Chapter 44 - Furari Magicae (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 4

Chapter 44 – Furari Magicae (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 4

Listen to Fatima's heart fly, I think as I stand three or four feet from her. My father besides me, my mother's standing near her. As much as I only want to focus on Fatima, I pull my gaze from her and glance between my parents.

Mom came flying in here in actual panic. Though she was speaking with relief now.

"Why-" dad starts again, but just shakes his head at me when mom gives him this 'quiet Ansel' glare. That I'm sure she thinks I did not witness.

"Now that we've found you..." my father starts. "Now that we've found you both," we weren't hiding. I mean surely if we were we wouldn't pick somewhere in this house.

"Faith," it's the way my dad says her name that I know something unpleasant might follow. Or maybe it is the knowledge I had over heard before Fatima found me outside her room? Either way, I know changes were going to be made. I knew since Danny came to the hospital.

I hadn't told Fatima though.

Did she overhear Danny while she was under the pain management injections Uncle Trevor had given her? Did she know that Danny, Cynthia, all my cousins were moving to live in Bend?

Crap. I had wanted to get it all out before she heard it from someone else. But did it really matter from who she heard the news?

"Let's all just sit for a minute," my mother says calmly, perching herself at the end of the long footed sofa theater chair. Her distance from Fatima doesn't escape me, nor does it when Fatima nervously sits but inches closer to me. Glancing down, a smile grows on my face as inside my heart swells just a bit.

The feeling unfortunately doesn't last.

My dad swallows loudly, and I'm forced to look up between them, knowing what was coming.

"Faith, Kalenah and I do not regret asking you to join our family," hopefully if she heard us say this enough, she'd believe it. "And we've kept as much of your past a secret as we possibly can, and while we are not pressuring you to put the pieces that escape you together quicker or on our schedule," he pauses and takes my moms hand.

"We do need to fill in the family about your past now."

My eyes widen, and I immediately turn to look at Fatima, trying to get a read from her body language, and facial expression.

"With Cynthia and Danny showing up, we need to inform the family, of your relationship to her. We are on your side here..." my mom takes over.

"I'm not sure how you feel about everything, but based on your reaction," my mom dips her head using it to point out Fatima's casted hand. "I'd wager that you have a lot of built up emotion inside and we just feel as though maybe it will be easier for the older kids to understand the rules we're going to be setting henceforth."

Catching onto the words I realize mom and dad aren't actually saying they'd be telling everyone in Bend. Just the adults and my older siblings – which at this point-

"Not Brennan," I blurt out as soon as I think it, interrupting the silence. I look at my parents as though they've lost their mind. "Are you kidding me? He cannot keep anything you tell him to himself! The minute you let him know about Fatima, he's going to run and tell Devin!"

Waiting for a response feels as though it takes forever. But I watch the emotions play on my mother and fathers face. First it's sadness, then they both seem to glance at one another before dad addresses me.

"Your brother is no longer allowed to have any contact with Devin," my father says with an air of finality.

Since when? I wonder.

But with that question comes the truth that I've been ignoring him completely so of course I wouldn't know that. Still that's not my fault. He broke my confidence; I'm supposed to be able to trust my own brother.

I could understand if maybe what I told him was a threat or put someone in danger. However it did not. I told him how I felt, something I had not done in so long.

Then he turned around and just laid everything bare for Devin. Did he even consider the fact that she might tell someone? How come he trusted her with that information? I knew that he loved Devin, but was that an excuse?

Would I do the same if in his place?

I mentally shake my head. I wouldn't. I had not. Fatima had given me so much information as of late. Yet before I even opened my mouth I asked her permission to explain to my uncle and grandfather. Without her consent it wouldn't feel right. As though I was sharing a part of her she felt secure in trusting me with.

I cared deeply for her as well. But it didn't trump the respect I had for those around me. I wanted to protect Fatima, but I still listened to my grandmother and grandfather.

How could he? I ask back to step one.

"There is more," my father says clearing his throat. Pushing aside my trouble with Brennan, I listen carefully again, though most of my attention is divided between dad and Fatima.

I could tell she was nervous. She was avoiding looking at my parents, playing with the hem of her shirt, as though it was the most important thing in this room.

In her posture alone, you'd think she was facing a firing squad. Fatima had to know she was not alone.

Her heart racing, pounding and showing no signs of slowing.

The loudest in the room.

