Chapter 54: Larger Family
Bran’s aunt laughed and took a seat on the other side of Misha. He now realised he was actually lying on a thin mattress on the floor and that both Bran and his aunt were sitting cross-legged and also on the floor.
Misha let go one of his hands from Bran’s and held it out to the woman.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Misha Long," he said.
"Ho, he has manners," she said to Bran and shook Misha’s hand. "Yeung Serng Yin. You can call me Auntie Yeung, like Bran. And, now that you’re awake, I can finally ask you..." the smile did not leave Auntie Yeung’s face yet it was like the sun had suddenly hidden behind a cloud, "why did you wait this long before bringing Bran to me?"
"Huh?"
"You knew he was sick and you waited until he was right at death’s door before you thought to bring him? Mm?"
The room seemed to darken and Misha instinctively tried to pull his hand away but Auntie’s Yeung’s grip was ironclad.
"N-no, I-"
"He didn’t know," said Bran firmly. He gripped his aunt’s wrist and slowly pulled Misha’s hand from hers. As he did, Misha noticed that Auntie Yeung’s nails were as sharp as claws. Her eyes flicked to Bran.
"He didn’t... You didn’t tell him?" the woman’s eyes glinted in the dim light. Her pupils were long and sharp like a cat’s.
"He, he did tell me he was unwell," piped up Misha. He was terrified of this aunt, absolutely terrified, but he also didn’t want Bran to get all the blame. Let him shoulder some at least.