The Family - Volume 1

Chapter 9

I tried to open my mouth, but without much success. The words stuck in the back of my throat. Was the Ancestor dead? Was Arthur dead? It was impossible, I'd only seen him a day ago. I refused to admit what was the truth, my cousins had to be wrong somewhere.

- It's the truth...

Ken was leaning towards me with a sad look on his face.

- I'm sorry, but...

- Shut up, Ken!

I wiped the tears from my eyes.

- Don't talk nonsense, the Ancestor isn't dead. He can't be!

I was paralyzed and couldn't stop crying or shaking.

- I refuse to believe it, the Old Man is still with us, he can't...

My voice broke, I couldn't go on, it was too much. I hid behind my hands without success. Someone came and put their arms around me to reassure me, it was my mother.

- Joy, the truth is hard for all of us to admit, but we can't deny it.

- No," I repeated, "it can't be...

My mother put a finger over my mouth to shut me up.

- Hiding the truth from you will hurt even more than accepting it. Do you think the Ancestor would be happy to see you like this?

- That's not the point! I shouted. The Ancestor can't die, not now, after all these years...

Arms came around me and it took me a while to realize that it was Sting. I felt his warm breath on my cheek, then he whispered in my ear:

- I didn't get to meet this Ancestor you're talking about, but from your reaction I'm guessing you really cared about him.

He paused briefly.

- Stop crying, will you? It's not the way to go on. The Ancestor is dead, it's true, and no one can deny that. Nevertheless, you can do what you can to carry on and move forward.

I couldn't admit it, but Sting was right. What's the point of moping around and doing nothing?

- I didn't know you could say things like that," I said, sniffling.

My friend gave me a gentle smile. I turned to my family.

- I suppose it's no coincidence that the Old Man passed away today? Didn't he die naturally?

Jon nodded.

- Yes, his body was found this morning in his office and we were able to flush out some poison, which is probably what killed him.

I clenched my fists. Whoever had dared to perpetrate such a crime was going to pay.

- Nekrós is probably in on it," said Ken.

- No, he couldn't have done it," I squeaked. It's his mole!

- What do you mean?" choked Aunt Alice.

- Yes, you heard me perfectly well, there's a mole in The Family who's working for Nekrós.

I'd had the idea for some time and, after everything that's happened, I couldn't pass it up.

- He knows far too much about us when he's bedridden and can't move. What's more, access to the Reunion site is only open to members of the AS, so no one else from La Famille can come in except on Reunion days or a special day, which greatly reduces the possibilities.

- Do you suspect an AS member of playing double agent?" asked Uncle Zack.

- Yes, I do.

- Do you know what a statement of this size means?" said a worried Aunt Alice.