Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Selene
Our trek across the ocean started the next morning.
Over thirty hours of traveling later and a six-hour time change, we made it to Croatia in early afternoon of the following day.
The flight was expensive and we had an overnight layover in Madrid.
Spending an abundance of one-on-one with Ender was very …
different. Surprisingly, I didn’t get the urge to throw him out of the plane’s emergency exit.
The more time we spent together, the more I was comfortable with him.
A bus took us to a local town near the sea, and we walked until we arrived at the address found on Mom’s mystery phone.
The sun brightened the dated pale blue stone the home was made from.
Though the house appeared to be older, it looked like it had been updated, especially compared to the rest of the block.
The overgrown flower beds that lined the home had seen better days.
I worked up the courage to knock on the door, unsure of who I would find living there, and took a step back on the cracked patio.
The door slowly creaked open until a middle-aged woman took up the doorway, peering down at me. She stared at me expectantly, and I struggled to find the words I needed to say—in Croatian. It was one of the languages Mom had never taught Viv and me.
I gave it my best to pronounce, “Hello. Do you speak English?”
Her thick brows narrowed and she closed the door.
“Either your Croatian was perfect and she doesn’t like us, or you just asked her to lick your toe.” Ender had a toothy grin. “Probably the latter because that was the look she gave us.”
Despite the sinking feeling in my gut, Ender managed to help my spirits. He had a way of—
“Did you see that?” I asked. The curtain at the home next door moved, and I swore I saw someone. I started back down the sidewalk, hiking my pack up by its straps. “Maybe they’ll know something.”
I walked down the street to the neighboring house which was much brighter in contrast. A small wrought iron table with four matching chairs sat in front of a window of the home. Before we made it to the house, the front door opened.
“Hello!” An elderly woman dressed in casual wear and white fluffy slippers that seemed too hot for this weather greeted us.
“Umm, hi,” I said as I reached her, my eyebrows knitted.
“I could tell you were American from a mile away—not that my eyes can see more than ten feet without these glasses.” She nudged her glasses up on her nose. “My name is Noretta.”
I was at a loss for words. She was the complete opposite of her neighbor.
“Thank you for such a warm welcoming.” Ender nodded in greeting, saving me from my inept social skills. “We were curious about the history of the neighborhood.”
“Ah.” The lady leaned against her house. “You’re interested in that house.” She pointed back at her neighbor’s house and tension crawled up my spine. “You’ve come because it’s haunted.”
I glanced at Ender. The only sign that he thought the situation was odd was that he glanced at me too. My nose twitched. No signs of elemental magic filled the air or came through the threshold from her home.
“There are stories, then?” I asked.
“Oh, my.” A short, delightful laugh came from the lady but ended with a touch of … sadness? “You are much like her. You better smooth those wrinkles of yours so they don’t become permanent.”
She nodded to my forehead, and I went to un-furrow my eyebrows, but they raised instead, still causing wrinkles. I wasn’t helping my situation—wait. Back on track. You are much like her?
“What do you mean?” I tensed, even though the lady casually stood in the doorway, smoothing her ruffled white blouse.
“How about you two come in for tea?” She stepped aside. “It appears we have much to talk about, if you are who my old brain is remembering.”
Remembering? She had to know something. Common sense told me not to go in, but my gut told me it was safe, and I wanted information.
“We’re rather comfortable out here,” Ender said before I could take a step, putting on his charming smile. “It’s a beautiful day. No need to waste it inside.”
“Very well, then.” The lady waved to the wrought iron chairs. “Let’s have a seat. My old legs aren’t very trustworthy these days, and you’d think these new knees would make them sturdier.”
Ender and I headed over to the table. The lady hobbled after us and nodded at Ender as he pulled out her chair.
“What a charming young chap you are.” She nodded in thanks as she sat, the sun brightening her dark grey hair. We sat as she continued, “So what does that house mean to you?”
“I’m not sure.” I absently cracked my pointer finger’s knuckle with my thumb and chose to be more straightforward. “I was hoping you could tell me not only about its past, but who had lived there.”
“Yes,” she hummed. “There was a family that lived there many years ago. A very nice family. It was such a tragedy the home became a haunted attraction.”
My spine went stiff at her words and Ender’s hand slid over mine underneath the table.
“What happened?” I cleared my throat, my voice calmer than I had expected.
“Only those that were involved know what happened, but I have my surmise.” Her shoulders drooped.
“They had two beautiful little girls—one a baby and the other barely over a year old. The family mostly kept to themselves but would still wave and say hi to their dear neighbor over the years they lived there.”
