After his call ended, Mr. Alfred instructed Miranda to go start preparing dinner.
Knowing his wife was currently invading the girl's room, he wanted to avoid any more confrontation between the two women until the priest show up.
Much as he understood his wife's position and anger, he also felt bad for his daughter. Still, he couldn't side the girl over his wife. He had never been a religious person, but ever since she was born, they had been going from one religious house to another, the last one being a church.
He didn't even get a chance to see the title or content of the book his wife was furious about. But it was too late now. Getting in her way would only cause further problems, which he wanted to avoid at all costs.
Despite her confusion and pain, Miranda did as her father said. She proceeded to the kitchen to begin making dinner. Her mind couldn't grasp how she had offended her mother. She said something about burning her book. What did she even mean by that?
How can she burn a book and the book came back into existence? Did the woman perhaps burn a different book and assumed she went to get another copy? That must be it because nothing else makes sense.
"What are you doing here?" Her mother's voice startled her out of her thoughts. She turned around to find the woman in the kitchen.
"I... Um, I want to start making dinner." Miranda stuttered, her gaze falling on the pile of books resting between the crook of her mother's elbow, and being supported by her waist.
There were about eighteen books altogether, including the ones she bought yesterday and had not had the opportunity to read.
She wished she could beg or plead for the woman to reconsider what she was about to do, but she knew it was going to be futile. Instead of making her calm down, it would bring more trouble. So shutting her mouth was best. And that was exactly what she did.
"You want to make dinner for who? Surely not for me and my husband. Until the priest comes and certifies you clean, stay away from this kitchen. To your room, now." Her mother pointed toward the exit, and Miranda didn't hesitate before leaving the kitchen.
It's not been twenty-four hours since Connie left and her mother was already making her life miserable. It's probably time for her to take Connie's advice seriously.
A pang of guilt struck her chest at that thought, but she tried to ignore it. She loved her family immensely and had always seen them as a pillar of support, despite all they do. She believed no one family was perfect and each had their own problems, the reason why she had always overlooked it every time she was wronged.
But at this point, she didn't think she could take it anymore. At twenty-two, she was still being treated like a child. Who would believe that her mother just ceased all her books for reasons that were not even clear enough? It probably was that time when she would learn to love them from afar.
Stepping into her room and shutting the door behind her, she almost resumed crying, seeing how the place was completely turned upside down. Everything was a mess.
Letting out a deep sigh to calm her nerves, she moved to her closet and changed into a t-shirt and shorts. Then she went to the small dresser and sat down on the stool, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
Her large ash colored eyes fell on the purple strands of hair on her head as she pulled out the scrunchie holding all the strands together, freeing them.
"I don't think I'm evil just because of a few purple hairs. I don't feel evil. I've never wished anyone bad or done anything to harm anyone." She muttered to herself while staring at her reflection.
'It's time I ended all this. I don't hate them, but I just have to stay away for my peace of mind.' The second thought popped up when she felt that guilt again.
'I can love them from afar. I guess I will have to ask Loretta if I can stay with her for some time while I search for a job.' A small smile adorned her face, knowing that her friend will welcome her with open arms.
However, another thought occurred to her and she shook her head.
'Loretta will not do. That will be the first place they will look for me should I go missing. I don't want to put her in trouble. It has to be Patrick. No one will suspect or go looking for me at his place. Just one month and if I don't get a place of my own, I'll move back to Loretta's place until I can secure a place.'
After this carefully laid out plan, a small frown settled on her face. She had her reservation about going to stay with Patrick, but that was the only option if she wanted to leave this house.
Her parents won't let her work with the excuse that they were working out a suitable and well-paid job for her. It's been two years already and still nothing. Whenever she raises the issue, they call her impatient.
Deciding that was the best route to go, she steadied her heart and assured herself that everything will work out well in the end.
"I'm waiting for that priest. Let me hear what he has to say. But before then, time to clean this place up." She uttered and was about to push herself off the chair when a strange light suddenly filled the room.
She quickly stood up and moved her eyes to find the source of the light when her gaze landed on it.
There, on her small table, something strange was happening. A book was forming right before her eyes, beginning from the edge and extending to the whole body until a full book was resting on the table.
But that was not the shocking part. It was the same book that had caused her problems that night. The same book she was very sure her mother was burning in the backyard, and it was glowing bright gold.