Chapter 29

Mary was silent for a long time, then, her eyes impossibly cryptic as she gazed out toward the forest that lay beyond them. Gradually, Colins screaming gave way to crying, and then to sniffling… and then he was quiet, laying in his mothers lap with his blue eyes peering up at the cloudless sky above them. Annas gaze did not leave Marys face, even when Brian moved in to sit beside her, reaching down to briefly touch Colins little face with infinite tenderness. Edward remained standing with Mary, his hand resting casually but meaningfully on the hilt of his sword.

And then, haltingly at first, Mary began to speak. What she was saying was strange and incongruous… she was describing the forest near the ancestral Gilroy home in depth. A few times, Ivy saw Anna and Brian frown at each other and go to interrupt — but she held up a hand to stop them, hoping like hell theyd see what she could see here. Mary was trying to tell them something… but it was going to take her some time to warm up to the subject.

That was where I went, she said, after at least ten minutes spent describing a particular path that ran through the forest and over a stream. Thats where I took him.

Took who?

We named him Brandon, Mary said softly, her eyes impossibly distant. Long before he was born, I knew. I knew hed be a boy, and I knew his name would be Brandon. My first son.

Brian looked unnerved by that — she saw him exchange a worried glance with Edward and shrug his shoulders. Brian was Marys only son — shed said as much in at least a few of her rants about the creature that had replaced her grandson. But they all stayed quiet, letting Mary speak as Colin slowly slipped into a doze.

He was perfect in every way when he was born. Perfect little face, perfect little hands. I knew hed lead the Clan one day when I looked at him. Her eyes drifted, just briefly, toward Colin… then resolutely returned to the forest. I loved him more than anything I had ever seen. But there was something wrong. He didnt look at me when I called his name, the name Id give him before hed even come into the world. He didnt move the way other babies did, didnt smile or laugh the way my nieces and nephews did. I prayed every night that I was wrong, but I knew. I knew what had happened. I knew theyd stolen him away, my boy. I knew theyd left something else in his place. And what kind of a mother would I be, to be fooled by a little doll, left in my sons crib to replace him?

The wind was toying with her gray hair now, and Ivy could see her eyes shining with unshed tears… but her jaw was tight with a surprising strength as she stared into the forest beyond as though some great secret was just out of sight there.

So I took him back to them. Late one night, I bundled him up and I took him into the woods, to the clearing where the toadstools grew in a perfect circle. That was where I lay him down. And I was weak, even then. Even then, I waited. I shouted to the Fair Folk to come and take their child back; told them I wanted my son and not this impostor… but I kept looking at his face. Her hands were shaking as the tears spilled over her eyelids. I looked at his face, and I knew that he was such a good copy that I could love him anyway… I knew that if he so much as looked at me once, if he smiled or laughed, if he even reached out one of his little hands to me… I knew that I would pick him up and I would carry him home with me. And I would love that little Changeling until my last breath. What an insult to the memory of my son, she whispered, but her voice had lost its strength. How glad I was to find the strength to leave the Changeling child there… after I called his name a final time, and he did not answer.

You left a baby in the woods? Annas voice was strained. What — what happened to him?

I never returned to that path, to that clearing, Mary said, the dreamy quality in her voice beginning to shift and crack. I dont know what became of the Changeling child. I soon felt the life quicken within me again, and I put Brandon out of my mind. I told my husband that hed died suddenly with a fever, and that was the end of it. And when Brian was born… She closed her eyes, a smile twisting her lips upwards even as her body shook with sobs. Oh, how he smiled at me.

I had a brother, Brian said slowly, horror dawning slowly in his eyes. I had a brother, and you left him to die in the woods? Mother, how?—

Brian, Anna said warningly. Her blue eyes were full of tears, too… but when she looked at Mary her expression was full of pity. Oh, Mary. No wonder… She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes moving down to the sleeping baby in her lap, and Ivy saw Brian squeeze her shoulders in wordless comfort.

And then you arrived, Mary said, her eyes suddenly boring straight through Ivy. And then I began to hear what you were telling the Clan. That the signs of Fae trickery I had seen in my son werent Fae tricks at all, but something that could be passed through a family, just the same as red hair or blue eyes. Her voice was shaking in earnest now. And you said — you said Colin was — that he wasnt — that he could live?—

There was a long silence then, broken only by the whisper of the wind through the distant trees and the steady lapping of the water against the shore. Ivy felt a strange urge to embrace Mary, empathy warring with revulsion for the heinous act shed committed. How lonely she must have felt all these years, wrestling with her own guilt and shame over the loss of her firstborn son… and how awful to see the same symptoms recur in her first grandson. No wonder shed seemed so afraid of the prospect that Colin was a healthy, human child. Accepting that would mean accepting…

I killed him, she whispered, her voice finally breaking. I left my baby boy to die. He must have been so afraid.

Ivy had no idea what to say… and from the looks on the faces of Anna, Brian, and Edward, neither did they. But Mary didnt seem to want anything from them. Tears pouring down her face in earnest now, an oddly peaceful look on her face despite her tears, she turned her thoughtful gaze from Brian to Anna… and then, much slower, her eyes finally rested on the sleeping baby lying in Annas lap.

Forgive me, she breathed, almost too softly to be heard. And then, with a great sigh, she swooned… and Edward, quick on his feet, caught her and eased her unconscious body to the ground. He reached out as if to touch her shoulder… but Brian shook his head.

No, cousin. Best to let her sleep, I think.