“At least the wolf neighbour bought pizza,” Sophie comments, sitting on the sofa with the box and practically inhaling it all as I pace near the old brown fireplace. I shake my head and go to the window, shutting it before closing the curtains, which are still a little too dusty for my liking. Once I find the vacuum in one of the boxes, I can sort that out. I look back at Sophie, wondering if it would be worth asking her if she knows anything.
“Did mum and dad ever say anything about other packs? About a castle and a queen of the supernaturals?” I ask Sophie, trying to make my tone gentle, like I am asking about an everyday thing as I open one of the boxes and take out the red blanket. Though I’m pretty sure I fail at it because my voice comes out high pitched. I suck at this.
“Nope,” Sophie says slowly, her tone quiet. I stop, glancing at her as she puts the pizza box down and hurries to get up. “I’m going to my room, I was just hungry.”
“Night then,” I reply, as she smiles at me before walking out of the room as quickly as she can. I watch her go, knowing she might be lying to me or just wanting to avoid talking about our parents. Who knows? After putting the blanket on the sofa, I pick the pizza box up and take it into the kitchen, turning the light on and sliding it on the side. I look around at the wooden counters, the island with stools in the middle, and I notice it must have been cleaned recently but just not well enough. I open the cupboards and am relieved to see someone has wiped them down, and there is some washing up liquid left in the cupboard by the sink. At least the estate agent brought a cleaner in like I paid them to do. I grab the box with the kitchen things in and put all the things away before pouring myself a glass of water and walking out of the room.
I pause next to the boxes, seeing the small one on top that is all we have left from our parents. It was left in the will, but I haven’t had a chance to open it because planning the funeral, leaving university and packing up the old house took up too much time. Or I just haven’t wanted to open it yet because part of me is scared what might be inside it. I lock the front door, before picking the box up and going up the stairs. I pass by Sophie’s room, but the door is firmly shut, and I doubt she wants to see me anyway. I know there are only two bedrooms, and I walk to the third door, opening it up and switching the light on. There is a plain wooden bed with a sheet-covered mattress on top, a dresser and a matching wardrobe. The window in this room is small, but it lets in moonlight through the thin white curtains. I shut my door behind me and kick off my flat shoes, before resting the glass of water on the dresser. I take the box to the bed with me and sit down, crossing my legs as I look down at the box. I know I need to open it to see what my parents left. Mum and dad always knew there was a chance they could die. We are shifters in a world that wants all supernaturals destroyed, so it’s logical they left important things in a will.
I shake my head and tell myself I need to open the damn box and get it out of the way. I pull the Sellotape back, opening it up to see two letters in envelopes and one tiny ancient looking jewellery box. I pick one letter up which has ‘Sophie’ written on it. I put it to the side and pick up the other one, which has my name written. I run my finger over my mum’s handwriting, trying to hold in any tears, knowing I have to be brave and open it. I open the letter rapidly, knowing it’s like ripping a Band-Aid off. It’s better to do it quickly. God, I need some chocolate ice cream or a muffin. Or anything at this point that is high in calories and I will regret the next day. A trip to the shop is the plan for tomorrow, before meeting the other neighbours. The letter is written on flower covered paper that I remember my mum always using to write anything on. When I was a kid, I used to love to borrow some to draw on. Pretending to be like mum was a fun game. I swear she had an unlimited collection of this flower paper because she never said no to sharing it with me. I take a deep breath for courage before I start to read the note.
My sweet Adelaide,
First off, I love you. Please remember that always as you read this. I love you so much, and so does your dad who is sat here watching me write this. You might not understand all this, but know that loving you was something that was true throughout all the lies. It’s the only thing I feel like I told you the truth about. I do not know how to explain everything in one letter, but I must try because, if you are reading this, death has found me. I was not born on Earth, and neither were you. There is a world called Frayan, and it is attached to Earth like many other worlds. Frayan is the land of the Fray or fairies, as humans know them. There are many names for the people and creatures I used to live with. Two days after you were born, my beloved alpha, a wolf fate, died saving his people and queen. I had grown up with him, he was like a father to me. I would have died to save him, if I were given the chance, but his death was so swift, no one could have prevented it.
He left behind a heavily pregnant mate.
