32 Take It Back

She reaches out and gently grabs my hand as she says "You aren't just from a rare line of Snow Leopards. You also come from a rare line of witches. Legends say that our line is the original... the very beginning and the ones who created the rest of the magical creatures."

I start shaking my head and say "No. Nope. Take it back. I don't want to know and I'm gonna pretend that I didn't just hear any of that." I try to stand up but my mother tightens her grip on my hands and says "Sit" in a grave tone.

I grit my teeth and slowly close my eyes as I sit back down saying "The Elves... the Elves are the creators of the rest of the supernaturals, right? Not witches." My mother gently pats my hand as she says "Elves do have the power of creation and that's... that's how we came to be who we are."

"A very very long time ago... two Royal Elves were expecting their second child. They already had one bright and healthy baby boy but were expecting a beautiful little girl. One night, the two were walking in their garden when the woman was suddenly struck by lightning. The skies were clear, not a cloud in sight and yet, she was hit. Luckily she and the unborn child was fine but a seer had come forward to warn them that a new beginning was about to be born. It would be born with a child... with their child. She had the child but... she came out differently. Her hair was raven black and she had bright blue eyes. Nothing like the light silvery-green eyes of her parents or white-blonde hair. Her ears weren't pointed and she... her magic was completely different."

"The parents were truly shocked and worried but other than her being slightly different, she was completely healthy. Legend says she grew up under the time of war and change... she wanted to create an army. An army that could help save her kingdom and her family."

"She created all kinds of creatures... Vampires, shifters, witches, and warlocks. She didn't stop there... she created them all and then opened the portal to the world we live in now. She went on to marry and had children of her own. Always girls... our bloodline will only ever have girls."

"The rules she made for all the other creatures don't exist for us... even the rules for the Elves. We walk both worlds, boundless, and with the power to create and destroy the world we now know. The heavens created us, child and it seems we were given the power to do just about anything here on earth... do you know what the other races would do if they found out what you are? What you're capable of doing? What you could do for them?"

My heart pounds against my chest as I feel my head spinning. "I think I'm gonna be sick..." I say slowly standing up and walking to the kitchen sink. Those eggs Xander cooked for me were about to make a second appearance...

I turn the water on and place my face in it. I hold my breath and listen to my own heartbeat as I try to calm down. This would have been great to know beforehand... I pull my face back and take a deep breath before releasing it.

I turn the water off and wipe my face before turning back to my mother. She remains seated in the same spot as I ask "Is there anything else? This is the time to tell me everything because if you come out with something later...."

My mother tries to keep a straight face but I see the slight hesitation on her face. I slowly close my eyes again and grab the bridge of my nose as I say "Say it... whatever it is, just say it." She awkwardly rubs the back of her neck as she says "You... you technically have a half brother. He's your father's son... born to the woman before me and your father... he's alive."

I stare at her in complete silence and without a single emotion. I think I'm in shock... I start laughing but it sounds more like I'm going insane. "You always led me to believe he was dead but he was really alive all this time and with his son?"

My mother grimaces and says "Technically, yes. He... he doesn't know you even exist. I didn't tell him before... before running away." I throw my hands up and say "Why am I still surprised by this!?" I start rubbing my temples as I try to digest everything but when I look up to my mother, I can't be angry at her.

She did what she thought was best and who knows, it might really have been. After a few silent minutes, I look up to her and say "Okay. Thanks for letting me know. I'm sure everything you did wasn't easy so thank you."

Her eyes start to water as she slightly sniffs and looks down at her cup of coffee asking "So you aren't mad at me?" I chuckle and say "No, and as far as I'm concerned, this changes nothing. They don't even know I exist so let's keep it that way, okay?"

She looks up to me in surprise before slightly smiling at me with a nod. It's always been us against the world and nothing will ever change that. I may have wanted to meet my father when I was younger but now that I'm older... I just don't see how that will help anyone.

He probably has a whole new family by now and they're clearly staying hidden from the world because no one knows they even exist. I watch my mother drink her coffee in silence and wonder again how she's always done everything along. She's the strongest woman I've ever known and even though she has her faults, I wouldn't trade her for the world.

She slowly looks up and says "So... where do you want to move?"