Twilit Mage

Chapter 62: News Again

"I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving break already," Raoul said at breakfast, sprawling over the table. "Tomorrow at this time we're already gonna be on the bus home, huh?"

Mercury laughed and nodded. "Yeah! Time sure flies when you're not busy risking your life."

"It's been so many weeks." Raoul took a mouthful of cereal, munching. "You got any plans for the break, Mercy? Like, Thanksgiving and everything?"

Mercury wondered what he was getting at, but she gave another nod. "It's just the three of us because of the exile thing, so I'm celebrating with my mom and dad. They let her take the day off at work." She smiled. "What about you?"

"Dammit!"

Mercury's head shot up. "What?"

Raoul had hit his hand on the table, rocking his cereal and splashing milk all over the place. "I wanted to invite you!" he groaned. "But if you got a family Thanksgiving celebration, and I got a family thanksgiving celebration, then who's flying this plane?"

Invite– Wait a second. Mercury stared. Had she heard that right? Had Raoul just said he wanted to invite her to his family's Thanksgiving celebration?

"Um...uh...what?" Her face flushed bright red, even as butterflies of joy fluttered up in her stomach. "You...but...ah, I'd love to come! But my parents...what do we do..."

"You could have both your families celebrate together," Georgiana piped in, looking up from what seemed to be her third sandwich.

They both turned around. Then they looked at each other. Raoul seemed every bit as excited by the idea as Mercury felt. Thanksgiving all together, in a big round...getting to know each other's families...it sounded like a dream.

"You talk to your parents," Raoul said, tapping his palm with his fist. "I talk to mine!"

Mercury nodded enthusiastically. "Deal!"

They both grinned, already brimming with excitement even though nothing was set in stone yet. "That's a great idea, Georgiana!" Mercury said as she turned back to her. "Thanks so much!"

Georgiana took another bite from her sandwich. "To be fair, it was the most obvious solution."

"By the way," Mercury added after a moment's silence, "what are you doing over the break? Going home too?"

Putting aside the remains of her bread, Georgiana gave a nod, exhaling softly and closing her eyes. "I am," she said. "I have a lot to ask my guardian about – my background, my childhood before he took me in. I'm planning to confront him face to face."

"What do you do if you find out Raoul's right? As in, that he's really your dad, and you're half Twilit?"

Georgiana shrugged. "I'll see. But if it turns out to be true, I think I'll search for my mother." She opened her eyes again. "I'd like to know who she is and what she's doing."

Mercury smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "Good luck."

"Yeah, good luck! And GG," Raoul piped in, "if you guys feel like it, feel free to bring your dad to our party too. Right, Mercy?"

Georgiana looked back and forth between them, puzzled. "But you–"

"No buts! You're one of us now." Mercury grinned. "Of course you guys are invited!"

~ ~ ~

Mercury had almost gathered the courage to ring the doorbell when the door opened, and she found herself almost knocked over with a hug.