“Your mother, Genevieve, didn’t trust anyone with you girls,” she said. “I cared for you occasionally of course, but not for any length of time. She didn’t leave you with anyone. Not her parents, not anyone of the magical realm.”
I knew as much, and yet hearing the confirmation still tightened the pit of my stomach.
I stared at her, my heart pounding harder against my ribs.
“My grandparents are still alive?” I asked slowly.
We had... family? Besides my father?
Alison’s eyebrows drew together sharply. “Why, yes... didn’t you know?”
She shifted her weight. Her furrowed brow and pressed lips seemed to imply genuine confusion. It made me question the scope of my mother’s relationship with her. How much did my mother trust her? And was that because Alison was not as trustworthy as I assumed she was, or was it because my mother was not apt to trust anyone?
I shook my head. “No.” I grabbed a slice of red velvet cake and stuffed it into my mouth even though my hunger had vanished upon the realization that my mother could have died because she was sheltering me and my sisters. “Mother said we had no family left. That they were... dead.”
If that was a lie, it was a pretty bad one.
Why would she do such a thing? They could have helped us. Maybe they could have even saved her. I started to get hot. I clenched my jaw. Why would my mother keep us in the dark about so many important things?
Alison tutted disapprovingly. She finished her lemon cake and grabbed her tea once again. “I understand why she did it,” she said. “In a way, I suppose. She felt that she needed to keep you all safe, and that meant keeping you away from everyone within the magic realm. Especially when you all turned out to be so powerful.” She shook her head. “But keeping you from the magical realm completely, hiding you for that long, it obviously took more than even Genevieve had.”
Alison seemed to be almost talking to herself now. She took a long sip of her tea, staring at the table still filled with goodies.
I pulled apart another piece of cake but didn’t put it in my mouth. I needed more clarification on what Alison had said.
“What do you mean, though?” I asked. “Why was it so important that we be hidden? Who was she protecting us from? Why would we need to be safe if we were powerful?”
Alison frowned, her forehead creasing heavily.
“You do know who your father is, don’t you?” she asked. Her tone implied that this should be an obvious question, but it wasn’t. If anything, it was complicated.
I nodded.
“The High Warlock,” I said slowly.
“Shh!” She thrust her finger over her mouth, looking about the room as though even saying my father’s title aloud would bring down a curse on our heads. “You mustn’t admit to anyone who your father is. It is too dangerous for you. For all of you.”
I shook my head again, trying to understand. Bits of crumbs slipped through my fingers and littered my lap
“That’s what Mother always said, but never explained the reason behind it,” I said.
Alison wrapped her hands around her teac
up and bit her lip as if debating whether or not she should say more.
“I shouldn’t be the one to tell you, Ava. It’s simply not fair,” she said. Her tone was snippy but it wasn’t directed at me.
I rolled my eyes and pushed back in the chair, clenching my teeth in an attempt to rain in my anger.
“Look, if you won’t tell me, then I’ll simply search out the magical realm myself and find him,” I said. “I have some sort of internal... compass that will direct me to whatever it is I’m in search of. I would rather have your help, of course, but if you won’t help me, then I’ll find someone who will.”
I placed my cup down and shifted my weight to stand up.
Alison’s arm shot out and she grabbed me, stopping me from standing. “Of course, I’ll help you, Ava, but it’s just... your mother made me promise to never reveal these secrets to you.”
I wasn’t sure what to respond to that. I understood the need to keep secrets, especially in order to protect us—her children. However, I did not think it was necessary to do it anymore, not when Mother had died.
“Well, she’s gone now.” And the secrets and promises she’d made were gone too. At least, that was what I thought. I could only hope that Alison felt the same way.