Distorted Affliction

Chapter Thirty

The feeling that washed over me in that instant was unexplainable. It was as if I had regressed back to childhood, and all of the feelings of abandonment that I had felt came surging forward. Those feelings were overthrown by the odd sensation as I realized that not only was my mother near, but that Ophelia had planned to take my son there without asking. There weren't words for the emotional rollercoaster I seemed to be on, but I recalled opening and closing my mouth several times in an attempt to vocalize all of it.

Sin reassured me as I stepped outside for air that he would be with me every step of the way, and that he sternly felt taking our son to her was our best option under the current situation. I wasn't entirely sure I agreed, but Vanessa's words had struck me. She had said my mother was exiled, though I had been under the impression that her leaving was her choice.

Every part of me wanted to see her, if for no reason than to pry the truth from her--and tell her how deeply her absence had hurt me. I couldn't discern the emotions, because I had spent my entire childhood waiting for her to come back and my entire adult life hoping to never see her again. Yet, when the opportunity arose, my heart yearned for the answers it knew only she could give.

Kallisto Bishop lived in Irvington, about fifteen minutes down the road from the motel in Bayou La Batre. Ophelia had chosen this location because it placed her far enough out of town that she felt safe, yet not too far as to miss their meeting. Sin had postponed our own meeting with our connection while we chased down answers and ensured Silas would be safe if we left them in the care of my mother.

I didn't have very many memories with her, but I knew she had always been good with plants, which meant I wasn't very surprised to learn that she worked at a nursery in Irvington. This would be our meeting place, and we pulled up early to scope the place out. Vanessa had stayed back in Ophelia's room at the motel to keep an eye on the Priestesses, though she had seemed deflated when I had requested it. Apparently my mother held a reputation in the world of magic that I hadn't even realized.

Pulling a blanket around Silas, I held him to my chest as we approached the nursery, a small place with flowers blooming along the outside of the building despite the crisp air outside. The humidity didn't feel quite as bad here as in New Orleans, but the air still held a bite to it. Demidicus and Sin were on high alert, and I appreciated having the extra muscle if anything went south.

I spotted my mother almost right away, despite being behind Sin's tall frame when we entered. Her hair was the same dark red color as my own, her eyes like blue beacons calling me home, except I hadn't considered her home in a very long time. If she was shocked to see Ophelia with an entire crew in tow, she made no show of it, keeping her face casual as she smiled at us.

"Ophelia," she greeted, giving my coven sister a grand hug. Then, to my surprise, she turned to my other companions. "Sinclair, Demidicus, you two have owed me a visit for quite some time."

I refrained from making any comments, though several witty responses were at the tip of my tongue. It was a show of my restraint that I didn't counter her words with the sarcasm that was boiling inside of me. Instead, I pulled Silas closer to me and gave her a sharp nod when her eyes fell on me and my son.

"August." Her voice was soft, almost pained, though I didn't want to believe that it was genuine. "I apologize for not setting this up much sooner. We have a lot to discuss."

She guided us through the nursery, past the blooming flowers and thick shrubberies that seemed to be thriving in her care. There were no other customers or employees, and it occurred to me that she must own the business. I couldn't imagine my mother ever working under anyone, just as much as I couldn't imagine it for myself. My family was very independent, and we didn't take orders very well.