The Half-Blood Princess

I discover that I am a half-blood in two different ways

Look, I didn't want to be the "Half-Blood Princess"

Ok, that probably didn't make any sense, so I'll back this up a bit. It all started back in June of 2021 when I was only eleven. 

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School had just ended and I was super excited for summer break. Summer has always been my favorite time of year because I get to go visit my grandpas in England. I was born there, but my mom and I moved to New York when I was very young, probably about four. Every summer, we travel back to the English countryside to stay with my grandparents for two or three months in their little farmhouse cottage.

This summer was especially exciting because my mom had promised me that I could finally take riding lessons on my grandpas' mare, Silveny! I had been riding her as long as I could remember, but I had never gotten formal lessons.

Today was the day we were going to leave and I was so excited that I woke up at five in the morning to pack, even though our flight was at three in the afternoon. By 6:30, I had completely finished packing and I raced down the hallway from my bedroom to wake my mom, Clara, up.

"What is it, Lucia?" she asked me groggily, still waking up.

"I'm all packed and ready to go, Mom!" I said excitedly, yanking her blankets off.

"Honey, about that," she began, hesitating. Uh-oh, this wouldn't be good. "I have something to talk to you about. How about you go find us something to eat for breakfast while I get changed, and then we can have a Talk." 

Somehow I could tell that the word "talk" was capitalized, which meant something big was happening. Last time Mom had a Talk with me, she explained to me how babies were made, which pretty much ruined my entire school year. I could never look at boys the same.

Anyway, I'm getting off the topic. I'm ADHD, so that happens a lot. 

I dash down to the kitchen and pop some frozen waffles in the toaster, waiting impatiently for my mom and fidgeting a ton. What could possibly be happening that warranted a Talk? I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I jumped about ten feet when the toaster beeped. Just then, my mom came down the stairs.

"Lucia, I have something to tell you. You won't be able to go to your grandpas' house this summer."

"Why not?!" I whined. "I haven't seen Papa and Grandpa for so long!"

"I know Owl, I miss my dads too. But this is super important. You get to go to a super cool summer camp instead."

Uh, oh, she was breaking out the pet names. Last time she called me 'Owl,' I found out we were moving to Montauk, away from Manhattan and all my friends at Yancy Academy. Also, a summer camp instead of family? Like, what?!

"But whyyyyyy?" I pouted. "It doesn't make any sense!"

Mom sighed and took a deep breath. "Okay hon, I have a story to tell you. I need to tell you the story of your other parent. As you know, I've never been married. I always told you that your father died because that was what was the easiest for you," Mom started.

I was extremely confused. "Do you mean he's alive? Look, I can handle it if he abandoned us," I said, trying to understand.

My mom smiled wistfully. "I guess you could say that. Your dad is alive, and he did leave, but he had to. It was completely impossible for him to stay."

"Mom, stop being so vague, I don't understand," I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "Are you not my biological mother?! Please just explain," I sobbed.