Please sit down, said Professor Earls, and then we will begin the tale. It is not a short one.
Chapter Thirty-Nine.
We had flown all this way and I was already very surprised. I wonder what all Dacer had known when he sent me here. After all, he never did anything casually. As Sip had once said, you really need to be determined to put neon pink eye shadow at least twice a month, not to mention the blues, greens, oranges and yellows. I eyed the table. Id sit, but I needed a.s.surances first.
Not until you tell me whose elemental signature is on this house, I said.
Very well, she said, putting her spoon down. It is your fathers. At least, I believe that to be true.
I cant say I was surprised, given that I had spent years wondering about my father and thinking that it was completely insane and nonsensical that he had been alive not ten years ago, and yet there were no paranormals now living who had known him. Of course, most of the people who had known him had probably been elemental, and the separation between paranormal types had been far worse in the generations before ours. For that matter, even now there was nothing to say that if I had had other elementals to live with in Astra, and other elementals to go to school with, I would ever have been friends with Sip and Lisabelle.
But the reality was that all of my good friends were non-elementals. And surely my father must have known other kinds of paranormals as well. It was endlessly frustrating that I didnt know who he was, and that no paranormal had ever come forward to admit to having known him.
Why didnt you say so earlier? I asked bitterly.
Earlier as in earlier in your visit or earlier since your arrival at Public? she asked.
Both, I gritted out. Ever so slowly I lowered myself into the chair after Lough righted it.
I didnt say so earlier in the visit because I wanted to be sure. Of course its you. That hair, that chin, those slight freckles, she smiled a little. I didnt want to startle you. As to why I didnt say so earlier during your years at Public, it was for two reasons. One should be obvious: fear. The demons wanted the elementals killed. If there was a hint that I might be helping you, well, then theyd come for me, too.
What made you change your mind now? I demanded. Its been years.
We appear to be losing anyway, said Earls. That, and I dont have that long left to live in any case. As you can see, Im old, and Im not in the best of health. If they come for me now, I dont mind.
It was a selfish reason, but it was also one I could understand.
They killed my granddaughter a week ago, she said softly. She was the only family I had left in the world. I had wanted to keep them from retaliating at me through her. If they hadnt killed her, I might not have contacted you through Luc. Now Im simply hoping her sacrifice wont have been in vain.
Im sorry, I said. The womans eyes were dry, but some sadness is beyond tears. If Id come to understand anything in the past three years, it was that. The ache in my chest for Lisabelle and Keller was always there, and neither was even dead . . . at least as far as I knew.
Yes, well, she would have wanted me to do this anyway. I just never told her, because I didnt like the idea of being scolded by a six-year-old.
I took in a sharp breath at the thought that the demons would kill a child.
Yes, well, as much as Id like to feed your anger, it wasnt intentional, she said, reading our collective expressions of horror. She was merely in the wrong place at the very wrong time.
So, I said, my whole body trembling, who was my father? He was an elemental?
Yes, she said. Asher Nascaro was definitely an elemental.
He was royal? Sip gasped. Nascaro is the royal family.
He was the younger son of the king, she said. Somewhat removed from the throne, but royal nonetheless. At the end, when the king had died and his brother a.s.sumed the throne, he became the heir to the heir.
Lough and Sip were both staring at me. Thats not possible, I said.
Why? she asked. Did your mother say otherwise?
My mother didnt say anything, I said bitterly. I always tried to find out, but I couldnt.
Did she leave you anything? Earls pressed. A diary? She had a journal she loved dearly and wrote in every day. I do believe it was one of the things Asher liked about her.
I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed. I was used to performing the Power of Five spells, but I had felt as if my elemental heritage was lost to me. Now, seemingly out of the blue, I had come face to face with a woman who had known my father.
Sip, seeing my distress, took over. Did you teach him? she asked.
I did, she confirmed. He was a rascal of a pupil, but we all loved him. He had a brightness and a curiosity that was a relief after all those students who merely wanted to sleep through cla.s.s.
What. . . . My voice broke and I tried again. Do you know what happened to him?
