyes smiling. I turned around and saw her standing at the end of the staircase wearing a crisp white pantsuit that goes well with her platinum blonde hair a smile plastered on her face, her eyes turned scarlet with tinges of carnation which is always a sight to hold since the Union issues us special contact lens to hide our eyes, makes us look normal. It's an SOP for all Iridescents so we don't normally interact with each other with our normal eyes.

She stretched both of her arms forward and motioned me in for a hug. I restrained myself from running towards her like a five-year-old kid and walked normally towards her. She hugged me so tight that my lungs momentarily suffered from the lack of air
''You can.... Let go now'' I croaked, she gasped when she realized what she was doing
''Oh, my, sorry honey. I'm just really glad to see you safe''
''Safe? What wrong could've happened to me anyway?'' Her lips formed a thin line and I can tell that she is upset about something

''Raven, there is news going around about some of the Iridescents missing'' she started, tentatively like she's afraid that the information would shock me but I'm just purely confused.

''Okay. . . What does that have to do with my safety?'' Her eyes went wide like I just offended her, I just shrugged.

''You are turning twenty this year and all of the Iridescents that are missing are on the same age as you. There is an infraction within the Erinyes and some of the Iridescents claim that they are behind all of it'' she gripped my shoulder tighter than needed but I still couldn't connect the dots and right now my face either looked constipated or crumpled, I shortly thought that either sounds appealing.

As if she sensed my utter confusion, she looked at me deeply before saying ''Raven, this year is the 600th year of Eris' death anniversary and all those turning a year older this year around your age is susceptible to Eris' curse'' she almost panted at the end of her sentence and that explains her hysteria but I still couldn't get a grip on it. We are Eris' descendants all right, but her curse is a legend and just like The Purge, it's terrifying but it's not real. I gave her a meek smile hoping that I can ease her unnecessary anxiety and squeezed her soft hands to reassure her.

''Nothing wrong will happen to me, mom. And I have to get back on friday, the semester just started and I can't afford any absences this early'' I don't sound convinced even to myself. I bit back my own hesitation.

''Nonsense, your safety is what matters. Now get dressed I don't want us to be late. And don't worry about school I've already sent someone to talk to the officials of your university'' I was about to argue but her eyes turned gray stained with blue resembling the color of a bruise and her usual calm demeanor faded and turned into an unusual sight of panic and qualm. Something is not right and we're gonna have to talk about it sooner, whatever it is she's not telling me is undoubtedly eating her but I know that this isn't the right time so with mixed emotions of confusion and apprehension I nodded and gave her a peck on the cheek.

''Okay, I'll just freshen up and maybe do something fancy with my hair and put on a little makeup'' I smiled at her sheepishly and her expression almost instantly changed to her familiar heartwarming smile as her eyes displayed wonderful colors of love.

''Be quick, the conference starts at one in the afternoon'' she reminded me before I went upstairs.

●💀●

Questions:

● who is really behind all the missing Iridescents?

● what is Olivia hiding from Raven?

● Is Eris' curse real? Or just a legend?

*continue reading to get the answers ❤