Or maybe... it's all I'm focused on?

Without second thought, I reach over for her good hand, lacing my fingers with hers. At once, dad's speech falters, Fatima's heartbeat picks up, but within seconds slows as she turns to me. Exhaling loudly, she meets my gaze, her face blank. They only sign that she appreciates the support I want to give, is the slight squeeze I feel.

"I'm sure Samson has told you that Cynthia was planning on calling the Elders?"

To my amazement, and probably my parents, Fatima snorts.

"That's..." she shakes her head, "They beat me when she left. They wanted her too. Why would she call them? Is she working for them now?" My head snaps to face my parents. Did they think of that?

Again, while I'm waiting for a response from mom and dad I note that even though Fatima snorts, the few chuckles that escape are humorless. Her grip on my hand tightens, showing me her true feelings.

Her distress.

"Why – why would you ask that?" my dad asks, sharing a quick look with mom. Fatima shrugs, "I don't trust her like I didn't trust Sonya."

For a minute, her words are just borderline laughable. Fatima lives with us and I don't think she trusts us. "Plus... she's been a part of your family for a very long time," Fatima says looking away, hurt coating her words. "I saw the pictures," my head once again snaps to meet my parents' surprised gazes.

When? My mind screams at me.

"If she never mentioned me, and didn't come back for me..." again it's the way Fatima says the words that strike me as odd.

As though Cynthia didn't come back for her because Fatima was not worth coming back for. Not because Cynthia had a hatred for her. "Plus I can remember some things," Fatima adds. On top of that first comment, this one doesn't sit well with me either.

"Plus I can remember some things," came out sounding like, "would you like cheese on that?"

"Okay," mom says slowly, her face pinched. "Faith, sweetheart, do we have your permission to just get everyone on the same page?"

"There is so much happening now, and getting everyone informed is time sensitive, but we just – Ansel and I do not want-"

"You can," Fatima whispers. Not what I was expecting. And from the shocked look mom and dad wore for five seconds, I guess they had asked but were not anticipating that either.

Dad nods, standing, mom following his lead. "Right now... uhm we're going to dad's office, but we're going to wake everyone, and have them meet us there. Why don't you and Faith head up there now," mom says softly, her words meant for us both, but her focus is on Fatima.

Nodding, I flex my hand in hers, until she turns her head to face me, looking at me from beneath her lashes. Once more her face unreadable. Yet her hand in mine and eyes?

They were telling.

I wait, awkwardly for mom and dad to leave before giving her my full attention.

"You do not have to worry," I start. "I mean – even if I say not to worry you probably still will, but just remember that we all lov – care for you," I stumble. "You are a part of this family, and it doesn't matter that Cynthia has been here longer than you. That's not how this family works."

She nods, but I get the hint that this was just her 'go-to' response when doubt was the greatest emotion she felt.

I already know that no amount of comforting words was going to take away Fatima's anxiety – but that doesn't stop me from saying them. With the doors open, we leave our loot on the sofa and exit the theater.

And I do so with hope that after this conversation, that Fatima and I could return. Although she'd probably rather be alone, I'm guessing. Still it would be up to her.

The house is large, but not large enough that wishing we get lost or that it takes us longer to get to dad's office actually works. Within a minute or two, we're entering his office just as Brennan and Talia enter. Their clothes mused up, hair wild, and eyes barely alert.

As we enter my grandmother Bess, moves over on the shorter sofa, patting the two spots beside her.

Keeping hold of Fatima's hand, I lead her over, sitting besides grandma, letting my girl get the end seat.

Sitting tensely, I note aunt Angela in the corner of the room on dad's computers. Her eyes scrunched together, frowning as her hands flew over the keys, the tapping the loudest sound in the room.

One by one my uncle and aunts fill the space, Thaddeus, then Harleigh. Until finally everyone is packed into dad's office and before they can speak, Aunt Angela does first.

"Okay – so Bess filled me in some," she says. "I went straight to the phone company instead and looked for calls dialed out from the rooms they would have been staying in and there haven't been any..."

Mom, dad, and my grandparents exhale loudly. Though that doesn't release the tension that is building.

Dad, the patriarch of our family, and the over all Den, stands. He rests against his desk facing everyone. They all have questions and me, I'm pretty sure I know the most of what is going to be said.

