Raven by Suzy Turner

single memory. This had happened
many times over the years. Each time, he crept in silently and
stealthily, handed me a book and then disappeared. The books were
always similar. They were all either fairy tales or books with
supernatural themes.
     

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
     
    When I
woke up the following morning, I knew what it was that had been
niggling me.
    My
father had been trying to tell me that I was in the middle of my
very own supernatural fairy tale. He was trying to tell me that he
was trapped, that Vivian was the evil stepmother and that there was
danger. Everything now fell into place. Everything I had been told
by my family the previous night had been true. I had just needed my
father to confirm it and he had in a way by allowing all those
memories to flood back in a dream.
    I felt
more alive than I ever had and I was ready to face the world. More
importantly though, that morning I had the overwhelming sensation
that my father was still alive and I wanted to do everything
possible to find... and help him.
    I had
obviously slept for quite some time because after I had showered
and dressed and walked into the kitchen, everyone looked as though
they had been waiting for me for a while. Clearly they were unsure
as to how I would be after all the news of the previous night had
sunk in but they smiled when they saw that I looked positively
happy and refreshed.
    “ So,
when are you going to show me how to change into a raven... or a
cat?” I said, breaking the ice with a smile.
    Gabriel
smiled and said, “Now Lilly is truly home.”
    I felt
more at home then than I ever had and it felt so good to be
surrounded by such loving family members. Real family. I had a real
family. A family who had finally revealed the truth about who I am.
No more secrets. No more lies. This was the truth and I was
accepting it.
    I
wondered who else knew of our secret... whether it was a curse or a
gift I didn't know but I would in time. Was it just my immediate
family or did friends know who we truly were too? It would have
been wonderful for me to be able to confide in my dear friend,
December, in England, but I feared I could not. My mind then
drifted to Oliver and Ben. Would I have to hide my true self from
the boy I had fallen for? The boy that made my heart leap just at
the mention of his name?
    I asked
my family and I was told exactly what I didn't want to hear.
Neither Oliver nor Ben knew the truth and it was better to keep it
that way, especially in light of the fact that their parents were
killed by mountain lions. After all, we did not know yet what kind
of cat I would have the ability to transform into. It would be
heartbreaking for them to know.
    I felt
heavy-hearted. Would this mean the end of our relationship before
it had even begun? I was saddened because I had felt such a
connection to Oliver and was developing such a close friendship
with Ben. I certainly didn't want to lose what we had so I had no
choice but to keep my secret closely guarded.
    “ It is
for the best, at least for the moment Lilly. We understand there is
a connection between you and Oliver,” said Gabriel and I gasped in
embarrassment. They knew? I blushed.
    Meredith
smiled, as did Rose, who winked at the same time. “It's no secret.
It was obvious the moment you laid eyes on each other that sparks
were flying,” she laughed.
    I was so
embarrassed that I had hoped the floor would open and gobble me up
but I was growing up. I had to act like a grown-up, not like a
child.
    “ I
hate to have secrets from him before we've even got to know each
other. But I do understand. I won't say a word to him or to
Ben.”
    As I
thought about the fact that nobody else knew of our family's
remarkable abilities, I was reminded of Vivian. How had she known
that there was a raven gene if it was such a guarded
secret?
    I was
told more about all the weird, wonderful and frankly terrifying
things that really existed in our world. That it was a completely
different world to that