Chapter - Twenty-One

Volker spelled the room to ensure I couldn't call upon a dark and ancient evil. I watched his hands flutter with magic. Felix, true to his word, made tea for all of us. I couldn't stop pacing and Volker leant against the wall near the living room, a fresh pot of tea on the coffee table, saucer in hand.

‘You read his journal?' Felix asked.

I nodded, barely looking at him. ‘Yes. I found it in the hidden Hall of Accords.'

‘You found it?' Felix raised his eyebrows and whistled. At my nod, he looked at Volker. ‘Wait. You put your journal in the Hall of Accords?'

Volker was more or less calm now that he'd finished a pot of tea and a plate of biscuits. Crumbs stuck to his royal-blue blouse. ‘No. Warlock journals are fickle little things, tend to go walkabout quite a bit. Someone must have stolen it.'

‘Besides that matter, Volker knows my parents,' I snapped.

Felix raised his brows at Volker. ‘You know her parents?'

‘He remembers them well, so well, he hid me from them,' I muttered, still feeling shaky from the high of black magic. My hands were trembling as I stuffed them into my lap. ‘Volker has been concealing me from my parents since they had me glamoured.'

Volker was less than happy. ‘And yet they still found ways to observe you. Your mother found ways to fight my blinding spell, and despite there being no evidence of your father visiting you, I'm sure he must have.'

‘Tell me about them … please,' I begged Volker.

He sucked in his cheeks. ‘You will regret hearing what I know about them. Understanding who you are and why you are the way you are will be very confronting.' The sadness in his eyes begged me not to ask any further questions. ‘They are just names, Tabitha. Remember they do not make you who you are. You are your own self. That is what counts.'

‘Why would you say that?' Felix asked, glancing between us. ‘How does a name make her someone else?'

‘I'm only making sure Tabitha knows she is not her blood. She is very much more.' Volker scowled at Felix. ‘Can you ever let me be kind?'

‘Please,' I said and Volker flinched at my plea. ‘I beg of you. Tell me of my parents.'

Volker swallowed the remainder of his tea and stared out the window, his hazel-green eyes sinking into their sockets. I wondered how much this lie had affected him. How long had he waited to spill the truth. So although the suspense was hard to bear, I let him take his time.

Finally, he took a heavy breath and turned back to me. He told me what I had been wanting to know for so long.

‘Your mother is Cyra. She is a Fae Guardian of the forest - a very old, very rare bloodline. When she came to me, holding you, you were bundled in blankets of peach pink.'

He shook his head, as though it helped him to remember the scene.

‘She arrived with your father. His name is Finnian Taro. All I know is his name and that he's a seven-hundred-year-old youngblood. That's all I discovered when I saw him once in a bar and asked around. I never heard him speak but I have researched what I could about your father since that one encounter.

Finnian is a myth to most of us – one of the first youngbloods. He is recorded in journals by warlocks vastly older than me. They talk of his molten-golden eyes and his ability to wield a blue flame. There are stories about how he built many great cities from the ground up. But all of that was thought to be a myth. I didn't recognise him when he came to me with your mother.'

I breathed in slowly. ‘Why is he a myth?'

‘He's untraceable. I've never seen him since, though I have felt his presence near you in childhood. You once spoke of a man with lava eyes who you saw in a park with your mother, Angie. When you told Angie of it, she was frightened. And although I tried to remove her fears through one of my spells, Cyra had thought to ward Angie with protection spells so that she couldn't have her memory altered by anyone other than Cyra or Finnian.'

My mouth trembled. ‘Why would you not tell me all this?'

‘I see myself like your stand-in father figure, Tabitha.' His words were spoken sincerely. ‘And I don't think Finnian will ever be found. At least not on purpose. Believe me, I have tried to find him over the course of your lifetime, ask him why he let you be mortal when he could give you so much, but to no avail. The man is simply far too old and far too cunning to be found. Every time I've gotten close to him, he has slipped away.'

We sat in silence for a little while, my mind racing, until Felix bit the bullet. ‘And her mother, Cyra?'

‘She is another element herself. Think of these two parents as the power couple of the supernatural. Cyra has been around for longer than Finnian. She's very, very ancient in status. Fae guardians barely ever perish and they don't really age. They can live centuries longer than any Fae, outsmart any warlock.'

‘What is a Fae Guardian?'

