The Fall of the Keepers

Chapter 25 Born with Intent

"From the day you were born, heavy expectations lay on your shoulders. Angelica raised you not as a mother with her daughter, but as a general with a soldier."

"So the warm fuzzy memories I have of her and I together?"

"Never happened as far as I know. Angelica was a drill sergeant really, I remember many a day you ended up in tears thanks to her harsh attitude."

"Ah."
Well, maybe that was part of the reason I was so screwed up.

"Angelica was good at keeping secrets, you didn't know your true identity until your fourteenth birthday when she deemed you worthy of keeping the secret. The rest of the Coften family was none of the wiser to your heritage or your extracurricular activities, except Isen that is."

"Yeah, when he turned her in."
I stated bitterly.

"Well actually, there's a strange twist to that story."

I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Stranger than a man turning in his own wife?"

"Isen was aware that Angelica was apart of the Coalition all along. He never chose to support it, mostly he just turned a blind eye and covered for Angelica and you with the other Coften children."

"Wait, if he knew, and was apparently fine with it, why the sudden change of heart?"

"That's the strange part. Right around the time, your memories were wiped, I recall Isen started acting very odd. I didn't know him well, so I didn't think that much of it at the time. He and Angelica fought more, and he pressed her to leave the Coalition and lead a normal life. Of course, she was far too strong-willed to agree to such a request. I overheard them once when I came to check in on you."

"Hold up, you checked on me?"
I held up my hand, surprise on my face.

"Of course, I mean I couldn't really let you see me since you didn't know who I was anymore. But I watched you, made sure that you were adjusting alright."

I couldn't decide if that was creepy or sweet.

"After Angelica's death I had to stay away, the government was watching your family closely and I didn't want to chance bringing anymore trouble down on your heads by being caught spying. I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there for you during that difficult time."

I stared at my half-empty plate, wondering how different Angelica's death might have affected me if my memories hadn't been stolen if David had been by my side. The events of my past had had a strong impact on the course of my future.

"What was my relationship with my siblings really like?"
I asked, changing the subject a bit.

"Well, you were never very close to the Coften children, seeing as Angelica always had you busy with the Coalition. But when you did spend time together, I would say you were the closest to Leah. While Leah wasn't a rebel, she had a rebel's heart, I think Angelica planned on bringing her in on the secret after her Culling. Isen had demanded she wait that long at least, one child consumed by the cause was enough."

So that part of my memory was intact. I felt a small degree of relief at that knowledge.

"Solomon was forever the condescending big brother. He loved you, but you drove him a bit crazy. All he ever wanted was a nice normal family."

I snorted.

"Yeah, somehow I don't think he got that."

"No, not even close. Not with his mother."

I took another sip of my soda.

"What about Esha?"

"She was always the sweetest of the Coften siblings, she and Solomon got along famously. The difference between the two of them is Esha was never the judgy one, she loved all her family despite their flaws. She's a special little girl."