I nodded and my mom swallowed hard. “Apollyon would occasionally mention some sort of backup plan that he had, but I never knew what that was. He let it slip once that it was in Los Angeles, but I don’t know more than that.” She looked deep into my eyes. “He never mentioned another child. I can’t imagine he has one, but he was always good at keeping secrets.”
My head started to pound. Trying to process the possibility that I had a secret sister stashed in Los Angeles on top of everything that had happened today was just too much.
“I’m going to make us all some fresh cookies,” Gran piped in and stood. I guess she agreed with me that this conversation had gotten too heavy for one day.
My mom lay back on the bed and patted her stomach. “We will be right here, Mom. Chocolate chip please,” she said, and I relaxed.
Leaning forward, I placed my head on my mom’s lap and she played with my hair. Operation Find Out if I Had a Secret Sister was going to have to wait. I wanted to just be with my mom. I grew up my whole life without one and we needed to make up for lost time.
* * *
Drea peeked her head into the dining hall and I waved her over to our table. The full moon was yesterday and a fully man Gage was still with us, so we were celebrating. An official my-boyfriend-is-not-a-full-fledged-hellhound party. Unconventional, but totally happening.
Indigo raised her glass of soda and cheered me with a grin. Theo was acting on Aurelia’s behalf while she healed and had permitted Indigo to live on campus while we figured out if we could chuck her in the portal to Avalon or not. Apparently, we needed permission for that type of thing, and I wasn’t keen on breaking it again, so we were waiting to hear back from Cael if she could ascend.
The bracelet on her wrist that allowed her to walk freely within the Lumen Compound shone under the overhead lights as she brought her drink to her mouth. It was a relief to know she could take refuge here and that she wasn’t under the Shades’ thumb anymore.
Skye had popped in yesterday to tell me Aurum was okay after the fight with Apollyon, and I’d told her about my sister. She nodded as if she knew about it already and said she was on it. Then she’d poofed out of the room before I could ask anything else. Typical Skye behavior.
Gran and my mom were getting settled in their new two-bedroom apartment they were going to share. I had taken my lunch break to eat with them earlier in the day and helped them move some furniture around. It was so amazing to be with both of them and to all be safe that I had a permanent smile on my face for the rest of the afternoon.
Things were definitely looking up.
Drea joined us, and everyone went silent as we waited for her to update us about her mom. We all knew she’d just gotten back from checking on her. She gave us two thumbs-up and we whooped and cheered.
“She’ll be out of the healing center and back home day after tomorrow.” She grinned, but then her smile faltered. “And we’re all getting reamed for going to the Netherworld without taking a team of master Lumens.”
The cheering stopped, but then everyone burst into laughter.
“All’s well that ends well, right?” Gage asked.
“Yep, let’s party.” Dash pulled back the cardboard box top to reveal a steaming hot pizza.
Gage was the first to grab a slice, but instead of taking a bite, he set it before me.
“Awwww,” Drea and Marlow said in unison, and I turned beet red.
Indigo just chuckled and said, “Never thought I’d see the day.”
A sudden motion to my right caused me to swivel, and when I saw that it was Skye, I grinned.
“Skye’s here!” I announced, and the table broke out into cheers again.
But the smile fell from my face as I examined the horrified look she wore. Was she crying? Could ghosts cry?
“I’m so sorry, Tatum.” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “There’s nothing you can do, and I’m so sorry.”
Chills rose up on my arms at her words. “Wh—”
A popping noise, a crash, and a growl all sounded at the same time, and I spun.
No!
A black and red smoking portal to the Netherworld swirled in the middle of the cafeteria. Gage was bent over in front of it, growling as his body hulked and changed. His back snapped in half, and I ran to his side, tears streaming down my face.
“Dash! Help him!” I yelled, casting a frantic glance at the other Lumen, unsure what to do.
Familiar dark laughter filled the room. Apollyon stood in front of the portal with his fist raised. He twisted his wrist and Gage howled as if in pain.