‘Essentially, they are the gatekeeper to the forests where our souls go after death. She is the guardian and protector of the souls who died in anguish. Her guidance leads them to peace. It's a little complicated, I know.' He softened his gaze. ‘Think of it like this: If someone dies and cannot find peace, Cyra takes care of them until they are ready to move on and become part of her forest.'

‘So what does that mean for me?'

Volker shifted his weight to his other foot as he thought about how to answer. ‘I suppose it means you are a youngblood, but one we've never seen before. Calling you a halfling only does some of the job. Think of yourself like the undead but one with unhindered magical abilities.' Volker licked his lips. ‘But don't be fooled by all their brilliance. Your parents come with a darkness. Finnian forgets what the world can give. He is cursed with the inability to understand mortal emotions and he has forgotten his humanity. Cyra forgets she is grounded to this Earth and lives in her own soul. She has never felt what it is to be loved.'

I swallowed and sank further into the cushions. ‘I have to find them! Ask them why.'

‘Why what?' Felix asked.

‘Why they gave me up. Why they never came back. Why they didn't want me. Where are they, Volker?'

‘I'm telling you, I don't know much.' He sighed at my piercing glare. ‘Stop looking at me like that.'

‘The journal mentioned she'd called you.'

‘Yes, once.'

I continued to glare at him, wanting more than what he had told me.

‘Tabitha, it has been a long time since Cyra reached out to me. Cyra called me through a portal message using old magic that I am not skilled with.'

‘What did she ask of you?'

‘She just wanted to know if you were happy.'

The room felt smaller, heavier. Nobody moved. I mulled over the information that threatened to make my brain explode. My birth mother was out there and had been searching for me.

‘How do I find her? I have to know why she gave me up.'

‘Tabs …' Volker said, sighing.

‘Don't!' I held out my palm to him. ‘Tell me how I find her.'

He hesitated. ‘It's not easy finding a Fae Guardian. They're rather good at hiding their location through false tracking spells. Cyra's been around a long time; she is sure to have protection spells in place that block us from locating her whereabouts. There are ways around protection spells, but they require strong magic. I'd need help.'

‘Who else could help?' Felix asked.

‘Someone neither of you will like.'

‘Don't say it.'

I looked between them. ‘Who?'

Volker cringed. ‘Angel.'

Felix scolded him immediately. ‘That woman is a Rogue. She takes memories as payment! And I can't even remember what memory I gave her!'

Volker looked offended. ‘She is the only warlock who isn't part of the council and who is strong enough to break a location spell long enough to track Cyra. She may be a Rogue, but she's our best shot.'

Felix scowled. ‘We are not going to that witch again!'

‘Oh yes we are. I'm finding my mother, no matter the cost.'

I didn't realise at the time what those words truly meant.

???

We travelled by portal with Volker to the club, Addiction, in the hope of finding Angel. Volker sauntered in like he owned the place; the bouncers immediately drawing back the red velvet rope at his arrival. Felix and I followed him inside. Remembering my last encounter with Angel, I shivered. I was not looking forward to meeting her again.

Volker pushed his way through the streams of people until we reached the doors to Angel's room. He didn't hesitate to push them open. Angel's chambers had changed dramatically since last time. Today, the colour of the curtains was all shimmering grey and the carpet was a deep ocean-blue. Her throne gleamed atop its mount but there was no sign of the warlock. Instead, a snowy-white cat sat in Angel's place. When it saw Volker, it meowed; the sound more like a growl that raised the hair along the nape of my neck.

Volker sighed in defeat. ‘Angel, this is atrocious. Really, a cat?'

Felix and I exchanged looks. I said, ‘Ah Volker, that is a cat.'

‘No, it's Angel. She's playing a game with us.' He looked back at the cat which was now licking itself. ‘You disgust me.'

The cat meowed back at him and Felix covered a laugh by coughing while I tried not to snicker at Volker speaking with a cat.

‘You think you can say that to me, you coward?' Volker continued.

The cat meowed loudly again, almost like it were in pain.

‘I don't care about what happened in Berlin. I just wish to speak with you about finding a Fae Guardian.'

‘Berlin?' Felix said.

‘I wouldn't ask,' I told him.

The cat hissed at Volker, its tail spiky and fur raised.

Volker huffed. ‘I've had enough of this. Change back now.'

