Page 23 of A Hint of Delirium

I’d been around many humans through the years and I knew her reaction wasn’t normal. Typically, halflings weren’t born with any major powers to speak of, though it depended on who her father was. But even if her sperm donor was one of the High Fae, she still wouldn’t have been born with fierce powers because she was only half fae. Wearing an iron anklet to subdue any fledgling powers was abnormal and a gross overreaction. But right now with their emotions flying, it wasn’t the time to ask. I decided to play it cool.

“It looks like you two have a lot to discuss, but don’t think I won’t be back,” I warned, giving her mother a pointed stare. “Don’t even think about disappearing. Iwillfind you.”

She gulped.

“We won’t go anywhere,” Vi answered for them both.

I turned and strode to the door. Vi followed me. When she opened the door and turned to me, I leaned down and whispered, “I don’t trust your mother. She’s not telling the whole story.”

Her eyes were conflicted, but she nodded her agreement. “I know. I realize now there are a lot of things about my mom’s past that she’s kept secret.”

My eyes widened. “And that doesn’t bother you?”

She shrugged. “I’ve always been so focused on my own problems, I didn’t dwell on hers.”

I leaned against the doorjamb. “Well, now they’re your problems, too,” I whispered. “Find out what she’s hiding.”

Vi rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to interrogate my mom for you, Ansel. You can forget it.”

I huffed. I wanted her to discover what her mother was hiding, but she wasn’t going to push any further, I could tell.

I guess I would have to find out on my own.

12

VIOLET

After Ansel left, I closed the door and leaned my head against it, releasing a deep breath. I couldn’t believe he actually believed I wouldn’t be grilling my mom for details. I was definitely going to interrogate her, I just didn’t plan on telling him about it. Ansel was cool and all, but I still didn’t trust him fully. And after my mom’s over-the-top reaction, my gut feeling that the fae couldn’t be trusted completely was legit.

I pushed off the door and stormed back into the kitchen where I found my mom pacing the TV room.

Her head snapped when I walked in. “We should go,” she muttered. “I have some emergency money saved up; we can go to Florida and—”

“What?” I exclaimed. “Ma, are you serious right now?”

She stopped pacing and looked at me with no trace of humor in her ashen face. “Yes, Violet, I’m deadly serious. Don’t you realize what you brought home with you?”

I rolled my eyes and exhaled loudly. “Mom, he’s not going to take me anywhere. Relax.”

“Relax?” she yelled. “How can I relax when we’ve been caught?”

I walked up to her and gripped her shoulders, turning her to face me. “Ma, who are we running from?” She shook her head and tried to pull away, but I maintained a firm grip on her. “Tell me!” I shouted, my eyes bugging out.

She jerked back. “Your father,” she whispered brokenly. “If he finds out you exist, we’ll be in a lot of trouble. If other people learn about your existence, we’ll be in even more trouble. That’s why we can’t stay here, Violet. Our entire world just changed.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand,” I murmured. “Ansel just found out about it, and it didn’t seem to matter to him. Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”

“It’s … it’s because he doesn’t know,” she whispered.

“He doesn’t know what?” I whispered in return.

She shook her head. “I can’t say … Not now.”

I sighed and hung my head, exasperated. “Mom, we can’t keep secrets from each other – not anymore. You’ve been lying to me my whole life, making me think I was crazy. Don’t you think I deserve to know the truth? You owe me that much!” I shouted.

Before that moment, I didn’t realize I was so angry with her until my voice rose in pitch. I was furious at my mom. I spent my whole life thinking I was crazy, and for what? I needed to know the reason why. I deserved that much, at least.

My mom bit her lip before nodding and grabbing my hands, leading me to our small dining table where the breakfast Ansel and I brought had been long forgotten. We sat in our usual seats and she took a couple deep breaths before she spoke.

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