I gulped down my fury. What was it about individuals and power? Once they're given a little, they crave more. A lot more. Some is never enough. I exhaled heavily. "It seems that if you live long enough, you become evil. Right?" I stood, and walked over to the fire. Did Abernathy want me killed? Is that why he brought me here? Obviously my mother was afraid, and wouldn't be any help. "I've had enough. I'm tired."
"Okay," she whispered. "I'll take you to your room."
"Oh, I'm not staying. I'm getting my friends, and we're leaving." I went to the door. But my mother grabbed my arm.
"He won't let you. Now you're here, my father will stop at nothing to make you do what he wants."
I twisted out of her grasp. "Devoran has no say in the matter. I'll leave when I want. I'm not a pawn. I won't be doing his bidding any more than I intend to do Sharra's." The door released, and I strode in. "I'm disappointed in you, mother. You're as big a coward as dad."
I wondered what that made me. If I was the product of my parents, and my upbringing, then did that mean I was a coward too? My thoughts turned to my stepmother. The way she'd always been such a bitch. In her way it seemed she might've helped me more than I realized.
"I don't think you understand," my mother started, and I noticed her bottom lip quivering. "This city won't allow you to leave unless Devoran commands it."
Chapter 5
A burning ferocity coursed through my veins, and I felt the power of the Seal. The palms of my hands radiated red. Was this truly what Devoran intended when he gave his eternal sight to Silindra? He said he thought everything through. Did that mean he knew one day I'd come? It seemed highly unlikely. Maybe he didn't realize the power would become part of me. I didn't think anyone realized that. Except maybe Abernathy. The dragon had a lot of explaining to do. He brought me here for a reason. He knew what I was capable of.
I still trusted the golden dragon though. Whether that was a good idea or not remained to be seen. If he brought me, surely he could help me escape.
I glared at my mother. "I don't think you understand. And neither does Devoran. Maybe he hasn't heard what happened to Oberon, the chayot leader, when he tried to take the Seal from me?" The power of the Seal pulsed through my veins. I was sure they hadn't heard what I'd done to Sharra, burning her when she tried to kill Christopher. "No one will tell me what to do. I make my own choices."
"Your eyes," my mother began, her breath caught in her throat. "They're red."
I blinked. "I'm angry, mother. And sad. And more let down than you can possibly imagine."
She started to cry. It didn't look right coming from the woman in front of me. Everything about her said she was hard, unfeeling, but the tears leaving her eyes were big.
"I didn't want any of this to happen. I believed my father when he said he would make sure you were never bitten. That you would be kept safe, away from all of this. I should have listened to the Unknowns." She covered her mouth with a hand, trying to push down the sobs racking her body.
"It looks like you believed in the wrong person," I said, my voice stiff.
She sucked in a large gulp of air, and blew it out slowly. "You're right." She went back to the couch, and I followed. "I don't know if this will make sense to you," she paused and smiled, "but I thought Devoran felt bad about the way he treated me when I was younger. At least, that's what I wanted to believe. See, he was embarrassed that I look this way." She pointed at her very human form. "He and my mom weren't the most loving of parents."
I sighed, and sat next to her. How many years had she been harboring the pain so fresh in her eyes? I realized I didn't know her age. When I was five I hadn't cared. My father once said she died when she was thirty-five. But she didn't look much older than me.
"Abernathy told me what happened. The way your... they treated you," I said softly.
My mother blinked back tears. "I'm sure it was nothing compared to what you've had to go through."
I doubted that was true. Even though she hadn't been around, I had others-Professor Pops, the brothers, Cindy, and my dad.
She went on. "Growing up must've been so hard on you. But there's no denying you're incredible. I don't think I could've helped you become any more amazing than you already are."
"Really?" My insides fluttered with pain, at hearing her say the words I'd always needed to hear.
"Oh, yes. You appear human, but I sense your energy, your magic. You radiate power-everything beautiful and glorious as well as evil and terrifying. But there's still so much humanity in you. Truly spectacular." A worried expression pressed her brows together.
What did she mean? And I wondered if her words were true, or just her way of trying to make me feel better. "Thank you," I said softly.
My mother leaned away, as though she were really taking me in. I immediately missed her nearness.
"I'm really..." I began, but stopped. I wasn't sure how to express all the feelings bottled up inside.
She sniffed. "May I hug you?"
The question seemed out of place, with all of her gear on, but I nodded.
She moved closer so our knees were touching. Then she wrapped her arms around me. Her cheek pressed against mine. We stayed like that for several seconds. And I finally hugged her back, tentative at first, but then I pulled her closer. Tears clouded my vision, and my heart swelled with sympathy, care, and... love?