“I’ve found I haven’t liked the city’s version of unexpected,” Ileana said, trying to smile and play it off as if she was kidding. Truthfully, it was much easier when you knew what you were up against than the strange dealings of Bellum. She liked being with Esme and spending time in the seemingly vast city, she always had to return to the building and face all the threatening letters or anonymous rumors.
“Ah.” She couldn’t imagine not ever meeting either of her parents, even if her mother was an absentee. “That’s good though. I mean, never feeling like you lacked anything. “ She paused for a moment before she added, “It’s kind of worse. If you knew them and then they go. Or make you go.”