"I know it's late but, I wanted this family to all be informed and on the same page," he begins, though his eyes are on Fatima. Her hand in mine starts to tremble and while I know words won't work, it doesn't stop me from trying to find the exact perfect thing to say to her in this moment. But I have nothing; her fears run deeper than just having us all know the truth.

It was almost like with Brennan and I in a sort of way.

How I felt, might not be valid. But saying it, hearing it out loud made it real. Then there were the questions that came with what was being revealed that carried a bit of embarrassment.

Fatima never questioned the life she was living, and for her that is the greatest shame.

"You're with family now dearie," my grandmother Bess whispers, though we all could hear her despite this.

"This is family business, what is said now, is not discussed with anyone," dad says. His words the end all. Though I'd rather just focus on Fatima, I look around the room, searching for the person that I thought would be the first to go against what my father was saying.

It's no surprise that I spare the briefest glance at everyone, but when I get to Brennan, I glare daggers had him. What is a surprise is that I find Talia shooting him a glance and shaking her head as well. As though she can feel my gaze on her, her eyes find mine.

Our stares locked with one another.

And so it starts, dad begins, "To respect Faith's wishes we initially told you all that Faith's parents were missionaries," Oy, I think. He's really starting from the beginning.

"However the truth is, Faith's mother is Cynthia." Oddly with so many adults knowing minor pieces the only people that are surprised but this piece of information are my siblings.

"You punched your-" Thaddeus starts to say but a low hiss from dad and he swallows the rest of his sentence instantaneously. "When Faith was a little girl, she was in Zedwood with Cynthia and Leander. The three were sent here and were captured, or kidnapped by Alpha Monet's pack."

This time my siblings and mom's sisters who do not know much all release audible responses of shock.

The gasps falling.

They know.

Hell.

I know.

There were just some places that over the years we were taught to avoid. Alpha Monet's pack in Colorado was one of them.

"Cynthia as we all know gave us a story about Sophie, her little girl that had been murdered, but when Faith saw me speaking to Cynthia she was able to piece some of her memories together. We ran a DNA test and is it conclusive, Cynthia is biologically, Faith's mother."

"Piece your memory together?" Harleigh asks Fatima directly.

I glance at Harleigh, eyes cutting to Fatima. "I – I – my – my memory is not so good," Fatima whispers.

Dad clears his throat loudly, a clear sign that everyone should look and focus on him instead of Fatima.

"From what we are piecing together, Faith, Cynthia and Andy were in Zedwood. Captured or kidnapped by Alpha Monet's pack. When Faith was younger than age five, Cynthia escaped but she purposely left Faith behind. Sometime after that, Faith isn't sure, a man named Dmitri came to where she was being held and brought her to another home. While he didn't physically harm her, he did leave her alone often with no way to leave the house."

As dad spoke, the grip Fatima had on my hand only tightened. After his last sentence dropped and she had time to process how he worded what I knew, that grip I thought couldn't get any tighter, does. Eyes and head that had been downcast snap up to focus on dad.

"He brought her food, books, and movies to watch but for maybe ten years Faith was never allowed to go outside."

"She was completely alone in the home, and the man that had her often left her for long periods of time, never more than two months. He was meant to return for her, however, after being gone for three months, Walsh Pomme is the one that showed up at the house that Faith was being held. He brought her here to Bend."

The tension in the room is replaced by curiosity instantly. I mean I don't blame my siblings or anyone else. It was curious to hear such a thing but thankfully, dad's tone alone was enough to inform everyone not to ask questions. He was giving us all the information we needed to know. Everything else well... if he did not mention it that was an obvious way of saying we didn't need to know it.

"While I know everyone may have questions," he pauses looking mostly at my siblings, "do not hound Faith for the answers."

His brow lifts, as he looks around the room. "Even if you're burning with curiosity, I've said what I believe is necessary."

Well I guess dad was putting the notice in triplicate.

"I expect when questioned that you all stick with what you were told initially, as well." Another direct instruction.

"Now," dad crosses his arms against his chest, rolling his head from side to side. "Cynthia, lied. She admitted openly to abandoning Faith, but feels as though Faith is to blame for her being banished from Zedwood."

"I thought only pure Faes'..." Harleigh started asking, this I was confused about myself.

But dad just gave her a one-shoulder shrug. "We've heard stories, but from what we're piecing together, we're thinking that only full Fae's live in Zedwood, but they are not the only species that could survive or live there."

