Red Moon Secrets(5)

"No one ever spoke to me, touched me, or even bothered to check on me.  It's a good thing immortals can't starve to death, because I would have.  I assume I'm only alive because they either couldn't kill me or they need something I hid with a spell.
"Drackus came for me two nights ago.  He went to speak to me about you, and when the imposter spoke to him like a scorned lover—"
"I knew it wasn't her," he quickly interjects while pulling the whistling kettle from the stove.  "No one knows how very much in contact your mother and I have stayed.  Obviously, neither did the imposter."
"Apparently you two forgot to tell me, as well," I insert; not feeling too thrilled about that omission.
I've hated my father because I thought I was supposed to, and my mother has been on good terms with him?  Why keep that a secret?
Mom ignores it as she continues.  "The second I heard the screams and felt the power emanating around the room, I knew Drackus had come.  He found a guy who knew how to undo the spells that had been cast to lock me away, and he tossed him in there to free me.  I'll spare you some of the details, but he got me home."
"So you've been back for two days and you're just now telling me?"
"Honey, I didn't want you to know at all.  Whatever is going on is big.  They're looking for something, or they're trying to accomplish something from inside.  I just don't know who to trust.  I didn't want them catching on that you knew they were posing as me because I was afraid of putting you in danger.  I should have known you'd figure it out.  Frankie said you've been suspicious for a while."
"You told Frankie but not me?" I harp.
"I didn't tell Frankie; he figured it out.  He's the one who helped Drackus locate me.  He'd been sneaking in on the poser and listening in on conversations.  He pieced together my whereabouts through several cryptic conversations.  The second Drackus told him that woman wasn't me, he agreed."
"Wait.  How did Drackus walk in without anyone knowing who he was?"
She laughs, smiling at him with dreamy eyes.  "Your father knows a few spells to mask his identity for a few hours.  He looked as light as anyone, and he was escorted in by Chaz, who he called ahead of time."
"Chaz was there?" I ask, surprised Shay's son would even be there.
"Chaz was investigating the imposter for Shay."
Considering Chaz was the closest thing to a best friend I had while growing up, I'm surprised he didn't tell me he and Shay were also suspicious.  I haven't seen him since our moms had their big fallout, but I would have called him if the situation was reversed.
"So they never touched you?" I ask, feeling relieved to know that.
The imposter came in so beat up she spent weeks in healing.  I suppose that was all for show.
"Never," she says reassuringly.  "They knew your father was looking for me.  That could have prompted them to send in an imposter to douse suspicion so they could move forward with whatever they're planning."
"Does this have anything to do with the black diamond of Roth?" I ask, remembering a theory once spawned by Gage.
She shakes her head in a shrugging manner.  "I don't know.  They never spoke, and they all wore masks.  They more than likely knew I wouldn't give them any answers."
I feel like she's holding back—like there's more to the story than she wants to give me.  My head is already about to explode though.
Picking up my tea, I stand to head out of the kitchen.  "Will you be here when I wake up?"
"Of course," she murmurs softly.
"Your mother will be staying with me until we get this imposter situation sorted out.  There's no place safer for her," Drackus says while placing a protective hand on her shoulder.
It's odd to see them so at ease with each other.
"What about Cruella... er... I mean... Amari?"
He lets a laugh escape, and Mom stifles a laugh of her own.  Drackus just smiles as he answers.
"I only ever got close to Amari so I could get close to Gage.  With your mother staying here, I went ahead and cut ties to Cruella."
Mom's haughty grin intrigues me a bit.  I don't say anything else, though.  Instead, I turn on my heel to head up to the room that once felt so much like a place of refuge.
My phone rings in my hand, and I roll my eyes when I see Kane's name.  It's time I end things with him the way I just did with Gage.  I'm sick of his baggage, just like I'm sick of Gage's deceit.
"Hello."
"Fuck, Alyssa.  I've been calling nonstop.  Where are you?" Kane scolds, making me cringe a little from his harsh tone.