One day as they sat in the library, they had ‘study halls’ since the professors were out, when Katy was called to the headmaster’s office. Katy got up and gathered her books and left the library. She walked up to the office and knocked.
Headmaster O’Cuinn answered the door. “Katherine Lillian please come in we were waiting for you.” He said as he ushered her in.
Katy wondered who the ‘we’ were but she got her answer as soon as she walked into the room. Inside were Antonio and Edgar, along with the headmaster. “How can I help you?” Katy waited to see why she was here.
“You have isolated yourself Katherine Lillian. Don’t deny it. Antonio has told me why of course. Now, Edgar wants to be told your version.” Headmaster O’Cuinn swooshed back behind his desk and sat down.
“Fine, almost everybody else knows why not Edgar.” Katy opened her mind to Edgar alone and again she had to relieve the reason Deen turned his back to her. After what seemed like an eternity Edgar knew everything. “Can I go now?” Katy didn’t want to stay around for another episode like with Deen and Antonio.
“No.” It wasn’t the headmaster who answered, it was Antonio.
“Why?” Katy just wanted to go back to classes and work on her independent studies, she didn’t know how much more heartache she could go through. She loved the MacCathmhaoils they were her family, her parents, and she didn’t want to lose them, but she was afraid of what Antonio might have to say. Afraid she would lose her home.
“Because we need to talk, and don’t deny it, you ran from me after you showed me what really happened.” Antonio got up from his seat and walked over to her, and knelt in front of her.
“Yeah I did, but you did too! You just left! You took the out!” Katy was upset and started to cry, she was mad, it sounded like he blamed her for the coldness between them, she turned to leave but Antonio reached out and grabbed her in a hug, and she just buried her face into his chest, to hide her tears.
“Yes, I did, and I regret that. I was shocked. I am sure Deen is just working it out in his head like I had too. Katy, that was some major information you sprung on us. I am sorry I didn’t have the courage to stay and talk to you about it. Deen did though… he stayed with you that night you told him.” Katy knew, that he knew they snuck out. “It was only after you withdrew that he withdrew as well. He took the same out I did, and I am sure he is regretting that choice. He just doesn’t know how to confront it now. I mean look what I did to talk to you. I had to go to Oeric O’Cuinn, an uncle you barely know, but he was the only person I could think of that might help. Well had the power to make you come to his office. Lua slapped me when I tried going through her. She said I deserved the internal torment. Oeric suggested bringing in Edgar.” Antonio looked her right in the eye, and opened his mind to her so she knew he spoke the truth.
“Katy, I know you. I know you only did what needed to be done. I would have done the same. You held that in, you let it eat at you for four months. Why tell us now? Not that I am not eased by the knowledge that you are finally trusting us; it is just that I expected this moment to come along a bit further down the road.” It was Edgar that spoke this time.
Katy looked up to Edgar. “Because… a war is coming and I know it has a lot to do with me. But more importantly…” Katy looked straight into Edgar’s eyes. “I needed those close to me to know the truth. There are so many rumors. And now an ancient dragon tells me that a war is coming, and now half of my classes are suspended because of this impending war, I need those I love to know all that I know. Which isn’t much, but it has to be known.”
“Good, now what is the other secret you are keeping from us?” Edgar asked.
“I know my mom was murdered.” Katy didn’t even act surprised, she knew it would come up, so she stated the truth and waited for their reaction.
There was a collective intake of breath between Antonio and Edgar. The headmaster just sat back and kept silent. “How did you find out?” Edgar asked.
“I have always known.” Katy responded.
“Why didn’t you tell us you knew?” Antonio asked, still held her, but stood up.
“Because, I wanted to forget the nightmares, so I lied, and kept it to myself. I don’t really know why, maybe because I didn’t want pity, or I wanted to put on a front. I am not really sure.” Katy broke free of Antonio’s grip and started to pace as she tried figure out her thoughts.
“What do you know? We don’t have many details.” It was Edgar who asked, but Katy knew he had lied about not knowing details.
Katy sighed and opened her mind to that day, which still haunted her dreams. She took Edgar, Antonio and the headmaster back to the alley in which her mother had set up their temporary shelter. They walked back from the homeless shelter where they had gotten Katy some clothes. It was a bright sunny summer day, and Katy was excited, she also got a new doll; well it was new to her. They walked down an alley and this shadow comes up on them, there are many bursts of green light. Katy heard the screams; she was temporarily blinded by a large explosion of green, and thrown back against a wall. The next thing she knew she woke up in the hospital. “That is what I know.” Katy stated then slumped down in a chair.
“What is the other thing bothering you?”
“Nothing…” Katy lied.
“Your nightmares are not nothing, are they about your mother’s death?”
“Yes… No…” Katy didn’t want to tell them but she didn’t want to lie.
“But you are not going to tell us.”
“No.”
“Katy you may go.” Antonio stated and Katy got up to leave. As she walked out the door she heard him saying “Oeric, we should tell her…” But Katy didn’t stay to listen; she went on with her day.
Kris Charles - Author 