Chapter 28 #3
“You have magic in you, Maily, and being here unlocked a part that was hidden in the deepest parts of your soul.”
To any sane person, this would make no sense at all. But all I can think about is that I want, no, need to know more. “How is this possible?”
“It goes back to your lineage. I know you can’t remember them, but your parents were no humans. They too had magic coursing through their veins.”
“Magic…as in flying on broomsticks and making potions?”
“Some of us can fly, yes, we don’t need broomsticks for that, but we do make potions.” Right, that makes so much more sense. “It means you are fae, just like I am. And so were your parents.”
Fae…I’ve read about those, some of my favourite books have fae in them. I had always daydreamed about being one too. And now it turns out I am one? What the actual fuck.
“Why am I hearing about this just now? I’m twenty-one years old. If I am fae and my parents were too, shouldn’t I have known that by now?”
“You know, or at least you did. You arrived at House of Anima with nothing but a paper note, covered in bandages, gone were your memories and other possessions. Correct?”
I nod, not wanting to be reminded of the day my hell began.
“Your parents didn’t abandon you out of free will, you were brought there by a friend of the family for your own protection.”
“But I…I killed my mother, maybe even my father too. That is why I was there, as a punishment, because no one wanted me anymore.” The lump in my throat is too big to swallow away and I am seconds away from bursting out into tears.
“No, my darling, that is what they made you believe. You didn’t kill your mother, but she did perish in a fire, that much is true. Your father had fallen ill when you were a little girl and passed away. He wasn’t there at the moment of the fire.”
The little relief I feel that I didn’t kill both my parents is short lived. I look at my hands, the pale patches still glowing. “I… set the fire…myself?”
A finger lifts my chin up, my burning eyes meeting her lavender-blue ones. “Although we do not know the details of what happened that night, we do know for certain that you did not cause that fire. You didn’t kill your mother.”
“I didn’t?” I whisper, my heart nearly exploding out of my chest.
“I promise. I will tell you all I know. But later, rest up first and —”
“No, please. Tell me now. I need to know.”
She debates it for a second, but my desperation wins her over.
"The magic you carry within you is immensely strong. So strong, a lot of fae can sense it on you, even when you were younger. Your mother did everything she could to hide it, temper it even, because she knew what dangers it could bring. You would never stay too long in the same location, and every single time you moved, she would cast enchantments so strong, no one would be able to find you even if you were standing right in front of them. But that night…”
She sighs, a sad expression edged across her beautiful features. I know the next part of the story will not be pleasant, and based on how Mrs Delalune is looking right now… It makes me wonder if she knew my mother, possibly even me when I was younger.
“No one knows exactly how it happened, no one knew about you except for a handful of fae. But dark, wicked forces came in the middle of the night. Your mother fought long and hard, while casting an ancient spell that could only be used once to hide you away. She slayed them all — she was a very skilled guardian — but one of the creatures was able to light its fire, creating a toxic smoke and with those flames…” She sighs and shakes her head.
“Even the skilled, fire-wielding fae can’t douse those types of flames.
Your mother knew that, and when you eventually came down, the flames were everywhere and she was intoxicated by the smoke.
By some miracle, the ancient protection spell created a dome around you and you remained unharmed.
“Your mother’s friend arrived, the flames were completely extinguished by that time.
She had received clear instructions from your mother and she was — and still is — an expert in her field.
She entered your mind and created an impenetrable barrier upon your memories, making sure there was nothing left of the magical life you lived.
“House of Anima isn’t the most pleasant place, and that is an understatement. But your mother knew you would be safe there, because who would go looking for a magical fae girl in a place like that?”
I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to think.
I’m relieved to hear it wasn’t me who killed my mother, but…all the other things she said? I’m on the edge of freaking out. The fact that someone is out there after me, is terrifying. But what she said about me being fae, doesn’t make sense, yet deep down it does.
Tears fall down my cheeks, I quickly wipe them away. “Will my memories return?”
Mrs Delalune gives me a tissue. “It is possible.”
Not a no, but not a yes either. “Who am I?”
A cool hand covers mine. “Now might be the perfect time to discover that.”