Eternal Winter

Broken Ignorance: Part IV

I lowered the two books onto the table, everyone staring down at them. "What? How would he...?" I looked into her face fully, then glanced to Sammy. "I thought Alius was from our father's side."

"He is," Sammy stated, just as confused. Then, recognition widened his features. "Wait! He is—but Mom's a Lotus! And that's her book!"

Everyone turned to Sammy then, asking the same incredulous question, "What?"

He locked eyes with me alone. "I only saw it once, and she hid it from me immediately—but it was shortly after that when...everything happened. We—" his eyes glazed over and his brows furrowed deeply. "—when we—" he grew quiet, then. Something in him was freezing up...again.

I gently pushed away the books, his mug, their attention before I knelt at his side, grasping his limp, icy hands between mine. "Sammy, I wish I could answer for you," I murmured quietly, only to him. "I've never asked this of you and I wish I still wouldn't—"

He nodded, his eyes still staring far away, but he nodded. Then, he spoke in a dull, monotone voice, "We were called to the palace—Dad was going to be ordained as a Great Wizard, in Grandpa's place. Mom was...not happy. She wouldn't show it...but I could see it. She was carrying around that book, the way you do, reading it only when she was alone, and then...she killed...Dad...and Their Majesties." A whisper in my mind—a voice echoing far, far, too far away. "And then she pulled the sky away with snow and cold. Then, the book was gone and we were gone, because you knew where the book was...you knew who had taken it."

"Okay," I said softly as he took in the next breath. "You can stop."

Slowly, his hand twisted and he grabbed onto mine, and slowly, the light came back into his eyes.

"Thank you," I breathed, seeing the pain in his eyes echoed in my heart with each sharp beat. "Thank you."

Noah took over the conversation from there, his voice soft and stricken. "Alius Stormlegion took the book from Matilda, then." He dragged a hand down his face. "I had my suspicions...but this only confirms it."

"What is this book?" I snapped sharply. "I thought you said dark magic wasn't to be trifled with."

Michaela's eyes widened even as her mouth opened, a deep growl low in her throat. Her teeth bared ready to snap back— "That book is not a book of dark magic," Noah quickly interjected. "It's only fair she suspects that, Michaela."

She quickly dropped her face, regret and embarrassment flushing it scarlet.

"If it's not dark magic, then how was Matilda casting from it?" This time, I tried to keep my own tone in check.

Noah sighed. "Our books...our spell books weren't made for just for one Art. They are not like most others." He twisted the mug around on the table, the tea long gone cold. "In this family, we aren't sequestered to a single Art. Each generation, generally, is chosen by a different Art—it is why Sam's Shifting emergence is unusual and surprising. Although, it is no more surprising than an Elemental with access to all four.

"With the flexibility of our spell books for each Art, it is, unfortunately, understandable how my misguided sister was able to make the jump between magic and dark," he finished with a shadowed look in his eyes.

"You say misguided...how?" I asked, even as something within me begged for avoidance—it didn't want to hear the answer.

But I hadn't remembered and I hadn't known...

Just how awful the realization would be.

"Misguided for what she's done. Although, I say misguided based on what she claimed...but jealousy would be a more apt motivation." He was done shifting in his seat, and took to his feet. His face was turned away and his hands gripping the edge of the counterspace, trembling. "A jealousy for an Art she'd never possess...no matter what she attempted."