Chapter 8 #2
There was a packet of papers and a shiny modern key. The key was to a storage unit with an address attached, and the papers were for a bank account in New York City, along with a printed and signed will saying it was all left to Molly’s heir, me , and two smaller envelopes. One was labeled,
My beloved sister Celia
and the other
My beloved child.
A sob startled me by coming up out of my throat.
My beloved child.
I’d lived eighteen years, and no one had ever said that to me. My hands shook as I tore open the envelope.
Hi little one,
Well, I guess when you read this, you won’t be so little anymore, will you?
I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t know if you will be a boy or a girl, but I know without a doubt in my heart I will love you fiercely and protect you always.
Even just a little bean in my belly and already I am madly in love with you, doing everything in my power to safeguard you.
I’m sorry for having to leave you with the humans.
I’m sorry you will probably grow up feeling left behind, unloved.
It kills me to think this. But I have to do this to keep you alive.
I wish I could say more, but I don’t know who else might find this letter.
You’re going to have to figure it out. And if I’m not around to greet you at your eighteenth birthday when your power-hiding runes wear off, it means I’m dead.
My advice:
*You can trust Celia with anything. I love her like a sister. But you can’t trust her or any of the hunters with my dark secret once you figure it out.
*Don’t trust my mother with anything, and if you want to save yourself years of heartache, don’t even talk to her.
*Spend my father’s money however you want. If it were me, I’d give eighty percent of it away and then buy a fun car and a cute purse.
*Buy a small safe house in cash, and don’t tell anyone where it is. You might need it one day.
*Lastly, love with an open heart. Even after everything, I don’t regret doing that in my life.
Wow, there is so much more I want to say, so much I feel I have to apologize for. I wish I could have been the one to raise you, to see you take your first steps, to hear your first word.
I love you. You are loved. I hope you know that.
Love, Mom
I couldn’t see the words anymore because tears were just streaming down my face and onto the page.
Dark secret? Buy a safe house? I can trust Celia but not with this one thing, nor any hunters? What did my mom get into?
I stroked my finger over the words I love you.
You are loved and couldn’t help but weep.
I found out I had a mother and lost her all in the same day.
I felt like I was mourning a death but also that a giant wound in my chest that had been festering since I was a child had healed.
I sat there for a long time staring at the letter, trying to decipher its meaning while also trying not to be overwhelmed by it.
I cried until my eyes burned and my chest ached, and I figured that Celia and others might still be waiting for me out in the courtroom. Placing everything back into the envelope, I wiped my eyes and fixed my hair.
With a deep steadying breath, I stepped into the hallway and got a drink from the drinking fountain before walking back to the courtroom. Reaching out with a shaky hand, I inched the door open and stopped when I heard my name.
“Of course she’ll go to Nightguard. She’s a Sinclair!” Kitty’s voice boomed. “And I expect legacy treatment for her, Rubina.”
“She doesn’t need legacy treatment,” Celia interjected.
“Of course we will treat her with the utmost respect, Kitty.” Headmistress Rubina’s voice carried over.
A face popped into view, and I yelped when I saw the judge.
“Ready to join us?” he asked, a slight twinkle in his eye.
He knew I’d been listening. Oops.
“Yep.” I cleared my throat, envelope tucked under my arm.
He opened the door wider, and I stepped into the space as everyone quieted.
“Well, my legal duty is done. I have another case to prepare for tomorrow. You are all welcome to go,” the judge announced.
Celia peered at me, frowning as her gaze swept over my face. Could she tell I’d been crying?
“Thank you so much, Your Honor,” Kitty purred and stepped forward, cutting off Celia to stand right in front of her.
Rubina, the DNA guy, and who I assumed was their lawyer left the room as I stood before Kitty Sinclair.
She opened her arms slightly. “I guess we have a lot to catch up on, don’t we, Granddaughter ?”
I peered at her open arms but made no move to walk into them so she relaxed them at her sides, frowning. There was a sharp look in her eye, a look that told me to watch myself.
“Listen, I was thinking, Grandmother is for old, boring women. I really like Nona or Gigi. Has a nice ring, don’t you think?” she pondered.
If you want to save yourself years of heartache, don’t even talk to her. I replayed my mother’s advice into my mind and nodded.
Without a word, I sidestepped Kitty, walking past her, and stood before Celia. “Can we go now?”
She looked surprised and like she was fighting off a grin. “Of course.” She hooked her elbow with mine and guided me out the door.
When I peered over my shoulder, a chill ran down my spine with the look Kitty was giving me now. It was like looking at a demon: cold eyes and no soul.
“She’ll never forgive you for that,” Celia whispered.
I didn’t care. I’d had enough heartbreak in my life. I didn’t need any more. If that woman abused my mother, I wanted nothing to do with her. Just because she was my blood didn’t make her my family.