Wood Sprites(138)
“You must always be vigilant with our secrets. It is the only way for us to stay safe.”
“Why can’t one of them be with me? They all grew up.”
Celine went to the door and glanced down the hall before whispering. “Your half sisters are all wholly human and they will die before you are even adult. In a very short period of time, you will be the caregiver, not them. You will grow up. You must be patient.”
“I’m tired of waiting.” He kicked at the table leg again.
Half-sisters? He’d named at least six or seven girls. Louise only recognized Lain and Esme. Who were the others? How were they related? Lain and Esme were his half-sisters because they shared the same mother. Ming was Tristan’s father, and he was an elf. If the girls were true humans, it meant that the other girls couldn’t be Ming’s children, so the parent that they all shared had to be Anna. But at the gala, Anna said that she had two daughters. Did this mean that somehow she wasn’t aware that the others existed? And who was their human father? Why had Celine called them “inbreeds?”
He kicked the leg again. “Where is Bethany? No one talks about her anymore.”
“I told you, do not mention them in this house.”
A clock chimed somewhere in the house. Someone was walking through the house in long, solid strides.
“When does mother come down for breakfast?” He sounded slightly afraid.
“She has been sleeping heavily lately.”
“He’s been giving her saijin to make her dream more?”
“Her visions are vital to our success.”
Tristan growled slightly.
Celine scolded him for his anger. “For thousands of years we’ve had to hide ourselves among these savages, huddling over fissures in the earth. We who were gods of paradise were forced to this. But it soon ends.”
The footsteps grew louder. Louise huddled under the table, growing more afraid. It was Ming. She was sure of this. Celine turned toward the door and Tristan stood up.
“Sire,” Celine murmured, her voice full of reverence.
“Father,” Tristan said.
“You were not to come here today.” Ming’s voice was deep and menacing.
“I want to see her. I haven’t seen her for over a year.”
Ming continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You’re to go to Cranberry.”
“Cranberry?” Tristan cried as if it were a death sentence. “Why?”
“There are some more crows for you to find. I want them found before the next Shutdown. Once you’ve done that, you’re to go to Elfhome.”
“For how long?”
“You will not be coming back.”
“Ever?”
“We have what we need to pull the bastard’s teeth. More importantly, the Eyes have seen that Feng’s people have a dragon.”
“Malice?”
“No, not one of the ones Feng cobbled together out of pieces of the Stone Clan’s holy dogs, a true dragon. With it, they can preempt our strike. I need you with Lucien on Elfhome.”
Tristan panted harshly as if he had taken a deadly wound. Louise ached for him; to love his mother enough to desperately want just a few minutes with her and to be told he would never see her again.
“Shutdown is not for another week or so.” He scrambled for a delay. “There is no reason for me to rush away. Can I at least have a few hours? Just this morning?”
“She is too distracted after seeing you.”
“Please.” It was a horrible heartfelt plea.
“No. Here is a list of our people in Cranberry. Here is money. Go now.”
He went, slow and dejected.
Ming took the orchid from the table and handed it to Celine. “Throw this away.”
* * *
Nikola was sitting on Jillian in the middle of the floor when Louise returned to the bedroom.
“Where have you been?” Jillian cried. “What did you tell Nikola to do?”
“She said I shouldn’t let you go!” Nikola stated.
“Food!” Joy scampered across the carpeting to climb up Louise’s leg. “So hungry! Smells wonderful!” She danced across Lousie’s shoulders, patting her on her head. “Gimme!”
“I almost got caught by Ming.” Louise tugged at Nikola’s scruff to get him off Jillian. “He’s horrible. I hate him!”
“That doesn’t sound like almost,” Jillian said. “And did you have to tell Nikola to sit on me? He’s heavy!”
“Would you rather be tasered?” Louise said.
“Gimme!” Joy caught Louise by both ears and pulled.
“Ow! Wait!” She dug through the bag to find a slice of cheese and handed it to Joy to give her time to think about rationing out the rest of the food.