Odyssey of the City of Lights

Arcane and Mundane - Book 2 - Chapter 9

Sitting at the table, surrounded by the strained faces of my family, my mind fixated on Mom's words, "To let you live." The phrase echoed in my thoughts, initially shrouded in confusion. What exactly would be the treat. I mean, my life had threats, but that was normal. I would protect him. It felt like a cryptic puzzle, one I was desperately trying to solve. Then, as the words churned in my head, my mind froze as a jarring clarity began to set in. That phrase wasn't just a statement; it was an admission. An admission that Jake was actually her son.

The realization struck me with a force that left me momentarily breathless as I sucked in a breath. Jake was not my cousin but my brother. This truth was kept hidden for years, unraveling so many memories and tinting them with new meaning. The laughter, the fights, the shared secrets - they were all cast in a new light. A myriad of emotions swirled within me – surprise, disbelief, and a profound sense of loss for the brotherly bond we could have had.

As I absorbed this new reality, I felt the foundations of our family shifting beneath us. The family I thought I knew was fracturing, breaking apart under the weight of concealed truths. The kitchen seemed to be growing colder. The colors seemed to be draining.

"JUST TELL US THE TRUTH!" Jake screamed, tears streaming down his face. The sudden outburst caught me off guard, and I jumped. Time and color went back to normal.

"Hey-" Uncle Paul looked like he was about to chastise Jake for his outburst, but Dad - no, our dad - raised a hand to stop him.

"What do you want to know?" Dad asked gently.

Jake raised his hand to his face, glanced, and saw the blood, turned his hand over, and wiped his face with the back of his hand, smearing snot and tears. I handed him a napkin at the same time Julie did. He took both of our tissues, wiped his face, and said, "Whose child am I?"

My mom, Aunt Fraya, Uncle Paul, and my dad exchanged glances as if silently debating who should answer. Mom and Dad spoke up at the same time. "Biologically ours," they said in unison.

Dad glanced at Uncle Paul, who was studying the tablecloth as though it held the secrets of the universe. "But Paul and Fraya raised you," Dad added softly.

The weight of their words hung heavy in the air. My mind froze. Now, my mental vision of my family was shattered and shuffling, trying to fit the broken pieces back together. I tried to fit Jake into my family tree, ripped off from his branch, and tried to attach it next to myself, but stuff just didn't fit.

I glanced from Jake to the parents and back to Jake. I tried to imagine how Jake must have felt, knowing that the people he had believed were his parents had lied to him for his entire life. But as much as I wanted to understand, I couldn't fully grasp the depth of his pain.

"Is that really all there is to it?" Jake asked, his voice wavering. "You're my biological parents, but you gave me up? Just like that?"

No one responded. I didn't respond. What could I say?

I looked at the adults at the table. They were silent, exchanging glances, going from pale to red to pale again. I glanced at Julie. She was shrinking in her chair. KyGerNi hugged his head around her. Silvia extended a wing and patted Julie's head.

I looked back at Jake and noticed the smirk spread across Jake's face, even as he fought to control his emotions. It was a mixture of disbelief, sarcasm, and pain all rolled into one. He was indignant at the silence of our parents. "Why?" He asked, his voice shaking with barely suppressed anger.

Dad sighed deeply, raising a hand to his face and rubbing his forehead as if trying to ward off an impending headache. "That's a hard and long answer," he admitted, glancing around at everyone in the room. "I guess I'll start?"