10. A BAD SHITTY DAUGHTER!

Vaelora POV

I shook my head. “That’s what all this is all about? We’re going on a vacation?” I sank back against the cushion. “I don’t get the reason for the big announcement.”

“You need to understand that… I meant we are all going on a vacation. Together. You, me, and Ric. Just like old times.”

“What?” I propped my back up from the cushion so fast that Mum winced, looking worried. I glanced at Alaric, but he had his arms crossed over his chest and was staring at the wall, gnashing his teeth. I wondered what was upsetting him and at the same time, I was so mad at them springing this up on me that I didn’t care about his mood swings. I get it that they love the farmhouse and I do too, but that doesn’t give them the right to just wake up one morning and blow this on my face.

Breathing in and out, I said calmly, “For how long?”

“The rest of summer,” Mum said.

“The rest of summer?” My eyes flared.

“Yes, Vaelora.” Mum gestured to the cartons. “The empty boxes here are for you just in case your suitcase couldn’t contain much.”

“I can’t do that, Mum.” I shook my head.

“Can’t do what? Do you need larger boxes?”

“You’re not listening to me!” My voice rose higher now. “I have plans. Andrew and I had already planned our summer. I equally have a bunch of drawings I was supposed to submit in order to apply for the art contest, and I haven’t drawn any. I have lessons to—”

“I’m sorry about the lessons you’re to take. But the other things have to be cancelled. Andrew will surely understand. Not that the art contest matters after all. Darling,” she pinched my cheeks. “You’re a good artist. You don’t need those petty contests to tell you that you’re the best at what you do, okay?”

Hearing the implacability in Mum’s tone, I realized that this might be serious. Yet, however serious this may be, it doesn’t change the fact that she shouldn’t just spring this up on me. I’m not a child. I have a life.

“But I paid to partake in that contest, Mum. I saved up all year! I went through so much doing that, and I can’t just throw that up to the wind. You equally promised that you wouldn’t interfere.” I whirled, turning to Uncle Alaric. “Please remind her. Remind her!”

He didn’t look away from the wall, though a muscle visibly jumped in his cheek. “She’s your mother. She knows best.”

“Why are y’all acting so weird? I don’t get it at all.” I turned back to my mother. “We often go on vacations, especially to the farmhouse, but you never spring it up on me like this. At least I get to know and make my choice, so why?”

“We have to get away, Vaelora,” Mum said, and I didn’t fail to notice the corners of her lips were trembling. “Besides, you always love going on vacations. What changed?”

Yeah, what changed? It can’t be because of Andrew, lessons, or that terrible art contest. My mind’s eye recalled a certain glowing knife held by the one who wielded it. He ran his hand through his hair and his eyes looked straight at me, staring directly into my soul. But I failed to agree that he might be the reason I wanted to stay back in this boring street in the downstate of New York.

Mum grabbed my hand. “I want the peace. I need it, the quiet. I need to paint while staring at nature.”

“Then why do I have to come with you?” I asked angrily. “Look, go if you want to go. I really don’t give a damn.”

“Language, Vaelora,” Uncle Alaric said, finally looking away from the wall.

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t care where you want to go. I can stay here without you both, without your incessant breathing on my neck, watching me. What you need to know is that I’m not a child anymore, Mum. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“No!” The sharpness in Mum’s voice made me jump a little. “You want your art contest money back, right? Fine. I will pay you back double the prize but, darling, you’re coming with us. It isn’t optional. You can’t stay here on your own. Something bad could happen.” She glanced out the window warily. She always does this and sometimes it makes me think she’s on the run from someone. If I ask her what’s wrong, she never tells me.

“Something like what? What creepy shit could happen?” I demanded.

“Don’t use such language when speaking to your mother.” Uncle Alaric walked close, his eyes warning.

I’m not going to apologize this time. She deserves it. I’m getting fed up with her being creepy and she doesn’t try to tell me her reasons for acting that way.

I can’t tell you because I’m protecting you. Her words. Bullshit! How will I be protected if I don’t know the reason for being protected? If one day she’s not here with me and I get to meet the dangers she claims to protect me from, how would I be able to defend myself against them?

There was a crash. I turned to find that Uncle Alaric had knocked over one of the boxes that was stacked on top of the other.

Something clanged against the tile. It was shaped like a knife. It reminded me of Zane’s small knife but instead of glowing the exact color of Zane’s, it glowed red.

