Priscilla had shown me to the nicest guest room, and told me to use the attached bathroom to clean up, or rest on the bed. I planned to do neither of those things. I needed to find great grandmother. She was the only person who had heard from me and knew about the acid attack. Everyone else was expecting someone identical to Priscilla to show up at the estate any second now. I needed to make sure great grandmother saw and heard from me before she heard Priscilla's account of meeting me on the dark road. Plus, I had gotten over my shock and confusion as much as I could, and lying around wasn't going to help me shake the rest of the uneasiness that seemed to permanently hang out in the pit of my stomach.


I followed the halls and stairwells Priscilla had led me through to get to the guest room back into a glamorous living room we had passed through. I hoped great grandmother would be there, and for once things turned out in my favour.


She was sitting with her back to me, facing a brick firplace that stretched to the ceiling twenty five feet above. The fire was blazing brightly, and it was the only light on in the room. The flames danced and moved shadows across the walls. The ominous feel of the dark and vast sitting room made the uneasiness in my stomach at least ten times worse, as I faced one of the people I feared most.


" Priscilla, come sit," she said, gesturing to the armchair infront of her. She must have assumed I was Priscilla because we were almost the exact same size, and would sound simalery treading down the stairs. I walked over to the armchair across from her slowly and carefully, stopping directly behind her armchair. I took a deep Breath, and spoke, my voice shakey and barely audible. " I'm not Priscilla, I'm-" I chocked up, unable to continue speaking, which was fine, because great grandmother turned to face me with remarkable speed for her age and unsuspecting appearance. She was out of the armchair in an instant, and if she was scared of me or disgusted, it didn't show on her face.


She walked over to me, and laid a careful hand on the side of my shoulder. " Penolope, it's worse than you discribed," she said simply. I knew she was referring to my face. I had always been dumb Penolope, but know I was also ugly Penolope. My shoulder itched under her bony hand. It wasn't a warm hug, or a tearful reunion, but great grandmother had never wanted to touch dumb Penolope.


I squeezed her hand gently when she lowered her hand off my shoulder and into my palm. Something simaler to rage flashed through her eyes, and I could clearly remember the same look from when I was tossed out of my home with all my family watching and doing nothing to stop it. "Sit" she commended, gesturing to the same armchair as before.


When we were seated across from eachother,she sat silent and unmoving with her eyes closed for so long I begun to fear she had died. After a long time she finally spoke hoarsely.

" I'm old, and I don't know how much longer I'll be around. She paused and opened her eyes, trying to read my reaction. Seeing as my face was burned off, it was probably pretty difficult, even for a women as intelligent and calculating as her. She kept her eyes trained on me and continued slowly.


" everyone knows of how little time I have left, and I suspect everyone wants the money, estate, or power. None of this surprises me. The only thing I don't understand is how you reached out at the perfect time. I banned everyone in this family from talking to you, and I doubt you would be able to spy." She paused for a long time, and I realized she was waiting for me to speak.


I was pretty sure she had the humor of a dead horse, but I tried for a joke anyway. " I just got lucky, I guess."

Great grandmother's face darkened before she responded. " you're not nearly as funny as you think you are. Everything is going to Priscilla. She is the only one I can trust not to run my business into the ground, or throw away the fortune.


My original plan was to reunite happily with the family, despite our many differences, and then maybye stay in the estate while I gathered money and resources before moving away again. That was torn to prices now, there was no chance I would receive help from my family. I knew now my great grandmother hadn't wanted to make things right between us, she had only allowed me on the property as a form of entertainment, and an example. She would use me to show everyone else what happened when someone went against her. I stood up from the overly cushy chair.


" I don't want any part of your dirty fortune you make from harming others, and I don't want any power or anything in your will. I just wanted a loving family, and a good Christmas. I realize now that was naive, and coming here was a mistake."


I had begun to walk away from her when she spoke again. " don't pretend you came here to be all buddy buddy with me or anyone else. I know you were living with the rats in NYC, I know your roommate died, and I know you are about to be evicted. Enjoy your four days in moderate comfort, because then you'll be on the streets." Her tone was deadly serious, and I knew I was foolish in coming here. She perkily added one last thing before I climbed the stairs to my room. " don't forget to pick up your clue card for your secret santa in the dining room at eight am."