There were spells to determine if someone was telling the truth or not, but unless you had a court order, it wasn’t enforceable.Those three probably allowed the truth spell, but Dad couldn’t, for obvious reasons. No matter what happened, he would lookguilty now.
Jenna picked up the pace, leaving the rest of us to rush after her. We made it through the college and out to the front gatein record time. Students glanced our way, but most were as bleary eyed as I’d been not an hour earlier. Outside, a scent ofash and smoke lingered in the air, mild, but distinct enough that I knew the fire had happened. As that scent settled inside,dread settled in my gut.
I had a bad feeling about this. The sort of bad that could irrevocably change our lives. “Is there anything we can do?” Iasked, since my siblings were still walking in this unnatural silence. “Go to the headmaster ourselves and tell him that therewas no way for Dad to know. As the wine was spelled to look like regular drinks.”
The warlocks with the trays of drinks had it all worked out as well. They carried two trays with them, and any time achaperone went for a drink, they switched out to the regular alcohol.
“We need to talk to Dad first,” Jenna said, her bite of impatience growing into a chomp. “Talking to anyone now could makeit worse for him.”
The gates opened for us, and when we reached the hut for outgoing travel, the panel was already geared to Jenna’s magic. Allshe had to do was press her hand to it and the swirl of energy appeared. Stepping through, we found ourselves on the backporch, where we usually transported. The back yard was private, the forest blanketing all sides.
The door was open, as always, and when we marched inside to find Mom and Dad in the kitchen, coffee in hand, they didn’t looksurprised to see us.
“Dad,” Alice cried, hurrying around to him. “I’m so sorry.”
She threw herself at him, as if she were a young child still, and he stood in time to capture her in one of his famous bearhugs. Morris’s came close, but nothing compared to a Dad hug.
“It’s okay,” he said to her, voice soothing. He lifted his head and took us all in. “It’s going to be completely okay. Thisis standard procedure after a complaint was issued, but I’m sure it’ll all be sorted soon.”
He sounded so calm. He looked calm too, with none of the panic I expected to see or hear in his words. Mom got to her feetwith a gentle smile. “Coffees all around?”
“Oh my goddess, yes,” Jensen crowed, falling into one of the dining room chairs. “I’m exhausted.”
Mom shook her head, but bustled around the kitchen filling cups for us, knowing each of our preferences for milk, cream, halfand half, and sugar. She knew I loved mine milky and sweet, and piping hot. She knew us better than anyone in the world, andthese little moments made me appreciate my family so much.
Showing our love through kind gestures was part of the Hallistar way, and with my hangover fading away with each sip of my perfect coffee, I gave thanks to the goddess for her blessings.
“Do you have a backup plan if they decide to fire Dad?” Trevor asked, nursing his cup but not drinking yet. He was the mostpessimistic of us all, and despite the relaxed atmosphere we’d walked into here, he wasn’t buying it.
“They won’t fire him,” Mom said reassuringly. “He’s worked for the college for over fifteen years, and he’s one of their mostvaluable dual elementals. The headmaster will no doubt call him in for a meeting on Monday, and we’ll have more information.”
“Who told him about the wine?” I asked Dad. “Or more importantly, who told him that you knew about it and let it slide?”
Mom shook her head but didn’t look disappointed that I was ignoring her advice to let it go for now. She’d expected me todig further, and if anything, hints of amusement played around the corners of her lips.
“I have no idea,” Dad said. “I should have put a stop to it though. We’re lucky no one was killed in the fire.”
“Because of your father,” Mom added, bite coming into her tone as she defended her soulmate. “He wasn’t even on duty at thatpoint, but he hadn’t left for home yet. He felt the elemental surge and raced back to bring it under control.”
Dad shook his head. “It was magically enhanced, so all I could do was hold off the flames long enough for everyone to getout with minimal injuries. But I couldn’t save the building.”
“You saved the library though.” Dad was a book lover, and he’d freak out at the thought of all that information being lostto fire.
“Most of it,” he said with a smile. “But that building has many protective spells on it anyway.”
“Why didn’t the chapel have the same protections?” Trevor demanded.
Dad smiled at his son’s ire, recognizing the flames. “Because it’s a much newer building. The older ones still have the protectionof the elders. They just never get around to blessing the new ones the same way.”
“This fucking sucks,” Trevor groaned.
“Language,” Mom admonished. “Now, are you all staying the night?”
“Absolutely.” Alice crossed her arms, elfin features uncharacteristically stubborn. The rest of us didn’t bother to answer,because she spoke for all on this matter.
After that was decided, further chat about the fire and Dad’s suspension was off the table, and we had a somewhat normal familyday. Normal, but with sharp edges hanging over our heads, waiting to slice through our moments of happiness. Mom and Dad neverlet their worries show, but I sensed deep down they were putting on a show.
We weren’t little kids any longer, but they protected us as if we were. I guess we would always betheirkids.