Looking distinctly upset, Uncle Alaric set the boxes back up, picking the knife up and putting it back in. When he straightened, his mouth was set in a grim line. “I will be on my way.”

Mum bit her lip. “Hold on, Ric.” She hurried after him to the doorway, catching up just as he made to seize the doorknob.

I tried to relax back on the cushion but I was too angry to be that calm. Instead, I folded my arms and stared directly at my mother’s head as if doing so would enable me to see and know what goes on inside it and why she hides so much.

I sighed, moving my eyes from her skull to her lips. I could hear her urgent whisper.

“…Solmire,” Mum was saying. “I’ve tried to get ahold of him on the phone for the past three weeks. It keeps taking me to voicemail which keeps saying he’s in Los Angeles. What am I supposed to do?”

“Lyrielle,” Uncle Alaric held her left shoulder, shaking his head. “You are very much aware that you can’t keep it all away from her forever.”

“She’s still so young and…”

“She isn’t Zire,” he hissed. “You’ve never been the same since the unfortunate incident happened to him, but Vaelora is clearly not Zire.”

What does my father have to do with this? Zire Vane was my father’s name.

“I can’t… I can’t just leave her at home and lock up the house. She wouldn’t stay put, neither would she put up with me doing that.”

“Of course she wouldn’t.” Uncle Alaric’s voice was louder now. He sounded angry. “She’s not a pet. Much less—your pet. She’s an adult now and has every right to make her own decisions.”

“If we leave the city…”

“Are you listening to me at all?” The green color of his eyes looked darker now. He inhaled, trying to be calm. “Talk to her, Lyrielle. And I don’t mean you should lie. Talk to her about everything. It’s safer.”

“I can’t. Especially as the rumors about Sylvaris…”

The door flew open. Mum gave a little scream.

“Good Lord! It’s just me,” said Andrew. “Why’s everyone looking like they were talking about a ghost? Should I be worried?”

If my boyfriend knew no one was actually in the mood for his jokes, he wouldn’t make one right now.

Mum took her hand away from her mouth. She went close to Andrew. “Were you eavesdropping? Did you hear anything?”

Andrew blinked. “I didn’t hear anything.” He chuckled. “I actually just got here.” He waved at me from the doorway. “Vee, are you ready?” He looked from Mum’s freaked face to Uncle Alaric’s grim one. “Or should I go? Is something wrong?”

“Yes—” Mum started to say but Uncle Alaric cut in. “Don’t bother,” he uttered. “I think we’re done here.” He pushed past Andrew, going down the stairs at a rapid pace. Downstairs, the front door slammed shut heavily. Mum closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Alaric must really not be in support of her keeping her “secrets” away from me.

Andrew hovered in the doorway, looking uncertain. “I can come back later. Really. It’s no problem at all.”

“That might be a good—” Mum began but I wasn’t having it.

I stood up on my feet. “We’re leaving, babe. Let’s go,” I said, grabbing my jacket and my handbag from the hook near the door. I slung it over my shoulder, glaring at my mother. Through gnashed teeth, I said, “…See you later, Mum.”

Mum bit her lip hard. “Darling, don’t you think we need to talk about this?”

“When you’re ready to talk, Mum, we will have plenty of time while we’re on ‘vacation,’” I said gingerly, and I had the satisfaction of seeing Mum flinch at my tone.

“Wait.” Mum grabbed my hand, and I turned to shake it off. “Take this with you.”

In her hand was the knife. The red-looking one glowing beautifully in her palm. On a normal day, my curiosity would’ve pushed me to ask her why she gave it to me and why it was glowing and why it had a striking resemblance to Zane’s own, but for now, I shoved the shitty curiosity down my ass

Angrily, I grabbed the knife from her hand and threw it into my handbag.

“Don’t stay up tonight. I will spend my night at Andrew’s. I AM A FUCKING ADULT!”

Mum’s eyes looked glassy, like she was trying to hold back her tears, but I didn’t want to care about her happiness right now, since it had been her sole purpose robbing me of mine. I grabbed Andrew’s arm and half-dragged him out the front door.

If I had known that the last image I would have of my mother would be her eyes tearing up, I would’ve retraced my steps and never ever talked to her this way. If I’d known that this would be the last time I’d see her…

I should be labeled as A BAD SHITTY DAUGHTER!