I assumed she was the neighbor in her story, and my guess was the two little girls were me and Viv.
“One horrible night,” she continued, “someone broke into their house. I could hear screams, but by the time I was able to get outside, the house was engulfed in flames. The back gate creaked and I was able to make out two figures, both holding two little girls. The young woman looked right at me, horrified, before they ran. I had a feeling something horrible happened. It was later that I had found out she had lost her sister and brother-in-law.”
“Her sister?” I recalled Mr. Hastings mentioning Mom’s sister had died.
“Yes,” she said. “Her twin sibling. When they left with her sister’s child, I could only assume the baby’s parents were gone.
The fire was so intense, I had to back away.
No one could’ve survived that fire. There was so much pain in the young woman’s eyes.
” She glanced back up at me. “I venture you’re here to ask what happened that night—what happened to your family? ”
“How do you know who I am?” It felt like the fire was still next door; sweat dripped down my spine—and not just from the hot weather. “And the baby and the little girl weren’t sisters?”
Her brow furrowed slightly at my question, but she continued, “You look just like your mom but have your dad’s nose and cheekbones.
I remember your mom always smiling, working in her gardens while pregnant with you.
You look just like her.” She let out a gentle laugh as she clasped her hands together.
“The baby, on the other hand, looked more like her father than her mother, with her head full of black hair. Her mother would walk down the street and back every night while she was pregnant with her. I distinctly remember each couple having one baby.”
I gaped, and it took me a second to put the puzzle pieces together.
An idea hit me as I remembered and I pulled my mom’s yearbook out of my backpack, flipping through the pages until I found the one with Mom, John, her twin, and some other guy named Nathan who I had suspected was a possible father candidate.
Now, though, it was clear he wasn’t the father of both me and Viv.
“Are you referring to her as my mother, her as the sister, and him as the youngest girl’s father?” I turned the yearbook over to her, pointing to each one. Even though the picture was black and white, it was clear that the boy had ink black hair—just like Viv’s.
Ender casually glanced at it. I hadn’t shown him yet, but he looked on in silence.
“Ah.” She adjusted her glasses as she leaned closer. “Yes. Such lovely young couples they both were. They look the same as when they lived next door.”
“Couples? They?” I squeaked. “As in … this man was also involved?” I pointed to John.
Her forehead wrinkled as her frown came back. Clearly, she didn’t expect me to not have known this, but what she was referring to was that Headmaster John was my father and Viv was not my biological sister.
It couldn’t be true. This entire time…
“Dear…” She held out her hand and I blankly stared at it, unsure what to do.
I glanced at Ender, who shrugged—a movement I doubt the lady could’ve seen. I gave her my hand, hiding the small bout of unease at touching a stranger.
“If you don’t know any of this and are going to a stranger about your family’s history, that must mean you lost your parents?”
I gulped and nodded, not wanting to give any more information away. She didn’t need to know about … my father. To me, he was gone.
“The baby?” Her eyes became watery as she squeezed my hand tighter.
“She’s okay.” I squeezed her hand, then pulled mine away, feeling awkward. “If they kept to themselves, how did you know so much about them?”
“I didn’t.” She shrugged. “Just the regular waves and observations from friendly neighbors. I didn’t even know their names—I don’t even know yours.”
And you aren’t going to.
“Would you like me to get the tea?” Noretta offered after silence fell between us.
“No. Thank you for the story of the haunted house.” I grabbed the yearbook and stood there awkwardly as I glanced at Ender, afraid if we stayed any longer, one of the many emotions bubbling inside me would burst.
“Thank you for your hospitality, but we best be going.” Ender stood, following me as I began walking away.
“Miss?” the elderly lady called after me, and I hesitantly looked over my shoulder. “I may not know what danger was after your parents, but evil leaves its marks. Take care of yourself now.”
She nodded at both of us, but I continued to the road, not saying a word as hot pressure built inside my veins.
“Hey, Selene.” Ender’s hand softly fell on my shoulder once we were a block away. “You don’t have to face this alone. Confusion, pain, hurt … are all okay to feel.”
I stopped to face him. “It’s just…”
“It’s a lot.” He finished for me when I couldn’t. “But you aren’t alone.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and his arms engulfed me. Some of the smothering pressure released from me, and after a few moments of silence, he spoke.
“What’s the next step, Captain?” His voice vibrated in his chest.
“Time to make some calls.” I gritted my teeth and pulled away.
This was not what … I tensed. Ender must have realized and turned, following my gaze behind him … where my father stood next to some woman with black hair in a short bob. Something about the woman was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
Aura pranced down the road, looking happy to see us.