Tallis looked at me and raised his eyebrows up and down in a cocky manner. He was proud of the confidence his mother had in him.
Allaysia was amazingly beautiful. She didn't look old enough to be their mother. She looked maybe thirty-four, thirty-five. She had long black hair and midnight blue eyes. She wore an elegant knee-length, high-waist skirt, with a cashmere button-up blouse tucked into it. She had a beautiful pearl necklace and a pair of pearl earrings to complement the bracelet that was also made of pearls.
"Tallis told us who you are and what happened today. There have been scouts coming in and out of here. They know a new witch has reached an age where the guardians can no longer mask her. They know you're here - they just don't know who you are... yet. We have to talk to your family and let them know what's going on."
I didn't even know what was going on. Guardians? Reached what age? Of all the questions, there was one that plagued me the most. Why does she seem scared of facing my family? Why do they all seem apprehensive about it?
"Okay," I murmured. "Let’s go. I'll call my grandma to let her know we're on our way."
Tallis's brother was sitting beside Allaysia. He was incredibly stocky and seemed very displeased with my being there. He startled me when jumped up in protest to my response and its casualness.
"No! I don't feel like fighting off an ambush from the Bradbury coven! They'll hang us up by our feet before they even let us speak! She shouldn't be here either. This is all outrageous."
I was taken aback by his outburst. I wasn't expecting that.
"Desmond!" Allaysia scolded, but he ignored her, his eyes intensely focused on me, silently willing me to disappear forever.
I looked over at Tallis who was glaring at his brother. "Not necessary to yell at her, Des. She has no idea what's going on right now. Until today, she didn't even know what it meant to be a Bradbury. Not until some half-wit blazing scout was seeking her out. Do you mind telling me how she's guilty of anything but being oblivious to all the secrets of our world?"
His tone was so strong and steady. He seemed to sound incredibly protective of me. It made me feel better just hearing such emotion from him. Although, I wasn't sure what anything he said meant, nor did I understand what Desmond had meant.
Desmond responded to Tallis with a more callous and exaggeratedly dramatic tone than before. "She doesn't know because they shelter their witches - like their so coveted. I bet none of them can do what you do. Not even her. I bet none of them can do what I can, or what Ayla can either. They've probably never seen anything like our power. That's the real reason they hate us."
"Hate you?" I questioned impulsively, not intending to. It just popped out of my mouth as unexpectedly as a random hiccup. I coiled myself into the protective arms of Tallis, in fear of another outburst from Desmond.
He started to unleash a new wrath on me, but then I saw Ayla touch his cheek and he sat back down. His face seemed to return to a normal color instead of the bright crimson red that had taken over.
He went from angry to peaceful within seconds. Then Ayla spoke. Her voice was soothing - as gentle as a cool breeze on a hot day. It seemed as if she was completely neutral.
"They don't hate us. They don't yet even know we exist. They'll hate where we come from. They only know what they've been told. They haven't heard the whole story. No one has ever tried to tell them either. We've all worried they would reject our story and then the shred of hope for an alliance would be shattered.
"We haven't given them the opportunity to make a decision - right or wrong. We can only assume the history between our families will cause them to judge too quickly. But, now we have a young Bradbury, which Tallis has saved, to vouch for us. She has seen who we are. This has been necessary for a long time, and she has given us a reason to do it."
She returned to her mother's side and pulled her hood back over her head.
Allaysia patted her daughter's leg. "Ayla's right. We haven't given them the benefit of the doubt. I think no matter what happens, it's time. I want you to hear first," she said, turning her attention to me. "They may listen a little more if one of their own understands. Tallis promises that you're a good person. His faith in you is enough fo
r me."
I looked up and smiled at Tallis. He looked down and grinned at me, making my stomach flutter. His arm got tighter around my body. It felt so warm and perfectly safe. His mother got a book from the shelf, similar to the one I had seen Iris read from before, only thicker. I leaned against Tallis, resting my head against his chest.
He looked down and concern flashed across his face. "Are you okay? Are you hurting? Should I-"
"Shh," I interrupted, and then I spoke in a whispered voice as I continued. "I'm fine. I just haven't gotten all my strength back yet."
I leaned in a little more, and he held me tighter in response.
The truth? I was plenty strong enough to sit up. I just wanted him to hold me closer. Pathetic, I know, but effective nonetheless.
Despite the unbelievably disorienting day I'd dealt with, it was so nice to finally be next to him. His absolutely magnificent scent flooded me in the most exhilarating way. I couldn't help but nestle myself into his embrace even more. I could feel his chest rising and falling with each breath, and the fire consumed me as it always did when I felt his touch.
Allaysia walked over and sat down in a small rocking chair in front of the fireplace. She cleared her throat slightly as she began to read aloud.
Chapter 6
Two Sides to Every Story
It's much harder to hear the whole truth and not just the truth that is the easiest to accept.