Gossamer (14 page)

My phone chimed with a text. I quickly rolled over and snatched my phone, thrilled to have a distraction. It was from Lexie.

Hey K, Where R U??
Call u L8R 2day!!

The clicks bled together with my quick response.

Just needed some R&R. No biggie. Talk to u L8R.

Another failed plan. I tossed my phone back onto the small table. My thoughts immediately returned to my parents. Who were the people that gave me away? Would the people I thought of as my parents still want me if they knew? I touched one of the earrings my mom had given me–a reminder of the love they had for a child who wasn’t really their own. My stomach twisted with anxiety.

I lay like that for a long time, the questions racing. Finally my overloaded brain got a break as I drifted off to sleep, tired from my previous restless night.

Noises downstairs snapped me from my slumber. Someone had arrived home. I looked over at my clock, shocked to realize I had slept until dinner time. Groggily, I rose and glanced in the mirror. I smoothed down a horrendous case of bed-head and stared at myself. Weren’t faeries supposedly beautiful? Couldn’t they also fly or maybe that was pixies? My reflection had the same degree of confusion.
You’re no help.
Frowning, I headed downstairs.

To my surprise, my parents had arrived home at the same time. They looked up when they heard me traipsing down the stairs and greeted me in unison. Their ignorant bliss racked me with guilt. What would they do if they knew the real story? Looking at my petite, strawberry blonde mom and my dad with his dark eyes and large nose, it was a miracle no one put this together sooner. Could someone honestly look any less like them than I did?

I greeted them in return and followed them into the kitchen. Mom kicked off her shoes and started rummaging through the fridge. I prayed she wouldn’t order takeout. I couldn’t stomach any pizza tonight.

“Hmm.” Her head was still in the fridge, muffling her voice. “How about I just grill some chicken and whip us up a nice green salad?”

A relieved smile spread across my face. “That actually sounds perfect. Let me help.”

I circled around the kitchen island and began gathering salad items. I took the green leaf lettuce and began rinsing it.

“I’m having a friend over tonight.” I attempted to sound very casual.

“Oh yeah.” My mom seasoned the chicken, turned on the stove and glanced in my direction. “Are you feeling better?”

I finished putting lettuce into the bowl and diced up a tomato. “Yeah and, actually, that’s why he’s coming over. He’s going to bring the assignments I missed. He’ll be by later.” I hoped the
he
would just kind of slip by, but of course parental radar was on full alert.

“He?” Now I had my dad’s attention.

“Uh huh,” I responded nonchalantly, dropping the tomatoes into the bowl. I busied myself slicing cucumber, praying this conversation would be short and sweet.

“Have we met this boy?” Talking to my dad about boys made me want to squirm, and I was confident he knew and enjoyed the torture. His questions seemed to have a smile hidden behind them.

“No. He’s new. Just transferred from Crestview.”

Mom’s grill sizzled announcing the chicken. “Oh?” Her interest piqued, momentarily distracting her from grilling, “That’s an excellent prep school. It’s right up there with Brentwood.” Her attention went back to the chicken.

“You’ll like him. He’s very nice.” As I realized dropping off homework wouldn’t explain taking him up to my room, I thought fast. “In return for bringing my work I’m going to help him with some physics assignments. We’re ahead. I’m trying to help him catch up.”

“Well that’s nice of you, honey,” my mom said sincerely. “So, Brentwood is ahead of Crestview, interesting.” Of course, that’s the part that would stick. I’m talking about boys and she’s more interested in which school is better.

I peeled and chopped a carrot, and shot a glance over at my dad. He now sat at the kitchen table with today’s paper spread in front of him and I knew I was in the clear. He’d tuned us out the moment he read the first headline.

I finished preparing the salad. Mom placed the cooked chicken on the cutting block and sliced the tender meat into thin strips. I pulled out three plates, forks and napkins and set the table. Dad had definitely checked out. My shoulders relaxed. Why was I nervous? Maybe because I never had guys over, I didn’t know what to expect from them.

We sat around the table eating our salads. Mom talked about work and last night’s event. I smiled and made small talk when appropriate, but kept my ears peeled for the doorbell. After we finished, I cleared the table in no hurry. I wanted Grant to arrive before I went back upstairs so I could be the one, not my parents, to answer the door. Just as I placed the dishes in the sink the doorbell rang. I looked at my mom.

“I’ve got it from here, honey. Go ahead and get the door for your friend.” This was going surprisingly well. I thanked her and hurried to the front.

As I passed the hall mirror, I glanced at my refection. Not great but not horrible either. I swung open the heavy wood door. Grant stood there with his hands casually stuffed into his pockets. His face lit up when he saw me and I imagined mine wore a similar expression.

“Hey, come in.” I motioned for him to step inside. As he passed me, the air hummed with electricity and gave me goosebumps. I shut the door and faced him.

“Hey, thanks for letting me come back over. I hope you’ve had time to think.” He cocked a grin that just about made me swoon.

“Um, sort of. I have to introduce you to my parents real quick then we can head upstairs.”

I gave him an apologetic look while leading him to the living room. My parents were still in the kitchen but could easily see over the bar. I figured the more space I kept between them, the less they could embarrass me.

“Mom? Dad?” I called. They both looked up. “I just wanted to introduce you.”

Dad walked up right next to my mom obviously intending to get a better view of my male companion. Dad seemed pleased to find out Grant wasn’t an inked up biker with an excessive amount of facial piercings. Mom seemed like she approved too. Her giddy smile told me she was excited I had landed me a guy, a cute guy at that. If only they knew.

“This is Grant.”

My mom’s smile faltered. Dad continued smiling but placed his hand over my mom’s. Weird, even for them.

“Nice to meet you,” Grant said with a respectful nod and smile.

