Supernatural Secret

CHAPTER 20.1

A smile crept over my face. My heartfelt lighter as if a big load was lifted off it. I no longer felt lonesome like I had been feeling earlier. 

After the truth was told to me, the sinking feeling finally left me. Although I knew that somehow this magic shop was important, I did not realize that it would turn out to be one of the most important places for me. I felt a mixture of happiness and sadness, and tears poured out of my eyes. I thought about the family that I didn't have, and how their loss had made me feel hopeless. If I had not come here sooner would I have been able to face the world? 

The old beautiful lady standing in front of me had waited so long to welcome me. And I can call her my grandmother – she was all mine. I looked at the frame again, and I could see where my mother got her beauty from. Her oval-shaped face and wavy brown hair complemented her big eyes and her other features. She looked beautiful and elegant. I envied the way she carried herself so confidently, and I thought about whether I could ever be like her. 

The pink floral dress that she wore fitted her body in all the right places – it was clear why Dad had fallen in love with her. The fact that the mother and daughters stood filled with such happiness, made this picture so much more special.

"Mom looks so pretty." I could not control my words anymore. My emotions had taken over.

"Yes. She was."

My smile slowly disappeared when the story of how my parents died ran through my mind again. I wiped my tears with my bare hands and looked at my grandmother. The smile on her face disappeared too when her eyes met mine. She knew the reason for my behaviour – it was as though she had expected it to come. 

She walked a little further to stand face to face with me. Only the wooden desk was between us. She began to explain herself.

"Before you say anything, let me clarify my side of the story," she said, in a calm but confident voice, and I let her speak without interfering.

"When the tragedy struck, I could not be there for your mother since I had gone out of town to get some special medicine for her. She had been feeling weak and tired after giving birth to you. Jessie was a really good daughter and mother. I was really proud of her. The only regret that I had was not being with her when she needed me the most," she said with guilt covering her face. Her eyes filled up with tears. 

But what she said made sense, since my Dad (or should I say adopted Dad) had told me the story in detail, and had not included my grandmother as she was not there at the time.

"After I found out what had happened, I became so disappointed in my family, and in myself. I could not live with the guilt. So I decided to open this shop and stay here – away from everyone. A year after your mother's death, I found out that her baby, you, were still alive. 

So I waited till you would come to me; even if I had to wait my entire lifetime, I didn't mind at all." It made me happy to hear that there was someone else who knew my situation well and understood that my Mom and Dad were innocent.

"And what about Claire? Where is she?" I had done some serious research to find out who she was. Now my search will finally come to a successful end.

Tears dripped down her face, but she did not even bother to wipe them. Why would she? After all, it might have taken her a long time to finally accept the sad memories that I had brought back. Still, she did not hesitate to answer me.

"Claire is in New Penny right now. She keeps travelling for work. Once every year she makes sure to come to this town to see you. I know what she did was wrong, but she realised her mistake but quite late and could not take back what she had done. She also feels so guilty that she makes sure to check on you and see if you are doing well. You might not know, but your guardian father's business was suffering for a while, so Claire helped out as much as she could. I know that will not make up for the great loss you suffered, but she is trying her best." 

This gives me the answers to my doubts about the note I had found on Dad's desk. He was not getting blackmailed but was trying to protect my secret.

No matter how much I try, I will never be able to accept the image of Claire as a victim. Neither will I be able to accept that my grandmother had kept so many things hidden from me for so long.

"I cannot forgive Claire. And I am upset that you did not tell me your real identity when I had come to your shop the first time." 

It was hard to say this since I now understood the situation well. But things would have been different in my life if they had just given my Mom and Dad a chance. All they had to do was trust them.

"I understand. I wanted you to first know the back story that your guardian father just told you. So I waited patiently till he decided to tell you the truth, and then you came back to me."

"There are still many things I want to ask you..." I said, trying to make her understand that I no longer wanted anything to be hidden from me. She stopped me in the middle of my sentence.

"Grandma... You can call me that if you want to," she said, and looked at me with hope. I know for sure that she had no play in the matter of my parent's death, even though there were still some things I had to know from her. Still, I was more than happy to call someone by their actual name as part of my family.

"...Grandma." I ended my sentence with a smile.

"I hope you wear that necklace." Grandma made me sit on a wooden chair with white cushions and she sat opposite me. The small room behind the wooden desk was where she lived. It was very plain compared to the shop outside. A single bed on one corner with a small window on the wall. The only other furniture in the room was some chairs, a cupboard, a dressing table and a lampshade.

"The crystal one. No." I had doubts about that necklace. Especially after the small current, I experienced, as did Ethan - judging from his reaction when he touched me. I have serious questions about it.

"The crystal will protect you from werewolves. If you don't want to be turned into one, this will help you keep them away." If the crystal is for protection from werewolves, then why does Ethan also have a reaction to it? He is a hunter, not a wolf.

"Does it protect me only from werewolves or other supernatural beings as well?"

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CHAPTER 20.2 COMING SOON