Lark (10 page)

             
“The Witch Hunts,” he utters darkly.

             
“What does that have to do with...um, elves? Are there witches here too?” I suddenly am very curious to know if there are all sorts of different mythological creatures of legends living among us and we just don't know it.

             
“Not here in Álfheimr. Real witches are a rarity. Most of the so-called witches were actually just careless elves. It was an awful time. Before then, elves and humans lived peacefully together, but eventually the humans started to fear our magic. This initiated a mass hysteria, and many elves lost their lives. We disappeared, letting the memories of our kind shift from factual history to legend, until finally, we became the make-believe creatures of fairy tales. Very few believe in the existence of elves any more. Well, you know, other than the North Pole variety.” He smirks as if he finds his attempt at a lightening the mood quite clever.

             
It sort of works.

             
My brain struggles to process all of this new information while still maintaining my vital functions. It is currently a little over-worked.

             
“So, let's see if I have everything straight. You are my father and the King of the Light Elves. You appear young but actually live for hundreds of years. You possess magical abilities, which I, too, apparently inherited to a small degree, although as far as we know, I'll still age normally. And you all have pointy ears, which I, fortunately, did not inherit.”

             
I’m apparently having issues overlooking the whole ear thing.

             
“That sums it up pretty well,” Alberico smiles brightly at my bluntness.

             
“Well, then I just have one more question. Where have you been? Why did you just leave? How could you do that to my mom? Do you know what you did to her?”  Okay that was more than one question. I know I'm being rude, but a sudden wave of anger has caught me off guard, and I’m just thankful I didn't yell at him, or worse. That probably would not have been a very good idea since he is a King, after all, and could probably have me beheaded for insubordination or something.

             
“Ah, yes, we have much to talk about.” He frowns slightly. “Greyson, why don't you leave my daughter and me for a moment.”

             
I was so caught up in what Alberico was telling me that I had momentarily forgotten Grey’s presence, but now a new set of emotions stir inside of me. I suddenly realize that my anger isn’t really directed at Alberico, not all of it anyway. I’m angry at myself for fabricating my entire relationship with Grey. As it turns out, we weren’t even real friends, let alone anything more than that. The only reason he pretended to be my friend in the first place was because my father asked him to watch over me. I’m more heartbroken than I’d like to admit, but I’m also a little weirded out by the fact that the guy I’ve been crushing on for the last four months is almost 200-years-old. My head hasn’t even begun to wrap itself around that piece of information.

             
“Of course.” Grey bows respectfully to Alberico before giving me an intense look that I can't quite read, then turns to leave me alone with my father.

             
Alberico appears lost in his own thoughts. I try to be patient as I wait for him to explain to me how he could do such an awful thing to my mother. I have just about reached the end of my patience when he finally looks up at me.

             
“The War between the Light Elves and the Dark Elves had ended. We had finally defeated our enemies the Dökkálfar. After more than a century of war, we were finally at peace. Afterward, my father told me to take some time to relax before coming back to claim the throne. Though I was enjoying my last days of being worry-free, I was anxious to return and take my place as King. But then I met your mother.

             
“I fell in love with your mother. Kate was the most remarkable person I had ever met, human or elf alike. We met in a park. She was painting the most beautiful sunset. I was completely captivated by her use of color. It was amazing. Her artistic ability is what initially grabbed my attention, but I very quickly fell in love with her free-spirit. I informed my father that I would not be returning to the kingdom in the fall as originally planned because I wanted to spend more time with her. He was perfectly capable of running the kingdom for another hundred years so it didn't seem like it would be a big deal if I put off my coronation a little longer. When I told him what I wanted, he said it was absolutely forbidden and that I would be placing the entire kingdom at risk. I didn't understand his reasoning, but he was my father, so I knew I must trust him. I didn’t want to risk my kingdom. I had no choice but to leave Kate. I was brought up to always to fulfill my duty to my kingdom above all else.”

He looks distraught. I can tell that it wasn't an easy decision for him to leave my mother, and decide that maybe I shouldn't be so angry with him.  But it’s still hard not to feel resentful. I spent the majority of my childhood without a father because he had an obligation to his kingdom. Shouldn’t he have felt some sort of obligation to get to know me?
To be a father to me? Immediately guilt washes over me for having such selfish thoughts. I feel like I just betrayed Paul somehow, but I couldn’t help how I feel.  

             
“You came back to check on her a year later?” I ask him, trying to figure out what made him change his mind.

             
“Yes. I missed her. I hated myself for leaving without telling her goodbye. I was going to explain everything to her, but when I arrived, I saw her through the window, rocking a new baby wrapped in pink blankets. I couldn't be positive that the baby girl she was holding was my own. I had been gone for a year after all. If you weren't mine, it meant that she had moved on, and I didn't want to disrupt her life and risk hurting her again. But if you were mine...well, I had to be certain first. So I appointed my closest friend, and most trusted advisor to be my Consul, charged to watch over your family and keep you safe. I have been so grateful to Grey for his devotion in carrying out his duty to protect you, all the while waiting for the slightest indication that you were indeed my daughter. Which, as you know, was confirmed today when you healed Brian.”

             
“So what does this all mean for me? I mean, what am I supposed to do now that I know everything? Do I go back home and act like everything is normal?”