A segregated Realm? That didn't sound too promising.

Heeding dad's warning, the questions do not come. Or if they are thought, they are still not voiced.

"Right now, Cynthia is in our dungeon and Danny is with her," dad comes right out with the truth. "What?" my uncle Scotty, Kenneth and Lorena all whisper. As my siblings sit gaping at my dad.

"Now, the reason: Cynthia threatened to call the Elders for Faith. She wanted reward or prize money, and from what I gather, she also drugged Andy. Danny sent dad a warning text, and so I thought maybe he was on our side. The side of the family, but the minute he realized we were going to have to lock up Cynthia, he began sprouting the same crap that Cynthia had. That we could give him money and mom could erase their thoughts..." dad waves his hand in the air making a 'and more dumb shit' motion.

"Danny – Cynthia – they want to call the Elders here to Bend, to report Faith?" my uncle Scotty asks as though he didn't fully comprehend what dad explained. "Do they realize that the Elders wouldn't just give them money without sinking their paws into Danny and Cynthia first?"

See. That is wise reason.

Going to the Elders even if you were in the right, was always wrong. The best move was to stay off their radar at all costs, not invite them into your backyard and offer them the family Koolaid.

"I had to tranquilize Danny, and also thinking of the family, mom bound his children to Bend, and as well as to herself."

I looked around at the adults, everyone nodding and agreeing silent with dad's action. A bit of relief in their eyes. We could all pick up and run, but if we didn't have to, we wouldn't. Even though Uncle Danny was family, for the moment when dad acted to protect us, he did the right thing. It might not have been an easy decision but I doubt a single one in the room would disagree with his forethought.

"Honestly, I do not plan to leave Danny locked up. I know he has children, that they need at least one parent with them, and he knows that they are bound to us so he may act rationally. I'm not going to immediately release him either way. I'll give him a day or two."

"What about Cynthia?" Aunt Courtney asks.

Dad sighs, rubbing his face roughly. "I – if I'm going with my gut. Cynthia will remain locked away on a long-term basis. My only other option is to move us all without informing Danny and the children where we are going."

"Cutting off all contact with them, forever," Scotty murmurs but we all hear him.

"I do not see any other way," Dad says roughly, avoiding looking at grandpa Jonah.

The family has much more to say, but with present company, and what was revealed, I know they're keeping quiet. Dad continues, breaking down everything until an hour has gone by of us listening to his plan moving forward. When dad's cell phone buzzes, he pulls it out but after a glance he ignores the call twice in a row.

"So... are we all clear?" he asks, releasing a long sigh, the darkness outside and tiredness creeping over us all. Our family gives their verbal understanding of what was going to be happening for the next few days. The questions regarding Faith were still looming right beneath the surface. Each time someone glanced our way, I could see it in his or her eyes.

Hopefully, they'd hide it better.

Just as dad is going to dismiss everyone, Talia exhales loudly, "actually... there's one more thing?" we all turn to her, mom and dad with more surprise that any of us.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"It's about the fire, and Taylor," I frown.

Since when were those two things connected? I think just as unexpectedly, Fatima lays her head on my shoulder. I doubt she even realizes she's done it, but I do.

Still with as much concentration as I can afford now, I try to follow Talia's words.

"What – I don't understand?" mom is the one to respond.

"What we say here stays with the family, right?" Talia asks again, her eyes cut to the side, at Brennan. Weird.

That's all I can think.

Well that and Fatima's hair smells lovely. Fruity.

"Yes what is said now, is meant to stay within the family," Dad says.

I almost think Talia has had a change of heart and no longer wants to explain when she finally speaks again. "I'm not sure if those two things are connected, however, Javier called me earlier and told me that he found ten thousand dollars in Taylor's suitcase. When he asked her where she got it from, she said that she stole it from you," she says in a small voice.

It doesn't escape me that my fathers gaze immediately cuts to aunt Angela right after a quick fleeting look of... disappointment? Directed at Brennan.

"Thank you for telling us sweetheart," my mom again is the one to respond as though dad has forgotten how to speak. Or just busy having a silent conversation with Aunt Angela.

.

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© 2016 roxann_season All Rights Reserved

See Brennan... that's how you turn to your family... she gets a call from Javier and INSTANTLY puts everyone on guard... Brennan is ready betray/lose his family for Devin. Right or wrong? Does motives change what is being said or withheld?