Crossed Spells

Chapter 22: The Truth (Part 2)

"Do you remember what I told you about the history of our families?" Elena began, her voice soft but firm. "About how the Luminosa and the Blackwood used to protect Ravenswood together?"

Lucas nodded silently, his gaze moving from his father to Elena. He remembered that conversation, the surprise he had felt upon learning that their families had once been allies. Beside him, Aria seemed equally attentive, her eyes fixed on her mother.

"What I didn't tell you," Elena continued, taking a deep breath, "is that this tradition never really stopped."

Lucas frowned, confused. How could this be possible? His father had always told him to be wary of the Luminosa, to avoid them at all costs. He glanced at Damien, looking for confirmation or denial, but his father maintained an impassive expression.

Damien took over, his deep and solemn voice resonating in the silent living room. "There exists a secret network of guardians, of which Elena and I are part. Our role is to monitor and contain the curse that weighs on Ravenswood and other cities linked to its history."

The shock of this revelation hit Lucas like a physical blow. He felt the ground give way beneath his feet, his world tilting on its axis. A secret network of guardians? Like those he had vaguely heard about while doing research for their presentation? His father and Aria's mother were part of it? It was too much to take in at once. He looked at Aria, seeing his own shock reflected on her face.

"But... why hide it from us?" Aria asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why let us believe our families were enemies?"

Lucas wanted to ask the same question. He had believed the Luminosa were a threat, that their power over light was dangerous. And now, he was learning that his father had been working with them in secret? The betrayal he felt was almost physical, a dull ache in his chest.

Damien ran a tired hand over his face, the wrinkles around his eyes suddenly seeming deeper. "We are indeed 'enemies', but we all have responsibilities," he said simply. "The role of guardian is dangerous. We have dangerous enemies, people who seek to exploit or destroy our powers. We thought... we hoped that if you were ignorant of all this, you would be safe."

Lucas felt anger rising within him, a burning wave that threatened to overwhelm him. His whole life had been nothing but a lie, an elaborate staging to "protect" him. But at what cost?

Elena placed a comforting hand on Aria's shoulder, her face reflecting a mixture of guilt and maternal love. "We wanted to give you a chance to have a normal life, at least as normal as possible given your heritage."

Lucas shook his head in disbelief. The words came out of his mouth before he could hold them back, charged with all the frustration and confusion he was feeling. "But that doesn't make any sense! Hiding the truth from us didn't protect us, it just left us ignorant and vulnerable!"

He thought back to all the times he had struggled to understand his powers, when he had felt alone and afraid of what he could do.

"You're right," Damien admitted, guilt evident in his voice. "We made a mistake. We thought we were doing the right thing, but..."

"But you lied to us," Aria interrupted, anger piercing in her voice. "Our whole life has been nothing but a lie!"

The tension in the room was palpable. Lucas and Aria, overwhelmed by these revelations, were visibly struggling to contain their emotions. Their parents, for their part, seemed torn between regret for their past actions and the urgency of the present situation.

"We understand your anger," Elena said softly, her eyes moving from Lucas to Aria with a tenderness mixed with guilt. "You have the right to be angry with us. But there are more important things at stake."