             
I know I have lost track of the time, and if I am going to stay here any longer, I kind of need to come up with an excuse so my mom doesn't freak out. Normally, mom would be asleep before I got home from work anyway, but she would most definitely notice my absence in the morning. The last thing I needed is my mom filing a missing persons report.

             
“Well, it is my wish for you to remain here. At least for a little while, so we can see what happens next. Greyson told me that Brian's reaction to your healing ability was not how we would expect an unknowing human to react. I fear he may be one of the Dökkálfar spies, and if that is the case, we need to figure out a plan to keep you safe. The Dark Elves may be restricted to the Underworld, but they undoubtedly will employ their human slaves to capture you if given the opportunity. And I cannot allow that to happen.”

             
“But what would they want me for?” I am a little dumbfounded that he would think that anyone would actually want to kidnap me.

             
Alberico places his hand on my shoulder and sighs. “Many reasons. All of which can wait until tomorrow to discuss. Meanwhile, will you stay here so I can be sure you are safe?”

             
“I’m supposed to be on a ski trip with some friends from school for the next two weeks. I can tell my mom that I am leaving early so she won't worry, and then I can tell my friends that I changed my mind. They won't question it.”

             
After all, they were surprised that I agreed to go in the first place.

             
“Good. Very good. And of course, if we need to, I am sure Grey can help convince everyone of your story. I believe your cell phone should actually have reception here; human technology is truly amazing these days. Why don't you go ahead and make the calls. I will return shortly.” He gently grasps my hand and places it in between both of his. “You look so much like your mother. I am so glad to have finally met you, my daughter.”

Chapter 7

             
For the second time today, I travel elf-style with Grey's assistance.  Which, if I hadn't been so freaked out, would have been totally cool, except for the dizziness that always seems to immediately follow transporting. Seriously, how amazing is it to be able to just think of a place and a second later, boom! You’re there! It certainly would save on gas money. We are in my bedroom getting my suitcase packed, and I can't help but replay today's events in my head.

             
Only a few hours have passed since my life changed forever, but it feels more like days. I guess that tends to happen when, in the span of a few minutes, you bring someone back from the dead, magically transport to a world you previously didn’t know even existed, find out that your long-time crush has been spying on you since you were in diapers, meet your long lost father, who, oh, by the way, happens to be the King of the Light Elves, which in effect makes you royalty. No big deal, right?

             
I had already texted Hannah from Álfheimr and told her that I had changed my mind about the ski trip. She was disappointed, of course, but she knows me well, and was not overly surprised that I backed out. She has always been the more social one. I decided that instead of calling my mother, it would be easier to just leave her a note explaining that I left before she woke up. I have never been able to lie to her very well, and I know she would see right through me. Besides, it wouldn't be very convincing for me to leave without my suitcase. Grey accompanied me home to pack my things and leave my alibi on the kitchen table.

             
As I’m packing two-week’s worth of ski clothes as quietly as possible (since I’m sure waking up to find me frantically packing my bags with a boy in my room would not go over well with my mother), I can't help but sneak glances at an ever cool, calm, and collected Grey. I haven't stopped freaking out since the accident, and here he is, acting like all of this is perfectly ordinary.

             
I finally can't take it anymore. I have to confront him.

             
“You are freakin’ 200-years-old!”

             
“Well, technically I am only 187-years-old,” he responds matter-of-factly.

             
“Do you have any idea how weird that is?” I can’t believe my crush is older than my grandpa. Even older than my grandpa’s grandpa!

             
“Yes, I am acutely aware,” he grimaces.

             
“And you were here all this time, because my father, the King of the freakin’ Light Elves, asked you to be.” I state the obvious, not really knowing what exactly I want him to say.

             
“Yes. I have been here your whole life because your father asked me to be.” He speaks cautiously, as if wanting to make sure he words everything just right.

             
“How did you do it? I mean, how is it that I never noticed you before you started school?” Grey is otherworldly beautiful.
Ha. Literally
.  It's kind of weird to call a boy beautiful, but he is absolutely perfection incarnate, so beautiful is the only word in my vocabulary I can think of to describe him. Surely if he really had been following me around my whole life, I would have noticed him.

             
“I kept my distance at first, while you were still a child. Never close enough to attract attention, but just enough to make sure you were safe. I waited until we were the same age appearance-wise before I risked getting closer to you. If I would have exposed myself any earlier, you might have noticed I never seemed to age. And that could have been difficult to explain. Plus, your mom may not have approved of a teenage boy trying to befriend her young daughter.” He gives me that crooked smile of his that always makes me forget to breathe, but I am not ready to forgive him that easily, so all it does is irritate me.

             
“So that is why you became my friend. And got a job at the theater. And waited for me every day. You were just doing your job?”

             
“Yes. And no.”

             
Well that clears everything up.

             
“What does that even mean? 'Yes and no'?” I whisper angrily. I already know the truth. I just want him to admit to it. Maybe I should have waited until we were back in Álfheimr before beginning this conversation.

             
“Yes, I was here because I was ordered to be. But no, I was not your friend because I had to be. I was, I am, your friend because I want to be. You don't understand, I have watched you grow up. I watched your first steps, when you broke your arm, your first ballet recital, when you learned how to tie your shoes, and when you first learned how to drive a car. Every single milestone or important event that has ever happened in your life, I have been there. I already knew you. I wanted you to know me. But I shouldn't....”