“I hear you just moved here, where did you say you were from again?” Dad asked politely but he had an unusual expression on his face.

Grant took a moment to answer. I was just about to answer for him when he finally spoke up. “Yes, I haven’t been in town very long. My family came here on business.” I admired his ability to form an answer that wasn’t a complete lie, but wondered if Dad would push the subject.

Dad gently squeezed my mom’s hand. “Well then, you two don’t study too hard.” He chuckled at his joke, but his demeanor seemed off.

“We’ll try not to.”

I motioned for Grant to follow me and led him to my room.
What in the world was that about?
I knew my parents could be weird sometimes but what was that? After we got to my room, I shut the door and turned to Grant. Before I could apologize for my parents’ odd behavior, he spoke up.

“They know who I am.”

“What?” He made the comment in such a matter-of-fact and casual manner, I wasn’t sure I understood him.

“They know I’m a grant, and they know I am here for you.” He walked over to my favorite overstuffed arm chair and sank into the cushions. I snapped my mouth shut, realizing it hung wide open as I stared at him unable to grasp what he’d just said.

“How could my parents know what a grant is? This doesn’t make any sense.” My brain muddied from confusion. I sat down on my bed across from Grant. Even in a giant pink chair he was gorgeous.

“Kyla, I told you, no babies were stolen and none were abandoned. Your parents know who you are and what you are. They made the choice to raise you and love you as their own. And it seems to me they have held up their end of the bargain.”

My world spun around me. Bargain? I couldn’t think straight. How could they know, why didn’t I know, where was their baby? I had so many questions needing answers but couldn’t manage a single coherent one. He must have noticed the panic rising in me because he leaned forward and placed his hand on mine. My skin prickled under his touch.

“Hey, maybe it’s best if I just start from the beginning. I will tell you as much as I know and hopefully I will be able to answer your questions in the process.” I nodded, incapable of speech. “Your mom, your birth mother,” he clarified, “is Fae. Most Fae live in Tír na nÓg and only choose to visit here on occasion. Fae don’t usually stay for prolonged periods of time, but when your mother, Aislinn, fell in love with your human father, she chose to start a life here and soon after, you were conceived. Since most Fae don’t become this romantically involved with humans, half-faery babies aren’t very common.” He paused to see if I followed. I nodded for him to continue.

“Well, there are some people, human people, who know of the Fae. They know more than they should and unfortunately do not like Fae, or any otherworldly creature, walking among them. They call themselves The Rite of Purity, or just The Rite. They believe Fae and all otherworldly beings do not belong here, and there is no greater sin than humans interacting with them. So you can imagine what kind of trouble a half-human/half-faery baby would cause.”

I continued to listen but remained unable to speak. “Somehow, they found out about you and they came after your family, specifically you. A half-Fae baby is the ultimate sin to them. They fear an intermingling society, creating an entire race of half-human/half-Fae, and as their name states they want humans to remain pure, free of otherworldly influence. They hunt half-Fae based on this irrational fear. Your parents’ relationship was a rare circumstance and no one should be punished for it, but unfortunately, your father was killed trying to protect you and your mother.”

I gasped. Grant looked at me with sympathy and continued, “The Rite wouldn’t let anything stand in their way. I guess they figured one human life was a small sacrifice if it helped them get to you.” I shuddered at the thought of those people murdering my father.

“Your mother realized the great danger you two were in so she attempted to flee to Tír na nÓg. Unfortunately, not everyone is good there either. Some will stop at nothing to advance themselves in our society. When they discovered how badly The Rite wanted you eliminated, some otherworldly people decided to use this to their advantage. They planned to capture you and, using you as bait, draw The Rite out of hiding and ambush them. They believed this would earn them the favor of powerful Fae who want The Rite obliterated for what they have done to many of our people.” He paused. “Are you okay?” He asked, concern clearly in his voice.

“Yeah,” I choked, my voice dry. “Just go on. Just get it out.”

“Okay. Well, your mother knew it was not safe for you anywhere. You couldn’t even be protected in Tír na nÓg unless she allowed the court to raise you.” I raised an eyebrow. “We are an old society. We have been around for ages and have deep traditions. We are governed by a traditional court. Kings, queens, you know that sort of thing.” I nodded even though this just raised even more questions for me.

“She loved you too much to choose that fate for you at that time. She didn’t truly trust anyone and you would have been betrothed to a noble of some sort, as most members of the court are.” He squirmed, as if uncomfortable with the next part of the story.

“A half-human being raised in court is a novelty of sorts. Many Fae are intrigued by humans, but they aren’t allowed in court. But, you were different. You brought together the allure of humans and the acceptability of Fae. Many Fae males were already staking an interest in this half-human coming to live among them. It seriously concerned your mother so she needed to come up with some sort of solution, and you see, time doesn’t follow the same pattern in Tír na nÓg as it does here. For instance one year there is around seven here.”

Out of everything I’d heard, that had to be the most shocking, and I’d heard some pretty intense stuff.

“I know this is a lot to take in.”

And it was, but I urged him to continue, unable to stand any hesitation in the story. I had to know where it was going.

“Had your mother taken you to court, she feared you might be forced into marriage too young. She realized if she let you grow up in the human world you would mature quickly. You would be an adult in a third of the time it would take in Tír na nÓg. She believed once you were an adult you could then come to court for safety and hopefully make your own choices as to if and who you would marry. She still feared The Rite and other Fae who might want to hurt you, but under the court’s protection, no one would harm you. She had to come up with a safe way to keep you here among humans until adulthood, so she came up with a plan.

“After watching many families she finally found one. They were a very young couple, too young to even raise a baby, but they loved each other and they loved the child they had. Unfortunately, their child was sick, very sick. And human medicine could not cure the baby nor could this young family afford their mounting medical expenses.