She walked into the dining area like a ghost, her pale complexion betraying the fear etched across her face.
The air in the room seemed heavy, oppressive even, as she took in her surroundings.
The dining room was nothing short of grandiose, reminiscent of a king's banquet hall from the 1850s.
Chandeliers hung high above, their crystals catching the light and casting fractured rainbows across the painted ceiling.
Stained glass windows gave the room an almost fairy-tale quality, their vivid colors muted under the dim glow.
Her gaze shifted to the long dining table, where four young men sat alongside her mother and the man she supposed was her mother's latest boyfriend, Oron Bredford, the mayor and founder of Monowi.
Kara's heart sank as her eyes darted away, deliberately avoiding the stares of the four strangers.
"You must be Kara?" Oron said, his voice unexpectedly gentle, disarming her wariness.
There was a warmth to his tone that she hadn't anticipated. She managed a small, tentative smile as he rose from his seat and approached her.
Before she could react, he pulled her into a hug.
It was firm yet tender, filled with a kindness that left her momentarily stunned.
How, she wondered, could her mother, with her questionable choices in men, end up with someone like this? "And you must be Oron," she replied politely, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest.
He smiled, guiding her to a chair near the head of the table.
Pulling it out for her, he said, "Please, sit, my dear." His tone was kind, his manners impeccable. Kara offered a grateful smile as she lowered herself into the seat.
"Oh, thank you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of genuine warmth as she watched him return to his own chair.
He glanced between her and her mother, his expression softening. "Wow, you are a spitting image of your mother," he said with a chuckle, his gaze lingering on Kara. "More beautiful, if I may add."
Kara's cheeks flushed slightly, but she maintained her composure as her mother, Debby, playfully smacked Oron on the arm. "Thank you. I am," Kara said, her tone light but her eyes sharp.
"Did you know you're her fifth boyfriend this year?" she added nonchalantly, pouring herself a glass of water.
Oron smiled, unbothered by the jab. "Oh, I've heard all about her wild adventures, until she found me and fell in love. Now all we have to do is set the wedding date."
Kara smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Right. Love. Funny story." Debby shot her a sharp, warning look, but Kara ignored it.
Oron cleared his throat and clapped his hands twice.
Suddenly, women dressed in pristine black-and-white uniforms appeared from multiple doorways, each carrying trays laden with covered dishes.
They moved gracefully, setting the trays on the table and unveiling them to reveal a feast that made Kara's jaw drop.
Her eyes widened as she took in the sheer amount of food: roasted chicken, steamed beef, fried pork, grilled lamb, stewed goat, stuffed rabbit, and deep-fried deer.
The table overflowed with enough meat to feed a small army.
"Are you expecting company?" Kara asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she stared at the abundance before her.
Oron chuckled. "Nope. This is too small for a party. The boys just have a large appetite."
Kara's brows shot up. "Your definition of a 'large appetite' is definitely… large."
The four young men didn't acknowledge her comment.
They ate with a quiet focus, methodical but relentless. Kara, meanwhile, poked at her plate of salad and spaghetti, watching in awe as the food on the table gradually disappeared.
In mere moments, every dish was emptied except for hers and her mother's. Kara's mouth hung open in shock. "That's insane," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Debby's voice broke the silence, pulling Kara's attention away from the spectacle. "You're starting school tomorrow."
Kara's expression darkened instantly. "I don't want to go to school," she said, her tone firm.
"Kara, we've talked about this," Debby said, her voice tinged with warning.
"No!" Kara slammed her hand on the table, the sound reverberating through the room.
"I said no! I don't want to go to school. I'm tired of changing friends, tired of meeting new people, tired of having to adapt to new environments because of your shit!"
"Kara!" Debby's voice rose, her frustration boiling over. "You will go to school, and that's final!"
Kara's hand trembled as she gripped her fork, her fury barely contained. Turning to Oron, she plastered on a bitter smile. "Guess what, Oron? She loved my dad too. She loved her ex-husband Mark, Rick, and Jeff too."
"Kara, if you say another word-" Debby's voice was laced with a dangerous edge.
"She's nothing but a gold-digging wench! She doesn't love you! She doesn't love anyone but herself!" Kara spat, her voice dripping with venom.
Debby shot to her feet, crossing the room in an instant.
Her hand connected with Kara's cheek in a slap that echoed through the dining room, the sound sharp and final.
Kara's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.
Her lips twisted into a bitter smile as she stood, her voice trembling with defiance. "Screw you. Screw all of you," she said, her words cutting through the silence like a blade.