Chapter 9: The Truth
Varali sat at the desk in her room with her head in her hands. Her mind was reeling in so many ways. She couldn't believe her father, her best friend, lied to her. Her whole life was one big lie. She spent her years growing up believing her mother was dead. But the fact that she was very much alive changes everything.
With tears streaming down her face once again, Varali got up from her desk and made her way to her bed. She threw her hair up haphazardly into a bun and, lying on her back, stared at the ceiling still wrestling with her thoughts. She needed answers, but where would she get them from? She didn't want to talk to her father. That was completely out of the question. If she could have things her way, she'd never speak to him again. So, who could she turn to? The answer popped into her head just as quick as the question had. Her mother. Didn't she say something about always being around? But what did Varali have to do to get in touch with her? She didn't know that spell that got to her before.
Whenever you need me, just think of me and I'll be there.
Varali bolted upright in her bed. Her mother's voice came to her as clear as if she were sitting next to her whispering in her ear. She had to look around the room to make sure she was alone. She was. She rested back on her bed and continued to stare at the ceiling.
If I think of her, she'll come.
Varali closed her eyes and willed her mind clear of its chaos. Please mom, she silently prayed, I need you. Please.
As Varali kept her eyes closed, a gust of wind blew lightly over her still body. Her nostrils were suddenly filled with the scent of cinnamon. When the wind died down, she opened her eyes to see an elegant woman standing by her window with her back to her.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" her mother asked, staring out the window.
"Why did dad lie to me?" Varali asked, propping up on her elbows.
"Come look," her mother said, motioning for Varali to stand beside her. "It's just too gorgeous to pass up."
Varali got up from her place on her bed and went to join her mother by the window. As she stood there, she could smell the hint of cinnamon coming from her mother. Looking up at the moon, Varali saw how it was unusually bright tonight.
"Wow," she said, mesmerized. "It's so…"
"I know," her mother finished.
"Mom," wow that's weird, Varali thought to herself, "I really need to talk to you about-"
"About your dad. About everything," her mother said.
"Yeah. I just don't understand why he lied. Why couldn't he just tell me?" Varali asked, staring at her mother.
"Because, sweetie," her mother suddenly looked uncomfortable, "I told him…not to tell you."
"What?" Varali's anger was started to rise again. Another gust of wind blew through her hair.
"Calm down," her mother said. "Don't wanna start a tornado in the bedroom."
"Huh?"
"Come…sit." Her mother grabbed her hand and led her back over toward her bed. As Varali sat, her mother took a seat beside her. "Okay, where to start?" her mother mused to herself. "I guess I'll just start from the beginning." She shifted on the bed so that she was facing Varali.
"About twenty years ago, I came out of my realm and stayed here for a while. Sometimes I did that just to see what my work was doing to the world. You know, making sure everything was as it should be. Usually I only stay earth bound for a few months, but this trip was different. You see, when I come here, even if it's only for up to six months, I try to fit in as much as possible. So, I was working as a waitress in a diner not far from here. That's when I met your father." Varali's mother smiled to herself. "He came into the diner and ordered a cup of coffee. I wasn't supposed to be waiting on him, but the waitress who was got a little busy so I did her a favor. I brought him the newspaper with his coffee. I have to admit, I couldn't resist those mesmerizing hazel eyes of his. The next thing I knew, he was asking me out on a date.
"I wasn't planning on falling in love, but that's what happened. Those few months turned into six and then a year. I was here way longer then I should have been, but I just couldn't leave. Your father made me feel so…alive and beautiful and most of all, normal. I didn't want to give that up. I even told him about who I really was, but he didn't care. He said he loved me anyway. He asked me to move in with him, which I did, but that wasn't the only thing he asked me. He asked me to marry him. I never thought I could get that happy. Then I found out I was pregnant with you. My world was complete.
"I'd made up my mind to stay here. I figured I could check in with my realm every once in a while just to make sure things were going smoothly. I didn't expect for my enemies to find me, but they did. They attacked one day when your father, luckily, was at work. I fended them off as best as a woman who was four months pregnant could, but I couldn't let it happen again."
"But, what about your amulet?" Varali asked.
"I was wearing it, but the longer I stay earth bound, the weaker it gets. It didn't have a strong enough spell on it. Luckily, now, after many setbacks, it does," her mother replied.
"Oh."
"So, I waited until your father got home and told him that I had to leave. Of course it broke his heart but I promised him that we would always be together. Four years later I pop up at his door with you sleeping in my arms. Evil managed to get through the force field that's around my realm and were coming after you. I brought you here for protection. Your father agreed, of course, to take you but when I told him to tell you that I was dead, he hated it. After some argument, he finally agreed. I'm so sorry, but it was the only thing I could think of that would protect you," her mother finished.
"Did you miss me? Did you even think of me?" Varali asked.
Her mother reached behind her and unpinned her bun, letting her long hair fall down to her back. "Sweetie, I thought about you every second of every day. Every night of your life, I would sneak in here after you'd gone to sleep just to hold you. Trust me, honey, I watched you grow up."
"Did dad know you did that?" Varali asked.
"Of course. I would hold you for a while and then be with him for a while. I would leave right before you got up to get ready for school. On your first day of school, I was there. I was standing under the big oak tree that was outside of your preschool. Like I said, I watched you grow up. I actually helped your father put together you dollhouse and bike for Christmas a couple of times."
"I still can't believe he lied to me," Varali said.
"Don't blame him. If anything, blame me. Your father was just doing what he was told," her mother replied.
Varali stared at her mother, but soon her vision blurred as tears sprang to her eyes. Her mother reached out to her. "Come here. Let's get you to bed." With that, her mother got up from the bed and pulled back the covers. Once Varali was settled inside, her mother joined her, pulling her into her arms. With her mother stroking her hair, Varali was almost asleep. She shifted to look at her mother.
"I need to know something before I go to sleep," she said.
"What's that, honey?"
"Do you still love dad?"
"Oh yes," her mother replied, "maybe more than I did all those years ago."
With that, Varali finally fell asleep.