Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf

32 | The Horrible Truth

Michael and Larissa were poised over their distraught daughter.

Dimitri sat beside her on the bed, his arm around her shoulders. His eyes nervous, confused.

"Natalia," he tried. "It's okay. Everything will be fine."

But Natalia wailed, her arms curled across her waist. She rocked horribly as though she might be sick.

"What happened?" Michael asked.

Larissa shrugged.

He lowered himself onto his haunches. Gently, he touched Natalia on the forearm.

She recoiled.

"Natalia? Tell me what happened."

She sniffed, tears trickling onto Michael's hand. "You know what happened," she said bitterly. Her eyes were bloodshot, her make-up on the brink of destruction. "Both of you know." Michael and Larissa looked at one another. "Sadie told me," she spat. "She told me everything." Natalia's chin dropped to meet her chest, which heaved as she gulped for air. "Why didn't you tell me? Sixteen years. Six-teen years!"

Michael looked at Dimitri. "Can you give us a minute?" he asked calmly.

"Natalia?" Dimitri said. "Do you want me to stay?"

She waved him away, as if nothing could console her.

"I'll be with my brothers...should you need me."

"Well," Natalia said, before Dimitri had left the room. "Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"Am I...an orphan?"

The word hung in the air like a poisonous gas.

Larissa took Dimitri's place at Natalia's side. "We never meant for you to find out this way."

Her affirmation caused Natalia's chin to tremble. A fresh flood of tears ruined what remained of her make-up.

"We love you, Natalia," Michael said. "The same as we love Sadie and Eli. To us, you're our firstborn child. Nobody can take that away from us...away from you."

"First born?" Natalia wept. "First bought more like!"

Larissa tried to hug her daughter, but Natalia brushed her aside.

"I always knew something wasn't quite right," she said. "I always felt on the periphery, but I told myself I was being silly. Silly old Natalia. Worried she wasn't as important, or clever, or as interesting as her siblings."

"Natalia," Larissa tried. "Stop that."

"But I was right all along. Sadie told me about the Foretelling. The child that has untold power and...something or other...will be the firstborn fallen from the sky." She shook her head. "And that's who Sadie is...that's who you are, Father. She told me so. You're all magic and mystery and—" Tear fell in heavy droplets. "It's like one of your horrifying bedtime stories."

"Sadie told you about the Foretelling?" Michael said, and then, almost to himself. "Why would she do such a thing?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Natalie bit. "Why wouldn't you?"

Michael searched in vain for the right words.

"So, I've managed to stumble over two big secrets, have I?" Natalia went on, her face hard and filled with disbelief. "I suppose Eli is all tied up in it, too; what with him carrying Madison blood!"

"Don't say such terrible things, Natalia," Michael said, his heart breaking.

"I'm nothing to do with this family, this history, this life. What am I? Who am I?"