When I get back from Sapphire’s house, I find Mylah sitting on the couch, reading her mother’s diary. “How was school?” I ask.

“Good,” she responds. “How was your day?” she asks.

“Great, work was … tiring,” I respond.

“It is your off day, so where were you?” she asks.

“Oh, my poor old mind! I was out for fresh air,” I respond, giggling nervously.

“Alone?” she asks, and I nod in response. “That is a lie. You were with her, weren’t you daddy?” she asks.

“Who is ‘her’?” I respond, playing dumb.

“Don’t do that,” she says. “That woman who was here a few weeks ago, dad.”

“Do what? I think you have an overactive imagination,” I respond.

“She is the woman from the pizza place, isn’t she?” she asks, setting the diary aside.

“Overactive imagination,” I respond, laughing.

“Do not insult my intelligence, father. You are dating her, aren’t you?” she asks, and then tilts her head to the side.

“When did she become a mind reader, and the way she is looking at me is making me feel scared, somehow,” I say to myself. “I am tired,” I finally respond, and then head for the stairs. I literally run to my room and push the door open. Once I get into my room, my phone rings, startling me, and it is Sapphire.

“Bad time?” she asks.

“No, it is fine,” I respond. “I think my daughter is on to us.”

“Sit her down and tell her, Adam,” she says, ordering me. “She cannot rule over your life.”

“It is not as easy as that!” I respond.

“That is why I do not have kids. Those little things think they can control our lives,” she says, and then casually laughs.

“I see your point. I will talk to her,” I respond.

“I miss you already,” she says.

“I miss you too, Sapphire,” I respond. “We just … have to lay low for a while.”

“We are not teenagers, Adam. We are two responsible grown-ups,” she says, snapping.

“I understand that, but …” I respond, but I then quickly hang up the call when I spot Mylah standing by the door. “Come in,” I shout.

She walks in. “I think there is something here that could help us,” she says, pointing at a diary entry.

August 27th 2005
Dear Diary

I do not know how to explain this! Mary decided to marry a human. The master was angry with her, but she offered the master twelve kids, infants to be precise, as a sacrifice to let her be fully human. I watched as the master ate the dozen kids, deafened by the little screams, and I felt very sorry for them.

Yes, I yearn for a normal life, but I would never let kids go through that because of me. Another way to break this curse is to kill two people in one day, and then bring the dead body of the one you love the most to the master. I could not do that to Adam, however. Never!

Mixed feelings.
Janine.

“A sacrifice?” I stutter.

“Not just a sacrifice, dad, twelve infants. I do not have the guts for that,” Mylah responds, and then collapses on the bed.

“There has to be another way, baby,” I say, comforting her, and she snuggles in my arms and closes her eyes in response.

Tell us: Do you think Mylah will ever be able to become a human?