Chapter Twenty-Nine - Uncles Greenhouse
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Uncle's Greenhouse
AFTER A NIGHT of filling up on snacks for breakfast, we decided to raid the fridge for cranachan and ate it all in the dining room with Blythe’s brother. I was completely sick of sugar once I headed for my packed bag.
Blythe’s mom met us at the door on our way out. “I’m so glad you came home for your birthday. You know, I wasn’t so sure after you started attending the academy about how often I’d get to see you.”
“Of course, Mom,” Blythe said.
“Thanks for having us, Ms. Valentine,” Levi said.
Her mom’s shoulders dropped. “Now remember to be careful. The council members mentioned that dark magic was on the rise and to inform them if you hear anything. They are offering a reward for anyone that has information on shadow users misusing their magic.”
“I didn’t know it was getting that serious,” Blythe said, her arms wrapped around herself.
“I just found out,” her mom said. “Honestly, don’t tell them I said this, but it sounds a little risky to inform the council and involve yourself with it. Might be the skeptic in me, my family has a long history of exercising caution. I just want you all to stay safe and know that our home is always open to you.”
We headed for the academy, and Ms. Valentine’s words sank in. I didn’t know if the council was trying to find shadow magic users because Nick said it could combat the light magic they were gaining or because they were looking for people who might have talked about watching a dark magic ritual this weekend.
Maybe it meant they still didn’t know. Either way, they were making moves. Blythe’s mom wanting us to be careful meant a lot to me. Watching her parents laugh with us this morning and hug her goodbye, it stirred something in me. I was angry that the people my parents trusted were the reason they weren’t here.
The secret society members were so close in her house for some real estate deal. It was such a relief when they left. I was so happy to see the love Blythe had in her family, but now I was more nervous about involving her with what I saw. By the sound of it, if she decided to tell someone and the council found out, they would be looking at her. I definitely didn’t want that.
6 p.m. came around, and my uncle portaled in front of the academy. He stood tall in a coat, looking exactly how I saw him last when he dropped me off. His graying black hair was combed back. This time he didn’t bear a fresh sunburn over his tanned skin, like he sometimes did mainly over the summer months.
The second I saw him, I broke into a run, hugging him tight. After remembering everything and finding out the council punished him for trying to stop what they caused, I looked at him completely differently. It made me angry and heartbroken for him.
He laughed. “It’s good to see you, Harper. How’s your first year going?”
“It’s okay. A bit of a disaster at first, but I’m starting to get the hang of it.”
He smiled warmly. “I knew you would. Alright, come on. I’ll show you the new place.”
The sun was disappearing behind a cloudy sky. We stood in the middle of two rows of townhomes, each bordered off by tall, dark green hedges.
“Here’s home,” he said.
As we walked to his front door, I felt more magic run over my skin, so faintly. “Is that a barrier?”
“Yup, my neighbor set it up for me. She—uh, thought I should have one,” he said sheepishly, opening the door.
So much of it looked just like at home, with the same furniture set up, just less of it. It was cozy and small, but he said he wanted to stay close to Ares-Valentine while I attended.
“Did she?” I asked.
“Well,” he sighed. “I don’t exactly have the magic for one myself, and she’s been kind in getting me reacquainted with the Realm. In exchange, I send her potions. We had dinner last night.”
“I’m happy you’ve met someone here.”
He led me to the back door, opening it to reveal a custom-built glass greenhouse that exited to his backyard. The greenhouse was already completely covered in plants on the ground, on shelves, and hanging. A two-seated patio table was by the door.
“I’ll get some tea,” he said.
Walking around the greenhouse, I admired his new plants. I let my magic flow over some of them, similar to how I’d try to help in the nursery. I was a little nervous about ruining all that he created here, but it felt so comfortable, so familiar. Finding his favorite herbs, I let my magic help them grow, maybe a little too much. He’d have a use for them.
When he got back, he handed me a hot cup of tea. “Oh, wow. You have been learning a lot.”
“Yeah.” I sipped from the cup. “Oh, peppermint, my favorite.”
He smiled and stared at the plants. “I knew you had it in you. You’re almost halfway through the school year, just imagine once you can fully control it.”
