Thief of Twilight

Part Two: Chapter 65

****TRIGGER WARNING****

This chapter discusses themes that may be uncomfortable for some readers.

Please skip this chapter as it has to do with sexual assault, grooming, and pedophilia.

Everything will be recapped in the next chapter.

****

After my home was burned to the ground, Angela allowed me to stay with her at the inn. She was the only person my mother had a close relationship with in the city. Angela didn't know where my family was and neither did I. I remember asking my mother about my cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. But she told me it was safer if I didn't meet them. At the time, I didn't know the reason behind it. But at that moment, when my father murdered my mother, I realized what she meant. My mother always reminded me to be careful and to never show or tell people who or what I was. Simply being alive was enough to put me in danger.

After that night, I didn't use my magic. I pretended that I was human just like everyone else. If people asked or assumed that I was a mage of some sort, I told them that I was ever taught any spells. Naturally, people thought that I was a healer or an ice mage. When there was a moon in the night sky, I pretended to be sick. That was the best excuse that I could come up with. My lies were simple enough but they allowed me to live a very simple life for a while.

I lived with Angela at the inn for a little over two years. After I was settled in, she asked if my mother had left me anything. I remember telling her that I didn't know. After about two weeks, I returned to school. It didn't take long for word to get out that my mother and father had died. With news of my parent's death, gossip quickly followed. Some rumored that my father owed people some money. Others thought it was a mere act of jealousy. Everyone was cautious when it came to me. I didn't have many friends to begin with. But if I ever had a chance to make friends, it was now taken away from me. The headmaster requested that I meet with him while accompanied by a guardian one day. Thankfully, Angela was able to step in. She told the headmaster about what happened and she didn't have any information about my family's finances. The headmaster said that it would be impossible for me to continue at the school if I could not pay the tuition necessary by the end of the year.

Angela pleaded with the headmaster and asked if I could at least continue my lessons until the summer months. I don't think I realized what was happening at that moment. But I would say that was the beginning.

Once the summer months had arrived, I realized that I wasn't going to be able to continue living the life that I had been given. I wasn't going to be able to continue going to school. It made me wonder if Angela would ask me to leave the inn. I took all of my clothes to Angela and asked if she could sell them. She was confused by my question and wondered why I wanted to sell my dresses. Even though Angela and I were from the middle class, my father's business allowed me to live as an upper-middle-class citizen. Angela was with the lower middle class. I simply told her that I didn't have any use for them anymore and that it would be best if I just got rid of them.

That was when she asked if I wanted to live with my grandfather. At that moment, I couldn't think of anything else but to reject the idea. I told her that I had only seen him once and that I didn't know where he lived. She didn't ask any questions but I knew she was concerned. She said that the only option was for me to work at the inn. She said if I helped her out, then it would cover the price for a room that she rents out to travelers. Of course, she would give me some money every day or so. I happily agreed but encouraged her to sell my dresses. Anything that would remind me of my life before the incident, I wanted to get rid of it. I didn't want to be reminded of anything about my old life.