Earlss face darkened and she shook her head. I tried to find out, but I couldnt. The last time I saw him he was here with your mother, who was very pregnant. I suppose you were already somewhere safe.
How do I not have any memory of this? I asked, shaking my head. Ricky and I were not that close in age; I was seven years older. If my dad had been around when my mom was pregnant with Ricky, wouldnt I have some memory of it?
It isnt your fault, said Earls. It was a very traumatic period. Theres a good chance your mother paid a small fortune for a memory charm to make you forget.
I dont want to forget, I said angrily. I want to remember everything.
So, you dont remember your father at all?
I shook my head. Recently, sometimes I think Im seeing flashes when Im sleeping. I see a man, but I dont know who he is. He has brown eyes, and they seem kind. Hes tall with a wide smile, and I think I see some of Ricky in him. But is he Rickys father?
Yes, breathed Earls. Your brother is most definitely Ashers son. Richard was his older brothers name. I have a feeling Richard died. Well, I know hes dead now, but I have a feeling that he died and they didnt tell anyone, so that the demons wouldnt realize how thoroughly they were winning.
What a game, said Lough with distaste. Charlotte, are you alright?
I was staring around the table. I knew this would happen, I whispered. I mean, it never made sense that I didnt remember and that no one knew my dad. There were lots of elementals, but not that many. Maybe if he had been European or something, but I didnt think that seemed likely.
Some of your fathers bloodline is European of course, said Earls. He is royalty, after all. But no, your father grew up here and attended Public, like all his family before him and his descendants to this day.
But what happened to him? I pressed again. You said you saw him with my mother and they were afraid?
Your parents were never supposed to marry, she said simply. She was not considered to be a suitable partner for a royal heir. It was all well and fine if they took up together in college - he was expected to have some dalliances, after all - but by the time his family realized it was more than a dalliance - that he was very serious about her - it was too late. They may already have been married, I have no idea. She didnt have any family, poor girl.
She didnt grow up in a paranormal family? I asked. My mom had talked about her younger years, but she had made her early life sound normal.
Well, said Earls, Im not sure. She was only ever in one of my cla.s.ses, but I knew she had no family. I also know that as a dream giver, its unlikely she had family left.
So she spent her whole life knowing who she was? I said flatly.
As much as any of us do, dear, said Earls. Your parents came here a few years back, because I was a mentor of your fathers. They had you when they were very young, you see. Once Ashers father found out about the child - that is, you - they were not allowed to speak to each other. Your mother took you and set you up in a small town and took care of you. Asher visited you and your mother whenever his father left the country. He wanted to renounce his t.i.tle and take care of Grace and you, of course, but she convinced him otherwise, at least thats how he told it.
The demons were already very powerful, and the elementals knew it was only a matter of time before they became the next targets. Ashers family needed him.
So did my mother and me, I said angrily. The thought that my mother had had to raise me alone infuriated me.
Your mother was strong, said Earls. As are you. Asher would never have left you willingly. In any case, it continued like that for some time, until the demon attacks became worse and elementals started dying. Ashers father was killed. Your grandmother had died a long time ago, and the kings death made Ashers brother king. Once that happened, I dont think there was any safe place for Asher or his family to hide.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
Okay, I said. I just dont understand how my mother ended up married to Carl.
I dont know that I do either, said Earls kindly. Your fathers plan was to go and be with you eventually, but then, I think that when his brother died. . . . She paused for thought before continuing. He may have realized that your mother was safer without him. She may have realized that she was safer if she had a cover as a happy family with a human husband, and if Ricky was thought to be that mans child, instead of the younger child of a paranormal who was now the elemental king, so much the better. Your father was the king of the elementals.
Wait, what? My mind couldnt quite comprehend what she was saying. My father was king? I breathed. King. But I still dont understand what happened, I said.
Asher Nascaro has a complicated history of his own, she said. I trust you can discover it for yourself when you return to Public. It is my understanding that you have a ghost who knows a lot of elemental history.
Sip grinned at the thought of Sigil.
Yes, said Lough. He also likes cookies.
You can take him some of these once we finish eating, she said, pointing to the platter that sat neglected on the middle of our table.
