Transcendence

15: Revelation

Her heart fell into her stomach. A cold wave breezed across her skin and she sat still. For a moment, she forgot that Hiroto was there next to her.

"What are you talking about Amee?" Her sister took a shaky breath, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"They wanted me to be quiet. But, I can't do it. You're my sister and I love you."

"Amee..." She reached across and grabbed her hands. Amee gripped back tight, tears in her eyes mirroring hers.

"A... what did they do?" Amee glanced up from under her wet eyelashes and looked at Hiroto who had been softly caressing the back of her hand with his thumb.

"I wonder if he's ready for it." That got his attention and he looked at her.

"I'm only here for Rae."

"But for ten long years you were nowhere to be found. Why now are you here for my sister?" The thumb that stroked her skin paused. Swallowing, Hiroto let go of her hand and folded his hands in his lap. Taking in his reaction, Amee reached up to wipe some of the tears that had fallen from her eyes and sat up straighter.

"The story everybody told you where they said they shipped you off to Japan because of a bad deal with the mafia... not all of it was true." She grew stiff.

"What do you mean?" Amee took a shaky breath.

"The real reason was... was because they... they no longer wanted you to be in the family." It grew silent.

"I'm...I'm sorry?" Amee licked her lips.

"Ebbie, Mama and Daddy didn't want you anymore. They had reached a place where they felt they could live without you..." She gripped Hiroto's hand again instinctively and inhaled sharply.

"I don't understand..."

"I'm sorry Ebbie..."

"When did this happen? When did they suddenly decide they didn't want me around?"

"That I don't know sweetie. I only know so much. What I'm tellin you I found out by being nosey." She let go of Hiroto's hand again and sat up straighter.

"What else can you tell me?" Her sister sighed.

"Do you know of a man named Peter Lugiano?" She grew still, her breath sharply drawn in. Amee reached across the table and softly gripped her hand.

"Ebbie?" She jolted, bringing her eyes back to her sister.

"Y-yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

"Well? Do you know him?" She licked her lips and lifted a hand to tousle her hair.

"I know him. Why?"

"A year before you left for Japan, he showed up at our house. Seems he had been looking for you." Her hand began to quiver against her thigh underneath the table.

"Looking for me?"

"Yes. He said something about you being his ward. Said you ran away from home and that he had been looking for you ever since." She gripped her fingers together in a tight fist.

"He's lying." Amee tightened her grip on her hand.

"Ebbie he convinced Mama and Daddy to give you to him."

"No..." Tears started to well in her eyes. No... it wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible.

"Amee stop it. Please. Let's just stop."