Let Me Hear You

CHAPTER 3

"That wasn't a pleasing thing to say back there Mallory."

Mallory looked at her grandfather who was sitting behind his table in his office. A while ago, she was called in probably to be disciplined for making such a scene during their meeting earlier with Malcolm and Callum.

"I'm sorry for the outburst grandfather." She said, her eyes trying to avoid his.

He then let out an amused sound and smiled at her, "Apology accepted. Now sit down, we have something more to talk about."

She did what she was told and sat across him. She looked around her grandfather's well-appointed office and tried to recollect when the last time she came here was. Strangely enough, she couldn't remember.

"Now to business." Her grandfather started, "I would like to assume that you know your Stigma well enough to understand its potential."

Mallory couldn't respond.

"Well, would you like to tell me how our family acquired such Stigma?"

Finally, something she can answer. "We acquired it through the Ulysses family. After receiving theirs, they ordered their most trusted servant, our ancestor, to acquire one of their own."

"And the type Stigma they got was one that would ensure the safety of their masters at full capacity. The deal was made and the price paid was the life of the servant's only child."

Her mouth went dry for a bit. This was the part of the story that she disliked the most.

"As a consequence of their action and the power they were about to be given, the Stigma would pass a generation." Her grandfather paused, "I'm particularly thankful for that part. I married into the family and despite not having my own Stigma, I was able to prove my worth to your great-grandfather."

"It must've been a Herculean task."

"Yes, quite so. But I did it all for the sake of love. It was worth it. Having to raise a family with the woman I love the most and become a father to your angel of a mother. The first 4 years of our marriage was pretty normal. I treasure those memories the most."

He looked at the framed picture on his table.

"You look so much like your grandmother." He said, "And so as you and Callum grew older, I wanted to protect you as much as I can, for as long as I can. But you were right, I can't keep on trying to do that."

"Grandfather, I'm really sorry." Mallory felt so bad. She couldn't look him in the eyes. "I wish I could apologize to Callum too. He didn't deserve to hear such things."

"Apology accepted." Callum voice said from behind her. "Looks like I came here just in time."

From the corner of her eye, Mallory saw their grandfather smile. It felt like she got set up; she knew her grandfather hated when the twins were in bad terms. But she doesn't mind, she hated that too.

Mallory smiled at Callum and tried her best not to run and hug him. But when she felt Callum's arms around her all sense of formality was tossed aside and she returned his hug.

"I would never allow you two to get mad at each other for long." Their grandfather said as he walked up to them and patted each of the twins head. "Your parents might get upset if I did. You two are very special after all. And... I'll admit that it'll break my heart to see both of you separated."

Neither of them can answer. It was an inevitable reality.

Their grandfather continues, "You two are the first set of twins this family ever had. What amazed us more was that your Stigmas are like two sides of the same coin. I'm sorry I'm not able to provide the support or training that you need to enhance them further. What I can do though, is to provide you each with these."