Tower Of Bones

Chapter 3: Sick

My CPS agent arrived the very next day after learning the big news about my adoption. My permanent home. The thought made me want to vomit, as bad as that sounds. I didn't want an adoptive mom and dad, I wanted my real ones. The ones that brought me into this world.

But I guess that wasn't an option anymore.

Ms. Frost was a bit hesitant around me since the hospital. Her tone was quiet and her eyes seemed to not be able to look at me directly. I felt bad at first and then the moment she began to speak, I got angry all over again.

I don't know why I took it out on this lady, but seeing her face reminded me of the tremendous loss of my family and I reacted the best way I knew how.

With anger.

"Well, the good thing, Maxanen," she began as we sat at the table in Patty's dining room, "is that I have found a relative of yours. It was a bit hard to pinpoint him for a long time, your parents didn't leave me much to go on."

"Don't call me that," I snipped, ignoring the whole point of this conversation entirely. It's not like I even wanted to be here. "I don't want you to call me Maxanen. It's just Max."

Her face contorted uncomfortably, and she clears her throat and continues on, eyes to the table. "Anyway… your father seems to have quite a few relatives living in Arcane Hills, have you heard of it?"

I scoffed at that and wanted to roll my eyes so bad it hurt. "Are you kidding me? Arcane Hills? Isn't that the place full of the Arkans?"

"That would be the one, yes," she says.

"Well that's bullshit," I said, crossing my arms. "Dude, neither one of my parents have magical abilities. I think I'd know."

She suddenly looks a bit alarmed and her lips open, close, then reopen again. "Oh, my. I… I thought you knew."

The words I had just spoken were lost in the confusion on the lady's face and doubt settled in my body.

Did… my parents keep something from me?

"That's why he kept his family so hidden," she says, more to herself than to me and she lays a hand over her head in exasperation. "Listen, Maxan… Max. I don't know if I'm the right person to tell you this, so I'm going to let your uncle explain it to you when he sees you. So--"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lady, you can't just drop two bombshells on me at once. What about my parents don't I know here?" I hold my hands up, unable to process the last few sentences she just spoke. My mouth was dry, and my hands were shaking. This could not be possible.

There was absolutely, positively no way either of my parents were Arkans. No way, no how. My parents were two of the most normal, quiet people I know.

Knew.

I swallowed.

"I understand, but I'm not the right person to answer that. For now, let's talk about your uncle Dex. He lives in Arcane Hills and he has a stable career, a respectable man and loved in his community. I believe he will make a great fit for you." She said, and lifted a piece of paper from a manilla folder laying on the table before her. "Also he's your godfather."

If I had something to drink right now, I would probably be spitting it out or choking on it through my nose.

Godfather? Uncle? Arcane Hills?

No, this wasn't possible. That community wasn't for me. I wasn't magical, neither were my parents and I refused to accept anything else.

Besides, they would have told me. Right?