Page 148 of Their Pretty Little Monster

She nods almost reluctantly.

My insides tighten to think that she knew this whole time.

I set my bag down on one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “We have so much to catch up on, but first, here.” I give her the small bag of powder from Killian. “Mix this with water and drink it all in one go. In a few hours, your chest infection will be completely gone.”

She looks at it skeptically but trusts me enough to say, “All right, but you need to sit down and explain everything. I’ll get you a hot cup of tea.”

I’m not sure how to begin as I flop down in a chair. She hurries about the kitchen, setting the hot water kettle on an already burning stove that keeps the house warm. She then prepares her own concoction, the liquid in her glass turning a vibrant violet. She stares at it carefully, then looks at me.

“Are you sure?”

“I am. I promise it will heal you,” I reassure her.

She takes a sniff, her face relaxing slightly.

“So, anyway,” I begin. “You knew my father was a monster the whole time? And that I was different?”

She sighs, setting the glass down on the table, the memories clearly weighing heavily on her.

“Yes, Sage. I knew. I was working in the field late one evening. I was younger then, and since I lived alone with my parents long gone, I had to finish my quota to get food. So, I worked late that evening.” Her voice softens, her eyes distant as she recalls the past.

“I met a man who I didn’t recognize. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen, and I should have been scared of him, but I wasn’t. Especially as he was much older than me, but his presence was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t look away. After he approached me, we talked for hours. He was charming and kind, and I found myself drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain. Then he blew sparkling dust in my face, which was so strange, but it made me relax. He told me I’d be okay… then one thing led to another and…” She glances at me, her cheeks flushing. “Well, nine months later, I had you.”

I listen intently, my heart aching for my mother. “What happened next?”

“I never saw him again,” she continues, her lips turning downward, and I can tell she really felt something for my father, while I hate him for everything he’s done to her, to Blight. “But I think of him often, wondering who he was. Before he left, he whispered to me that he was a monster who had snuck into our world behind someone else from his world as it was Monsters Night, and he had to return soon. Then he left.”

Tears well up in my eyes. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to protect you, Sage. I thought if you didn’t know, you could have a normal life. But as you grew, I saw the signs. I knew you were special, that you were different, and I figured one day I’d tell you.”

I reach across the table, taking her hand. “I know you did the best you could.” I can’t be mad at her, not after all she’s gone through, too, being the outcast in a town for getting pregnant by a man who left her. A monster. And she could never tell a soul.

“I’m sorry for keeping it from you.” She squeezes my hand, her eyes glistening with tears. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”

The kettle whistles, and she’s on her feet, returning moments later with my cup of tea. She’s brought a small pot of honey as well, and I put a few swirls in my tea before sipping the chamomile brew.

The room falls into a comfortable silence, the weight of our conversation hanging in the air. Thoughts of my father spins on my mind, of the darkness that runs through my veins. But I also think of my new family—Wolfe, Nyko, Killian, and my half sister.

I notice she hasn’t drunk her concoction. “Mom, drink it up so you can heal.”

She starts sipping and then gulps it all down in one go. She makes a scrunched-up facial expression, saying, “Tastes like grass. Not pleasant.”

She coughs again, and I hope that’s a sign of it being effective. If I’ve observed anything about powders from the monster world, it’s that they work almost instantly.

“I’ve got something else for you.” I open my backpack and pull out a bag of Moon Puffs, opening it to reveal half a dozen, some slightly crushed. “These are delicious monster treats.”

She stares at me. “So, you survived a monster world? How did you get out and return home?” She stands and collects a small plate from the kitchen, and when she returns, I set the puffs on the table.

“It’s a long story, and I’ve got all night to tell you everything. But do try these; they’ll take the grassy taste from your mouth.”

She studies one and takes a bite, then makes a moaning sound. “Oh, what is this? It’s so delightfully sweet, and those little candy pieces are so chewy and fruity.”

“They are meant to replicate lunar worms.”

My mom pauses, staring at me, scared.

I laugh. “They aren’t real worms. Trust me, I asked.”

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