Cadestelle

Answers

“What do you remember from last night?" He asked slowly. His question didn't surprise me. I would have to be patient with answering a few questions before I could investigate. I told him everything that I remembered. I reenacted the words that were exchanged and the actions that were displayed. When I finished reliving the harsh recollection of memories I waited for a reception of my story. The three exchanged looks before replying to me. Rethinking of what I had just said. I was dumbfounded by how fake my reenactment sounded. Who would believe in Giants and lightning striking a tree and transferring the intense energy to a girl merely pressing her hand into the bark? I shook my head in pity for myself, not believing my own lunacy.

“Is that all?" Rider asked tenderly. He looked at me as if I was about to go crazy, and I didn't blame him.

“Yeah, but..." I trailed off not knowing whether or not to tell them about the men and wind chimes. All it would do is land myself in an insane asylum. I bit my lip, I was too nervous of what I would portray of myself to the Adams. Rider gently put a lingering hand on my arm; he looked scared of his own hands.

“Go ahead tell us. We need to know everything you know." Rider murmured. I trusted him, and I wanted everything to make sense again. I took a deep rattily breath and told them. I shivered when the cloaked men ran past my mind. My anxiety was evident by my looks and I would pause in-between breaths to see their counteractions, but to my surprise none appeared. When I finished, Mr. Adams arose abruptly from his seat, a squeak omitted from his chair. Mrs. Adams looked like she was on the brink of tears. For what reason  I had no idea.

“Is that all?" Mr. Adams asked as he silently stroked his 5 o clock shadow. I nodded, unsure of what would happen next. Seeing Mrs. Adams this uncomposed made me nervous and the unsettling look that took over Mr. Adams' usually kind features disturbed me.

With a final sigh, Mr. Adams surrendered himself to the engraved chair in front of him. His entire body sagged into the chair, as if giving up. The laugh lines that carved his face resorted to resemble a placid look. Rider sensed my stress as he stroked my arm, sending a small jolt inside me, similar to the one I had felt before. 

“Nadia, what we are going to say may shock you." Mrs. Adams said quietly. I looked at her slightly amazed that her voice didn't have the syrupy tone it usually had. Instead it sounded tired, much like her husband's. She misread my shocked expression as a reply to what she had said.

“If you're not ready to hear this, we can wait until you're sixteen." She reasoned. She almost sounded... nervous? Before I could answer to Mrs. Adams, her husband answered abruptly for me.

“Aura, the girl must know. Her Aunt has been keeping everything hidden from her for seven years now. It's time."

I looked between the two of them in turmoil. The ludicrous of all this was tangible, and I was slowly drowning in its suffocating heap. My Aunt had been hiding something from me for the entire time that she took me in. Furiousity bubbled inside me, threatening to spill out. I felt dizzy; unsure of whom my Aunt really was anymore. What had become of your life Nadia?

“She did it out of love." Rider heartened. I looked up into his eyes and found the pity buried there. I suddenly felt the anger surge towards him; he had no reason to pity me. I could take care of myself. They knew nothing about me, or so I thought.