to keep these secrets from you?” Her eyes fill with tears. “After I lost your father, you and Brit were the only things keeping me alive, but the Seer instructed us to keep everything from you until the time was right. Of course, she never said when the time might be right—”
“You didn’t think you should try to prevent Brad from coming here? From being roped into a war that has nothing to do with him? To at least attempt to save an innocent life? All because I’d ask too many questions?”
“Kate, but you see, Brad was not innocent. He—”
Now I believe nothing. I will let her Bind me and Arland so we can have acceptance, but I may never trust her again. “Yes he was, Mom, and you know it. You erased Brad’s memory when
Darkness
tried to manipulate him in the forest when he was ten. You knew Brad was a target, you knew he’d die, and I know you could have done something about it.”
She looks at me with her biggest demure eyes.
Shaking, I struggle to maintain control, to prevent flames from bursting out of my core and attacking the woman who gave me life. “Don’t, Mom. Griandor already told me the truth, and he said you were a fool to keep things from me. I want to feel bad for you for everything you’ve had to do for me over the years, but I lost my dad the same day you lost your husband … and I
never
got to know him. Then I lost the normal life I thought I lived. And while I may not be sorry for it, I’m mad. Mad you never prepared me for any of this, and that you continue to lie.”
“What’s going on?”
I start at the sound of Brit’s voice then turn to face her.
My sister’s eyelids are heavy and she yawns.
Looking around, I realize all the soldiers are awake and leaving the cave.
Great
! So much for controlling myself. “I was just telling Mom how I’m sick of the lies and want the truth.”
Worry lines Brit’s forehead; she looks between Mom and me. “Well, why are you yelling about it?”
“Mom knew Darkness wanted Brad, and she let it happen. He wasn’t obsessive, Brit, it was the poison and Mom knew that, too. And I’m sure she’s withholding a lot more.” I give Mom a pointed look.
Arland shifts his weight.
“Mom?” Brit asks.
Mom nods.
“Why would you do that to Brad? Why would you let Kate believe he was evil when he wasn’t?” Brit plops down next to me then wraps her arms around my shoulders.
Her support stifles my tremors, but as they calm, I realize she, too, is trembling.
“It had to happen. Everything has to happen. Just because we know the future doesn’t mean we can change it.” Mom’s tone borders on defensive.
“You don’t know that, Mom. Besides, at the advice of the Seer, you took me out of Encardia to save my life. You’ve already changed the future!”
“I-I—”
“Have no excuse not to tell Kate the truth,” Arland says. Calm, cool, straight-forward. Always supportive.
“Okay.” Mom sighs. “I am sorry. There was no class for Your-Daughter-is-Going-to-Save-the-World-Now-What? I
am
trying.”
“We know it wasn’t easy, and we know you
had
your reasons, but can we all agree to be honest?” I ask, leveling my emotions.
“Yes. I think it’s time to be honest, but please try to control your temper?”
“I cannot promise you, Mom, but I will try not to get angry.”
“From the time of your prophecy, I was aware of Brad’s involvement in the war. But even if I tried to prevent him from being tainted, Darkness would have found another way to get to him, Kate. No matter what we did, he would have been used against you, and I am sorry for that.”
She reaches for my hand again, but this time I don’t yank it away. I hold onto her, allow her love to comfort me. We may have a lot of trust issues, but she is my mom and I still need her support.
“Brad isn’t dead, Mom. Or he is. I’m not sure how it works, but Darkness is living inside him. Part of Brad is still there though. I’ve seen him; there’s a battle going
“You didn’t think you should try to prevent Brad from coming here? From being roped into a war that has nothing to do with him? To at least attempt to save an innocent life? All because I’d ask too many questions?”
“Kate, but you see, Brad was not innocent. He—”
Now I believe nothing. I will let her Bind me and Arland so we can have acceptance, but I may never trust her again. “Yes he was, Mom, and you know it. You erased Brad’s memory when
Darkness
tried to manipulate him in the forest when he was ten. You knew Brad was a target, you knew he’d die, and I know you could have done something about it.”
She looks at me with her biggest demure eyes.
Shaking, I struggle to maintain control, to prevent flames from bursting out of my core and attacking the woman who gave me life. “Don’t, Mom. Griandor already told me the truth, and he said you were a fool to keep things from me. I want to feel bad for you for everything you’ve had to do for me over the years, but I lost my dad the same day you lost your husband … and I
never
got to know him. Then I lost the normal life I thought I lived. And while I may not be sorry for it, I’m mad. Mad you never prepared me for any of this, and that you continue to lie.”
“What’s going on?”
I start at the sound of Brit’s voice then turn to face her.
My sister’s eyelids are heavy and she yawns.
Looking around, I realize all the soldiers are awake and leaving the cave.
Great
! So much for controlling myself. “I was just telling Mom how I’m sick of the lies and want the truth.”
Worry lines Brit’s forehead; she looks between Mom and me. “Well, why are you yelling about it?”
“Mom knew Darkness wanted Brad, and she let it happen. He wasn’t obsessive, Brit, it was the poison and Mom knew that, too. And I’m sure she’s withholding a lot more.” I give Mom a pointed look.
Arland shifts his weight.
“Mom?” Brit asks.
Mom nods.
“Why would you do that to Brad? Why would you let Kate believe he was evil when he wasn’t?” Brit plops down next to me then wraps her arms around my shoulders.
Her support stifles my tremors, but as they calm, I realize she, too, is trembling.
“It had to happen. Everything has to happen. Just because we know the future doesn’t mean we can change it.” Mom’s tone borders on defensive.
“You don’t know that, Mom. Besides, at the advice of the Seer, you took me out of Encardia to save my life. You’ve already changed the future!”
“I-I—”
“Have no excuse not to tell Kate the truth,” Arland says. Calm, cool, straight-forward. Always supportive.
“Okay.” Mom sighs. “I am sorry. There was no class for Your-Daughter-is-Going-to-Save-the-World-Now-What? I
am
trying.”
“We know it wasn’t easy, and we know you
had
your reasons, but can we all agree to be honest?” I ask, leveling my emotions.
“Yes. I think it’s time to be honest, but please try to control your temper?”
“I cannot promise you, Mom, but I will try not to get angry.”
“From the time of your prophecy, I was aware of Brad’s involvement in the war. But even if I tried to prevent him from being tainted, Darkness would have found another way to get to him, Kate. No matter what we did, he would have been used against you, and I am sorry for that.”
She reaches for my hand again, but this time I don’t yank it away. I hold onto her, allow her love to comfort me. We may have a lot of trust issues, but she is my mom and I still need her support.
“Brad isn’t dead, Mom. Or he is. I’m not sure how it works, but Darkness is living inside him. Part of Brad is still there though. I’ve seen him; there’s a battle going
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