Okay, it’s totally sketchy that Mom has maps of the Ryder mansion squirreled away. She returns to the living room and plunks down onto the sofa, a pile of folded papers on her lap.

Opening the top map, Mom runs her finger across different points. “The Ryder mansion’s shaped like a giant letter ‘U.’ In the center of the building–the base of the ‘U’–is the reception hall. From there, you go to the West Wing–that’s where the Ryders live–or the East Wing.” Mom sighs. “The East Wing’s especially beautiful. It holds the ballroom, diplomatic offices, and library.”

“Diplomatic offices, huh?” I let the words hang out there. Mom doesn’t take the bait.

Instead, she points to another spot on the map. “Oh, and there’s the hedgerow maze right between the two wings. A lovely fountain’s at the center. After that, the grounds have tennis courts, botanical gardens, and all sorts of other things to entertain diplomats.”

“Whoa. Zeke’s house is way huger than I thought.” How-oh-how am I going to segue this conversation to get actual answers about Mom’s past?

Mom makes a tsk-tsk noise. “The grounds are actually a lot smaller now. You should have seen it before the war.”

“I would’ve liked that.” Man, it’s taking all my personal control (of which I have very little) not to push her right now for details.

“The library’s a marvel, be sure to check it out, Myla-la.” She flips to a different map that shows only the East Wing. It’s a long and thin rectangle made up of four floors. “The first floor’s the ballroom, the second’s diplomatic offices. The library covers both the third and fourth floors.” She shakes her head from side to side. “That library is unbelievable. The records cover everything from quasi government to demon history to ancient diplomatic archives.”

My personal control issues reach the breaking point. “Aren’t I doing a great job not asking you about the diplomatic stuff you did before the war?” My mouth starts moving on its own. “I mean, it’s pretty clear you worked in the diplomatic offices in the Ryder mansion. Maybe you met my dad there? Researched stuff in the library together or something?” I lean forward, my restraint level at zero. “Am I right?”

Mom opens her mouth as if to speak, but the words choke in her throat. She lets out a long sigh instead. “Has Verus sent you any dreamscapes yet?”

“Not since the first one we talked about.”

“Ah, well.” She rises to her feet. “Maybe soon.”

With that, Mom walks away and hides the maps again.

Damn.

I race up to the front door of the Ryder mansion and slam on the bronze knocker. I am so freaking late meeting Cissy and Zeke, it isn’t even funny.