It felt easier after I let go of it, when Nick needed to be able to build a portal for us to get out. I let it all protect me. It had slowly been getting easier. While it was an improvement from before attending, seeing the council members in my best friend’s house had me on edge more than I ever imagined. They were so tied to everything in the Realm.
“When you, um… Do you think you could ever get your magic back? Would there be any way? ”
Uncle Nolan cleared his throat, walking back and taking a seat. “I’ve never heard of it coming back. I make do with potions and what little I have. Magic was never needed until returning here, but it’s a good community.” Something was missing from his voice, as if his words were hollow.
I wished there was a way to get it back for him. After what I saw in the graveyard when their magic was taken, it brought back memories of what my uncle suffered.
He shouldn’t have come back here. He changed everything to be here for me. I would learn my magic the way I was supposed to.
Nick asked me not to tell anyone. I had been holding secrets for so long, and all it did was keep me from finding the truth. It was hard to open up to anyone and risk their safety before I knew more, but I also didn’t want to push everyone away. It had been so hard. My uncle was there, he was already involved, possibly more than anyone. I had to take a chance—he was all I had left.
I took a seat beside him. He stayed quiet and listened, knowing what I had to say was going to be important before I even started. What I saw that night thirteen years ago poured from me, and some of what I saw at the graveyard. Everything about how I got away, not mentioning Nick at all, just that I got free.
“What have you gotten into?” he asked softly, there was no blame, just fear for me. He hid how his hands trembled, but the grief in his voice was unmistakable.
“I just think there was more to the night my parents died, and it was too similar. Those people were there Friday. ”
He sighed. “It always seemed strange to me. Truthfully, I barely remember any of it. It’s a mess to think back on. You’re right though, there was a disagreement within the council. I think your father wanted me close during that meeting. This is very dangerous. I don’t like you involved in that, I also can’t tell you what to do. If what you’re saying is true, you need to protect yourself. You’ve already learned so much. If you feel unsafe at all, come back here. We will head back to the States if that’s what you want, or you can stay and make your own life here.”
There had been the lingering feeling of leaving, of protecting my uncle, and escaping all of this. That feeling was hard to ignore. All I had wanted was to know more about my parents and the Realm, to have a regular university experience and learn my magic. After seeing those people abuse their power and stating my uncle was a passerby that might have made it worse, I wanted justice for my uncle. I wanted to learn my magic. I wanted to be in the place that we had to run from.
“I want to stay,” I said, more firmly than I ever said before.
Uncle Nolan nodded. “I had a feeling, because I knew my brother and your mom. If they were attacked, it was likely they were standing up against the council members who wanted something different. If anything becomes clear to me, I’ll let you know.”
“I think you should go back to the states,” I told him. “Or let me buy you a place somewhere more protected.”
“I won’t take a cent of what your parents set up for you. I have my own money. Plus, I’m not a target of anyone anymore. This works fine for me. And look, I got a cat,” he said, pointing his cup at a gray tabby that strode in from the propped-open greenhouse door.
I knew he was changing the subject. We were so similar, he would never leave me here.
The kitten looked at me with a dreamy sort of look, stretching over the patio stones, not bothered at all at the appearance of a stranger.
“He likes to lie in the sun with my plants outside. I’ve named him Toaster. We’re very comfortable, and the neighbors are nice.”
My uncle was terrible at naming things. We only had a goldfish briefly named Tails. “You never wanted a cat before.”
“Well, he kind of adopted me.” Uncle Nolan frowned at him.
He walked me back out of his house, past his barrier, and in front of a portal. It was such a relief to be able to tell someone, to hopefully have given him any kind of closure or answers about what happened. The relief off my shoulders was enough to bring tears to my eyes, if I hadn’t already been crying after having to tell him that he didn’t need to feel guilty.
I knew he wanted to tell me not to go back, that it wasn’t safe at a place so closely watched, but he wouldn’t. That was my uncle, a friend as much as a father figure. I didn’t want to mention that I was now eager to know more about what happened.
“Stay out of trouble. Call me if you need to. I know I can’t make this decision, but if there was more to it, looking into it could be dangerous.”
“I’m just worried about you,” I said .
“Don’t worry about me. Your father taught me a thing or two about diverting to make an escape. You keep practicing, and I’ll be ready to get you somewhere safe if you need it.”