Chapter One
Near the Center of the Earth
Mother spooned the poisoned corn and beans into her mouth, ravenously, eyes
closed, hands shaking. We, her seven children, sat around the table watching her
for signs of death, our eyes leaving her only long enough to glance at the clock
to see how far the hands had moved. Would she turn blue, like my oldest
sister, Alice, said? Alice sat hunched next to me in the same white kitchen
chair, our identical homemade cotton dresses blending into one. She shoved my
shoulder with hers as if I were disturbing her concentration and stared
unblinking at Mother. Each time Mother hesitated, spoon in mid-air, Alice's face
clouded and she pushed against my shoulder.
"She's dying," Alice whispered, covering her mouth so Mother could not hear her.
"I told you she was gonna die."
I ignored her and watched Mother. I wanted to feel the kernels of sweet yellow
corn slide against my teeth. I didn't care if they were poisoned. I was so
hungry my head throbbed. The clock ticked as loudly as the clattering train that
passed beside our house every day, each tick echoing against the wall and
bouncing into my head, making my heart beat in my temples and my ... read full excerpt from: Change Me Into Zeus's Daughter ebook