I am bound to tell you no more, but I know you need answers. I knew one day you would ask the questions without me saying a word. That one day your true powers will reveal themselves, or worse, she will find you and tell you a twisted version of the truth before killing you.
I planned ahead in this event, and in the attic of the home we have left you is those answers.
In the box is something left to me by my alpha…your father.
Please wear it. It belongs only to you now.
I cannot tell you of your mother, oh I wish I could. I wish so many things that I feel like you will learn in the most painful ways. Life is not fair to you, and oh how I wish I could change it, my sweet Adelaide.
They both would have been so proud of the young woman you have grown into.
The answers lie in the attic, though it might take you a while to figure it out. The Fray make promises, and those promises are woven in powerful magic…remember this.
I promised never to tell you who you are…it was the only way I could keep you safe all these years. I am sorry I cannot say more.
Protect Sophie please, and never let her know this. She is your sister, just not in blood, but I hope that means little now.
This is your secret to bare, and your past to find.
Remember, I love you. Remember to never trust anyone, especially not anyone who is different like you. Trust must be earnt and promised. Fray make promises, child.
Never go to Frayan. Things worse than death wait for you there, my sweet Adelaide. So many have died so you can be here. Do not let that go to waste.
Live.
Love.
Be free.
And please don’t hate us for never telling you.
Love you always. Mum and Dad.
I drop the letter on the bed, my shaking hands just hovering where I was holding it as I repeat several parts of the letter over and over in my head. Mum and dad were not my real parents. I wasn’t born on Earth. Someone wants me dead, and there are so many unanswered questions in this letter that I will never be able to ask anyone about. Until a tear drops onto my hand, I don’t notice how completely frozen still I was. They weren’t my biological parents. I repeat the same thing again and again. My biological father is dead, and god knows what happened with my mum. I suppose she is dead as well, or why wouldn’t she come back for me? It takes me a few seconds to realise I’m the reason they have run from packs, from everything all these years. They didn’t want anyone to know how different I am and risk me getting found. The way mum speaks about my biological father, it is clear she thought him as pack. Mum and dad left everything behind to save me. I can’t process how my father was dead before I was born, and I have no clue who my mother was.
I stare down at the letter, reading the last line again. Love you always. Mum and Dad. Despite this, they were my parents. Mum and dad were always there for me, always loved me, and that must have been real because they never made me feel like I wasn’t their child. I had a lovely life growing up, even moving around all the time. This letter changes nothing about that. I take a deep breath and lower my shaky hands to the box, holding the edges as I calm myself down. No matter my birth, my parents loved me. I know that I’m more upset they never told me all this, but if magic stopped them, how could I blame them for that? Mum said she did it to protect me…but protect me from who? Where the hell is Frayan? I shake my head, knowing that I won’t get those answers by sitting here.
I wipe my tears away before picking up the small box. I open the lid, revealing a bracelet. It is made of gold with three red gemstones in the middle. The stones glow for a second when I run my finger over them, and I wonder what kind of magic is in these. I glance at the letter for a second, before clipping the bracelet onto my wrist. The stones glow once more when it’s clipped, before going back to their ruby red colour. They match my hair, oddly enough. I look back into the box at the last letter. The letter for Sophie. I can’t even acknowledge that she isn’t my sister by blood, because it means nothing important. Blood is nothing compared to a bond made with love. I wipe my eyes one more time before getting off my bed, walking to the door and opening it. I walk down the corridor to Sophie’s room, and knock two times. I wait for a few moments before she opens the door slightly and frowns at me. Sophie has gotten ready for bed, even though it isn’t that late, and I wonder if she was napping before I woke her.
“This is for you, from mum and dad’s will,” I tell her, lifting the letter and showing her before she can say a word. She stares at the letter for a while, before shaking her head.
“I can’t read it…not yet. It doesn’t feel like they are really gone, and if I read that…it might be true, and I don’t know how to cope with it or anything that letter says,” she says, her words filled with a heartbreak I understand too well.
“I’ve just read mine, and you’re right. This is going to be hard to read,” I admit to her.
“Will you keep it for me?” she asks, and I can only nod before she shuts the door. I stare at the old wooden door for a few seconds, before looking up at the attic door right above me. Tomorrow, I find out whatever is in this house that mum and dad wanted me to find, and tonight I can cry before putting a brave face on and being the woman my parents raised me to be.