Page 40 of Laid Bare

Their eyes. Pink. Just like mine.

Every one of these faces are curiomancers that came before me, but what strikes me as the most odd is that they all have different colored hair. Not the glaring white that I and my birth parents have. Was there something inherently different to give them the coloring, or did they dye it?

Questions for another time, I guess. But damn, what I wouldn’t give to have my black hair back.

As I continue to take things in, my eyes find what looks suspiciously like an altar resting in the middle of the space. Like that compulsive feeling before, I’m drawn toward the marble stone, an unknown entity pushing me forward, urging me that whatever I may find on there is important.

Time seems to freeze as I step up to the stone podium, but that’s not the only thing. The breeze that flowed around appears to have frozen in place, like it was never there at all. This room just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser.

Great. Now I sound like thatDisneymovie,Alice in Wonderland. I’m just missing a hookah smoking caterpillar and a disappearing cat. But I have a flying pony, so maybe my life is a mismatch between Alice and Hercules.

Focus, Bailey.

My fingertips brush a pristine, crisp piece of paper, sitting upon an aged tome. There’s a quiver in my hands as I pick up the sheet, the first few words making my breath catch.

My dearest little girl.

Oh no. No. No. No. I’m not ready. Not to read their words.

But for some reason, I can’t seem to put the paper down, to step away from the altar and flee like every cell in my body is demanding.

Against my wishes, my eyes follow every word on the page.

If you’re reading this, it means you made it to your twenty-first birthday. What I would have given to have seen you grow up, to watch you grow into a beautiful woman just like your mother. We prayed to the goddess for so long for you, and when you came, it was a miracle.

The moment your mom told me she was pregnant, I was overjoyed, so damn happy that I shouted to the world that I was going to be a dad. Curiomancers from all over came to the house, giving their blessings for a happy and healthy birth.

Because that’s what we did. Every time a curiomancer was with child, we traveled, blessing the baby. It’s just who we were. Children were the most important part of a curiomancer’s legacy.

But then as the pregnancy progressed, things changed. Took a turn for the worse. We became hunted. Scared. It wasn’t a life your mom and I wanted you to have. So we did the one thing we could to ensure you made it. We gave you up.

Please believe it was the hardest decision we ever made in our lifetime. All those firsts we were sure to miss out on. It tore at our souls, but it was the only way for you to have a future. Even if it meant we weren’t part of it.

Call it a premonition, but if you’re reading this, there’s a chance you’ve been found out. Your identity has been revealed, and you’re in danger. But fear not, my daughter. Mr. Pennington Sr. has taken the steps needed to keep you safe. I know you’ll need more than that, though. You need to learn your magic. Because if you’ve been found out and you’re reading this, it means someone has stepped forward and taken responsibility for you.

I wish with my whole heart that I was the one to teach you our ways, teach you how to use our special brand of magic. But the turmoil in our world won’t give me that chance. So I hope what I left for you will be the next best thing.

The book below contains everything you need to know. Secrets no one knows about us. It also contains part of the truth that we fought to find that started this all. But the council has been adamant not to listen, refusing to give an audience to clear our name.

Be wary, my sweet girl. For there is someone on the council responsible, though we don’t know who exactly. Just that they started it all.

Keep your soul spirit close and know that we love you with all our hearts.

If there’s another life after this one, your mom and I hope you’ll be our daughter again, and this time, we’ll get to watch you grow up and shower you with all the love we have in our hearts.

Loving you now and forever,

Dad

“Stupid fucking traffic,”I grumble, finally leaving the highway for the almost empty streets around the former Mancer’s Bend. It’s taken a lot longer than I would have liked to get here. It felt like everyone was working against me, trying to keep me from getting to my mate.

Like I’d let them.

She is my world. My very reason for breathing. Not that I actually breathe or have a heartbeat. But the sentiment is the same.

Pulling up to the main gate at Bailey’s house, I peer through the windshield, noticing how still everything is. How quiet the entire neighborhood is, like it’s holding its breath for some unknown reason. Like danger is afoot, and a mere breeze could set off the chaos.

It’s almost unsettling, but I’m not one to scare easily.

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