I hadnt touched my food, while Sip and Lough had eaten while they listened to the story. Now my appet.i.te was completely gone.
I just dont understand, I said, repeating myself in my surprise and confusion.
Ah, but you do, dont you? she said softly. Once you have children youll do anything to protect them. Your mother and father both did that. They had always survived in the face of insurmountable odds, and now would be no different, or so they thought. Your father was confident that they would defeat the darkness. There were still many elementals at that point, and there were the mythical objects on the Wheel. Your father was a very strong paranormal. Like you, he had all four branches of elemental magic. It is a sign of royalty, by the way.
Sip nodded her head. It was something I had heard before, but since it wasnt definitive, I hadnt thought about it in relation to myself.
My father. . . . Asher. My fathers name was Asher.
Lets get back to Public, I said to Sip and Lough.
Sip nodded and grabbed a cookie. For the road, she said.
I grabbed two. For Sigil.
We said goodbye to Earls. I knew she could have told me more, and I wanted her to tell me about my dad in cla.s.s, about how they became friends. Did she like his brother? What was he like? Did she like my mother? Was she shy? Why didnt they know each other well?
Ill come back, I promised.
Earls reached out. Like I said, talking to you is dangerous for me. I am old and I am ill. Answer me one question before you go.
I nodded. She had given me a wonderful gift, even if I wished she had given it to me a long time ago.
Did your mother leave you anything? It would be among her papers. I know she must have left clothes and such, but was there anything else?
There was a box, I said. She never told me about it, but I know she treasured it. Carl gave it to me.
There should be a key to it somewhere, Earls murmured. Something that fits in the design on the front or something that can open it.
There is no design on the front, I said stoutly.
I knew that was foolish. I had dreamed that there was a thistle, the mark of Queen Ashray, but I had merely attributed that to my interest in the former queen. Even if it was real, I didnt want her to know that.
Earls looked at me. The Key of Light can open it, which you very well know. Why are you afraid to see whats inside?
But I didnt have the Key of Light anymore and I didnt dare seek out Dobrov to see what was keeping him.
Come on, I said to Lough and Sip. We have some reading to do.
On the way back to Public I held my breath in my anxiety to get back. We flew fast and hard. The rain had started up again, and I could feel the cold seeping through my bones as it threatened to turn to snow.
The hardest part of getting back was slipping under the shields, but we managed it and landed in front of Astra, seemingly without incident.
Lough yawned. Im going to take these cookies up to Sigil and then head to bed, he said.
And just where do you think youre going to go to do that? an icy voice asked.
We all halted. It was the familiar voice of Professor Zervos, and the vampires eyes were cold as he stepped from the shadows to confront us.
Sip, Lough, and I exchanged glances. I didnt want to waste time talking to Zervos. I wanted to go see what else I could find out about Asher Nascaro.
We, were, um, practicing our flying skills, said Lough. Sip and Charlotte arent very good.
Hey! said Sip indignantly.
You were practicing them in the dark? Zervos sneered, his black eyes glinting. Because thats the easiest time to fly? And since when, Mr. Loughphton, are you such an excellent flyer?
There was nothing Lough could say to that.
Well, if its easy it isnt worth doing, said Lough comfortably.
Zervos glared at the dream giver. You are not supposed to be out of doors, and you are certainly not supposed to be in the air at this time of night, he pointed out coldly. Report to Oliva first thing in the morning for punishment.
I dont think that will be necessary.
I expelled a breath of relief as Dacer came out the front door. He was still dressed in clothes instead of for bed, although with him it was hard to tell; tonight he wore black parachute pants and a warm jacket. Dacer had explained to us once that with his frame he was always cold, and we pointed out that he was a vampire, and as such he really shouldnt be. Not surprisingly, he had ignored us.
Ah, Luc, I should have known you were somewhere nearby causing trouble, said Zervos, his eyes snapping to his fellow professor.
Dacer spread his hands wide. I do try to be around when necessary.
It is not necessary, Zervos hissed. I was handling this.
Clearly, said Dacer dryly. Zervos, youve been most helpful in finding my charges, but I do believe Ill take it from here.