7. Finley
Finley
Leaving the men to do their thing, I took the laptop with all the information I would need from Margaret and headed to my nest. Then inputting the code, the door clicked open, and I entered, ensuring to leave the door ajar, so they knew they were welcome to join me whenever.
Curling up on my giant bean bag bed, I flipped open the lid.
As it booted up, I gazed out the wall of glass, taking in the forest beyond.
It was soothing to watch the trees wave in the breeze like they were dancing.
A chime sounded from the computer and a password request popped up.
I went with my gut and entered the one I would use for all Organization purposes and was granted access.
The desktop was blank but for one folder that was titled Finley.
Feeling that was far too obvious, I checked a few other places as well, finding it empty of all other data.
I clicked on the file and found one video file to click on.
Everything inside me was at war. Do I open it?
Could it be another trap? It’s not like they didn’t already know my location if they wanted to attack us.
What would Margaret gain from this? Maybe there was information that I didn’t want to know and it would be better to leave this be.
Tossing my fears to the side, I clicked it.
A man’s face appeared on the screen, one that looked familiar to me but I couldn’t place.
He was sitting in an office alone at night if the view out his windows were accurate.
He had jet black hair cut short on the sides but longer on top that fell into his face and stared down at his hands.
At first, I thought the video wasn’t playing, but I could see him breathing, and other faint background noises could be heard.
Then he looked up, and I was met with the same colored cobalt eyes that I have, and I knew this man was my father.
“This is not how I wanted things to happen, Finley,” he said, his eyes sad as he spoke.
“I was going to wait until your magic revealed itself, then I was going to help you through it. It was safer for everyone, especially you, not knowing I existed until it couldn’t be avoided.
I know when you watch this that you know what you really are and your magic has been freed.
I can feel it through our familial bond.
I’m sure you have so many questions, and I want to answer them for you, but knowing the truth might put you in even more danger. ”
He sighed and ran his hands through his hair before continuing, “Your mother died giving birth to you, and being the creator and leader of the Organization, I couldn’t risk having you with me.
So many people have tried to kill me to take over the Organization or dismantle it, feeling it’s evil and should have never been created.
I thought the best thing was to send you to the orphanage, and when you were old enough, I came back for you.
Bringing you into the Organization was the only way for me to watch over you without anyone knowing who you were.
Hearing this probably doesn’t make anything better or make you feel any less abandoned, but you deserve the truth. ”
I hit the pause button on the video since I saw it went on for another ten minutes and closed my eyes.
My father, Ellisor Beinorin, was alive and not only that but created and led the Organization.
Had Margaret told him what happened to me?
Did he know she kicked me out since I contacted the alpha of the pack?
Is this what she meant when she said all those weeks ago that I could have been protected?
Part of me didn’t want to finish the video, but I knew I was going to.
I’d never allowed myself to think about what life would be like if my parents were alive.
If they hadn’t wanted me, then what was the point of looking for them?
Giving in, I clicked the play button, and my father’s deep, even-toned voice started up once more.
“I put together the information on this laptop myself. I created two access points, knowing you would use this password first. At the end of this video, I will give you the second one, which has all the files on each person in the Senate and known Dark Ring members. There is also going to be a file on me filled with whatever information you might want to know about your mother, Tiriana. You take after her in personality more so than me, but oddly enough, for a person with such a big heart, you made one of the best assassins I’ve ever had in the Organization. Seems that’s where you took after me…
“There is another bit of information that I want to tell you, but I don’t feel like it should be said in a recording, no matter how secure I make it.
I leave the choice up to you, but I left you my private contact information because I would really love the chance to speak with you in person.
It would be nice to meet you and your mates so I can officially introduce myself.
I’m sure you’re wondering why now? Why reveal myself to you after all this time?
Those that have been after you and me all our lives are the very same you are hunting down.
This will make more sense with the last bit of information I have to give you, but that is all I’m holding back.
Everything you could possibly need to ensure the destruction of the powers that be is in this laptop.
I might not have been there for you as a father growing up, but I would like to be there for you now.
This is a dangerous mission, one no one has been willing to take, and you’re going to need all the help you can get. ”
He stared at the camera for a moment as if unsure of what he wanted to say next.
His eyes pleaded as if he knew I would be hesitant to believe anything he had to say.
“Cin are in nin emel, nin -iel. Im mel cin alys. N- safe, tul- rad- nin. The password is, Mír -o nin emel. It’s what your mother called you while you were still in her womb. It means jewel of my heart.”
I logged out, bringing up the request for the password, and reached out to Rath, “I need your help spelling out a phrase.”
His curiosity at my request was vibrant in our connection. “Of course. What is the phrase?”
“Mír -o nin emel,” I answered.
“Do you know what that means, nin mel?” Rath asked, his voice hesitant.
Closing my eyes, I leaned back in the bean bag, rubbing my forehead as my own emotions seemed to overwhelm me. “My father said it means jewel of my heart. He made it the password to the documents I need to get to about the Senate and the Dark Ring.”
“Do you want me to come to you? The others are just putting things away in their rooms. I’m more underfoot than anything,” he offered, aware of how unsettled I was.
“Okay…” I answered. “Rath, he sent me a video to watch.”
“You watched it by yourself?” Rath demanded. “Nin mel, why would you put yourself through that alone? I’m coming. I’ll be there in a moment. Derven is coming too.”
“Wait, this room is full of sunshine,” I warned, but it was too late. They both walked in.
I shot to my feet and ran over to the bookcase Zander had left the remote for the shades. I’d never needed to use it, happy to have the sunlight fill the room, but now I was terrified that I was going to harm Derven.
“Sangele meu, it’s all right. There is a UV filter on the windows that keeps it from harming me.
Seems Zander didn’t spare expenses when he built this home,” Derven shared as he walked over, taking the remote from my hand.
“It seems that after that small amount of blood as well, it’s strengthened me even more against sunlight.
Who knows, after a true feeding, I might be able to walk this world freely once more.
” He drew me back to the bean bag where Rath was sitting and urged me to settle in next to my elf.
Derven then sat on the floor, leaning against the bean bag by my legs, so he was still part of the conversation but gave me more space.
I didn’t realize how a small action like that could mean so much as I was getting used to having him part of the pack.
While I felt connected to him and knew he was part of my life from now on, I didn’t have the same physical response I did with the others.
Maybe it was because he hadn’t really fed from me.
We’d done enough to initiate the bond but not really connect us.
“Would you like to talk about what your father told you?” Rath asked, pulling me to his chest and tugging me to lay down with him. “Or is it better to leave things alone right now?”
“He is the founder of the Organization,” I shared. “When my mother died having me, he felt it was too dangerous to keep me, so he gave me up.”
“Then he came back for you,” Rath pointed out.
I hummed my agreement, but the feelings I never gave into as a child started to creep up.
“He thought keeping an eye on me as one of his assassins was the best option,” I said, burrowing my face against his chest. “He was going to keep silent until my magic came in, and I needed his help, but now he wants to meet. Something about one final detail to tell me, but he wouldn’t do it over the video. It had to be in person.”
Derven’s hand wrapped around the bare skin of my ankle. His thumb gently stroked up and down, giving his own show of support as he asked the question I’d been asking myself, “Do you want to meet him?”
“I really don’t know,” I answered. “Part of me feels like he doesn’t deserve that after all these years hiding in the shadows.
He knew what their training was like. He probably helped to create it, then he sent his own daughter to survive it?
On the other hand, if I wasn’t trained as the skilled fighter that I am today, I never would have been able to handle all of this. ”