“Well, to answer your first question, you all know that the doors are the way through Earth and Purgatory, but there is another way,” Dad hedges, drawing my attention back to him.
“Yeah, the Sulks,” Knox spits out with venom.
“True.” My father nods. “That was developed out of desperation, but what I am talking about are the few that the Fates created.”
“What?” Levi perks up.
“What do you mean?” Knox asks.
“I don’t know the details of how they are made or anything like that. I never had a need to,” my father explains before turning to me with sad eyes and a tight smile. “Your biologicalmother, Liliwen, gave me a few stones before she died that allowed me to travel between the planes without the doors.”
“So who ended up denying you from Earth?” Levi asks once again.
“The Leaders of Nova. They said I was too valuable and that I was needed here to help track down L— someone’s body. But I knew going to Earth with Nerezza was more important.”
I don’t know if anyone else is picking up on what my dad isn’t saying, but that was a half-truth. His voice sped up slightly to hide his lie of omission; he’s not telling the complete truth.Should I call him out on it?
“Did they ever find that person?” Moni asks, her eyes wide as she strokes her tail.
“They found what they needed.”
Another lie.
“Did you tell the Leaders why you needed to leave? Tell them about Rez?” Knots asks.
As dad answers, I lay my cheek against Lynx, close my eyes, and squeeze him hard.
‘Thank you for being here with me and being you.’
‘Always, but this is costing you belly rubs, and I get to say how low you get to stop!’
‘Deal,’ I agree.
Once again, I see my backpack, and a nagging feeling hits me as JP asks a question that makes me pause.
“What I don’t understand is if you had a stone that could portal you to Earth, why didn’t you go back to be with Jillian and Rez?” JP asks, cocking his head.
It doesn’t take a genius to guess he’s trying to get inside Dad’s head, but if he’s as strong as Dean Caldron, I doubt JP will get very far. As if JP is reading my mind, he gives me an annoyed look and briefly shakes his head.
Called it.
Dad gives JP a knowing look and shakes his head as if to say “Nice try,”while I gently push Lynx aside so I can get up. I rush to my bag and return to my seat, rummaging through it as a thought hits me.
“You apparently have never met a Reaper,” Dad says bitterly. “Consider yourself lucky, son. I didn’t have just one or two that came after me. I had over twenty, since the Council was looking for me and somehow figured out I was on Earth. They ambush, lock down your powers quickly, and strip you of everything you have, including stones your wife gave you.”
“So, they still have them,” I conclude.
“Yes, but they don’t know what they truly have,” he confirms with a nod. “So much for your grandmother, Priestess Tanda’s pull,” he grumbles.
“What’s a Reaper?” Chester asks, leaning forward and placing his intertwined hands under his chin.
I finally feel the edge of what I’m looking for and groan as it slips out of reach.
“You okay over there, bestie? Are you trying to disappear?” Moni asks, pulling everyone’s attention to me.
“Ugh. No. Yes. Maybe,” I huff. “I’m trying to get this, and it’s just out of reach,” I admit.
“Bestie to the rescue,” Moni yells, and zooms straight for me while shrinking down. She reaches my arm and follows it down, her little feet pattering along my pebbled skin. “You’re turning into a landmine with your chickenpimples,” she yells.