The cat stared him down.

‘I mean it!'

It licked its fluffy paw, unfazed.

‘Fine. You give me no choice.' He cracked his fingers. ‘I'll do it myself. And you know I'm not good with feline transformations. I've always been more of a rabbit person.'

I giggled as I watched Volker bickering with a cat. ‘Pretty sure it's still just a cat, Volker.'

‘The halfling is much smarter than you, dear Volker,' purred a voice behind me .

We all whipped around to find Angel smirking. She stood in her full form, dressed in robes of periwinkle blue, her face framed by her silver hair as she sauntered past our group and swatted the cat way from its perch. It meowed again and disappeared into a hole in the wall. Angel sat atop her makeshift throne and crossed her legs. She eyed Volker like he was a meal and she was starving.

‘Not funny,' Volker told Angel, his face stony.

‘Very funny,' Angel mocked him. ‘And I'll have you know, Berlin was your fault.'

‘You and I remember Berlin very differently,' he answered.

‘I've missed you,' she purred. ‘You're a funny little council pet.'

‘How dare you. You are such a—'

‘Play nice,' she warned, waving a pinkie finger around. Gold magic wafted from her fingertip. ‘I'm not feeling very welcoming. I just lost a bet with a lycanthrope and don't feel like more games, Volker.'

Felix snorted. ‘How unusual, an unwelcoming rogue.'

Angel faced him with a stare as cold as ice. ‘Evening, deathskin.'

Felix's ears went red with anger. ‘You'd better watch it.'

She laughed at him, brandishing her magic. It spat from her fingertips in delicious curls of gold. ‘Or what?'

Volker threw out a hand and wielded his signature purple magic, the edges of his hands fizzing with sparks and runes. Angel scoffed but withdrew her own magic and Volker shut his down too.

Angel looked back at Volker. ‘You really care for the child of death and its pet youngblood?'

Volker remained silent as he stared Angel down.

‘Your business here is intriguing. Why do you need to contact the Fae Guardian? What business do you have with such a higher being? You of all people have no purpose speaking with a goddess.'

Volker turned to me slowly. ‘Why don't you explain, Tabitha?'

I stepped forward, looking Angel in the eye. She straightened her spine, wearing a cunning smile.

‘I'm trying to find my mother. She is the Fae Guardian of the forest. All I want is to speak with her and Volker mentioned you were the most powerful warlock; the only one who could help us contact her.'

Angel evidently liked the praise for her voice returned to its purring tone. ‘I could be of service … but I would need to be appropriately compensated.'

Volker shook his head. ‘No, you do not bargain with either of them. You are not taking their memories, Angel. I won't allow it.'

Her smile grew cruel. ‘So one of yours is on the table then, yes?'

‘No. I will give you more than a memory. I will tell you who we are contacting.'

Angel was doubtful. ‘It isn't De Léon, is it? He really grinds me the wrong way.'

‘Worse.' Volker stood his ground.

She laughed, but quickly turned serious. ‘The only one worse that De Léon is …' she trailed off and looked at me. ‘No.'

‘Oh yes, dear Angel.' Volker circled her throne like a predator, his hair a vision of flickering purple. ‘We're calling Cyra.'

Angel gasped. Her eyes widened and her hands shook. Magic made the room spin. I held on tight to Felix as Angel let out a banshee-like scream. I covered my ears until the sound was swallowed by the immenseness of the chamber.

Angel pointed a finger at me, her eyes full of betrayal. ‘You are Cyra's daughter?' she said with a hiss.

‘Yes, I am.' My tone was curt.

‘You?'

‘Yes, her,' Volker said.

Angel was fuming. ‘Why did you not tell me that first?'

‘I thought you were a cat. It is hard to reason with a cat.'

Angel cried out, ‘That woman is a nightmare. A plague on society.'

‘You will do this for me as a favour … for Berlin. Tabitha must find her mother and you will help us.' Volker stalked around Angel's throne.

She sneered at him. ‘Nothing good will come of this.'

‘I have to meet my mother,' I pleaded with her. ‘I'll give you a memory, if that's what you want. Please! Help me find her.'

Angel paused and her eyes flashed as she looked at me. But then, she turned and sneered at Volker. ‘So the girl wants to meet her mother, does she? Then so she shall. Gather the chalk. We're calling Cyra.'