Chapter 33

A skeleton hand fell out from the destroyed statue; it was holding something wrapped in paper.

Liam quickly held Lilly and covered her eyes from the eerie scene. Edward was stunned for a moment before collecting himself, “Liam, I think you should bring Lilly home first.”

“I want to stay here!” Lilly protested, but to no avail. “Lilly, I am sorry but you cannot stay here,” said Liam. Without a moment of hesitation, he picked her up and rushed home.

“Now Lilly, why don’t you go home and play with Granny? Let Uncle Edward and I deal with the statue,”

Liam continued, “Remember, if anyone asks, tell them it was Uncle Edward who destroyed the statue accidentally.”

“Why?” Lilly was perplexed. “It wasn’t Uncle Edward. Why do I have to lie?” Liam frowned and said, “Just listen to me for once, okay?” Lilly shrugged, “Fine.”

Liam brought Lilly home and left immediately after. While Bettany was away preparing food, Lilly asked Pablo, “Master, why do I have to lie about destroying the statue? Lying is bad.”

Without glancing up from the book he was reading, Pablo replied nonchalantly, “Have you heard of a white lie? Lying is not always bad. Your uncles are merely trying to protect you by asking you to lie. If people find out about your extraordinary strength, they’re going to cut you open.”

“No,” Lilly was frightened, “Please don’t let them cut me open!” I am no food! Why would anyone want to cut me open?

Bettany seemed amused. “Don’t be silly! No one is cutting you open,” she said, handing an apple to Lilly, “Here, eat an apple and everything is going to be alright.”

Lilly took the apple and looked at Pablo, puzzled. Pablo took out the jar of souls and summoned a female spirit. He asked the spirit, “Why is your hand hidden inside the statue?”

Pablo had not realized the spirit had a severed hand because she had kept the full information of how she had died from him. Now it was clear she was trying to gather her severed hand, so her soul could rest in peace.

“I was holding my money when I was killed, and my hand got separated from my body.” She answered sadly, “I could not rest in peace without my hand. I have been wandering the mortal realm for the past five years, trying to retrieve my hand.”

Pablo glanced at her, “You knew it wasn’t just salt, didn’t you?” The spirit was dumbfounded. Pablo continued, “You knew, yet you did it anyway for money. You got what you deserved.”

He had no idea how her severed hand got inside the statue, but if the cops found the hand and the bag of money, they would trace the fingerprints to Winona in no time.

Lilly was not interested in their conversation. She tore a piece from her apple and gave it to Polly. Polly happily gobbled the piece of apple. As both finished the apple, Bettany stood up to get a pie for them.

Lilly smiled, “Thank you, Granny!”

Once Bettany was away, Lilly threw the apple core to Polly and said playfully, “Eat this shit, Polly!” The parrot refused and repeated after her, “Eat this shit!”

Pablo was amused. Lilly had changed a lot, and she seemed happy now. He did not realize Winona had stepped into the house.

“No swearing in the house, Lilly,” Winona was annoyed. Polly threw the apple core to her feet, and she was furious. Lilly’s face fell, “I am sorry, Aunt Winona.”

“You bring nothing but bad luck,” Winona glared at her. This little shit had destroyed her relationship with Liam, and now everyone wanted Liam to divorce her.

Grandma used to say the same thing to Lilly. Lilly had no courage then to protest, but now she felt she should say something. “No, you are wrong. You have bad luck because your shadow is slanted. I have nothing to do with anyone’s bad luck.”

Whenever Grandpa, Grandma or Daddy had bad luck, their shadows were slanted. Lilly knew it was the truth, but Winona didn’t seem pleased. Winona threw her bag with a loud thud, “This is unacceptable! You should never talk to me like this.”

Does this little shit think she has the right to lecture me? How dare she! Winona pointed a finger at Lilly, “Have you not learned your manners? How dare you talk back to me like this! I am doing all this for your own good, don’t you see it?”

Lilly bit her lip and shook her head. “No, you are not. You are just doing this for your own good.”

Winona was outraged. She glanced around to confirm Hugh and Bettany weren’t here before punishing Lilly. She knew Bettany had a doctor’s appointment today.

“Get up,” Winona ordered Lilly. Lilly refused to obey. Winona looked terrifying, and Lilly would be a fool to stand still for her to punish her.

Lilly took Polly and bolted out of the room. Winona screamed, “Stop running!” Lilly ignored her and ran toward the kitchen.

Winona knew it was not worth her effort to chase after Lilly, but she was so angry she felt like exploding. She needed a way to release her anger.

“Don’t be stupid, Lilly,” Winona said loudly, “I will find you sooner or later. You could never run away from me.” She would make sure Lilly knew not to disrespect her anymore.