Dianthe Rising Read Free

covered the phone with his hand but I could hear him roaring through the house.
    “Mags, phone call for you, it's Dia.” After his muffled response, dad was back on the line.
    “She’s coming, baby, listen, before she gets here I want to let you know I love you.”
    “I know, Dad,” I said smiling. The man was so gruff when he tried to be gentle.
    “If I don’t speak to you tomorrow, Happy Birthday and you behave yourself, you hear me? Do not assume I don’t know Annie Lovelace has something up her sleeve. She’s from such a good family too,” my father grumbled.
    “Daddy,” I moaned. “You have to believe I won’t do anything stupid. Annie and I might go out tomorrow night for a couple of hours but I promise to be safe.”
    “You’d better be, sweetheart. I love you and here’s your mother." I told him goodnight and he handed me over to my mum.
    The conversation with my mother went much smoother, if along similar lines. She reminded me to take care of myself and to have a good time tomorrow. After wishing me a happy birthday and reminding me to call my brother, she hung up.
    By this time, it was after nine o’clock so I decided to text Sean instead of calling him.
    Hey, it’s me. Checking in. All is well. Love you, Night .
    Why u txting? Is something wrong? Sean sent back.
    No tired. Going 2 bed. Zzzzzz .
    Before I could hit send the phone began to ring.
    With a sigh, I answered. “Hi, Sean, I was texting you to tell you I was going to bed.”
    “And you couldn’t call me and tell me that, why?” he demanded.
    “Because I was under the mistaken impression it would be easier to message you and head straight to bed, that’s why," I said resignedly. I don’t see why I tried it, as I knew it was a useless endeavor. He always insisted on voice contact when communicating.
    “You do get how easy it would be for someone to text and pretend to be you. I have to make sure it’s you and that you’re safe,” he complained.
    “Yeah, because that’s totally normal and not going overboard,” I grumped. I raised a finger he couldn't see and waved it in the air. “Stop, right there, Sean. I’m tired and I’m going to bed. I was calling to tell you I’m safe and home in one piece. And that I’m going out tomorrow night.”
    “Why and with whom?” he demanded.
    I tried to stop myself from gritting my teeth when I answered him, “With Annie and in case you didn’t remember, it's for my birthday, we are having a quiet girls' night out.”
    “Fine,” he grumbled. “I don’t care what time it is, but you text me to let me know you’re home and use your safe phrase,” he finished.
    “Really?” I asked. It amazed me the extent of his paranoia.
    “Yes,” unfortunately he was deadly serious.
    “Fine, I’ll text you tomorrow night when I get home so you can see that I’m safe and haven’t been carried off by fairies.”
    He thought it was hilarious, since as a child I pretended we had fairies in the garden. I went as far as leaving milk and honey out for them.
    “Make sure that you do,” he bossed back. “I love you, baby girl, and Happy Birthday.”
    Sighing, I told him, “You’re exactly like daddy, you do realize that?”
    “Yup,” he said with amusement and hung up.
    Hardly able to keep my eyes open anymore, I ate a quick sandwich, finishing it off with a diet coke, then answered the call of my new bed.
     

Chapter Two
     
    After a girls' day out with Annie, I was tired but she was ready to pull out the big guns. Now we were preparing for our girls' night out, and I couldn’t work out where she found the energy.
    I looked around wearily at the destroyed remains of my recently tidy flat. The insides of my wardrobe were scattered across the bed, like the casualties of war. Random shoes and lingerie littered the floor, and all I could do was stare in amazed horror. I honestly had no idea if I should mourn or just go with the madness that was Annie. Luckily, she decided for me.
    “Oh,