Chapter 44 *

Vesper's POV

I got back from my regular exercise around two in the afternoon. The house felt wrong the second I walked in. Too quiet, but not the peaceful kind.

"Lyra! Finally!" Mom appeared in the hallway, smoothing down her skirt for what must have been the hundredth time. She was wearing the navy blue one she only brought out for church and funerals.

Dad emerged from the bedroom in an old suit