“Yes.” I shoot her a guilty look. “I totally left them a note when I took it.”
“I’m sure it’s fine that you borrowed it; I’m glad the book exists at all.” Mom lets out a long breath. “Zeke’s parents are remarkable people. You wouldn’t believe what went into keeping their mansion, let alone their library. It’s the last bit of our old world left. In many ways, our only connection to the outside realms.”
I could dance around the room, I am so pumped about the info I’m getting right now. Tell me more! “So, what was it like, being a Senator?”
“Let’s see.” Mom starts reciting facts like she’s leading a tour. “Purgatory once had a Senate with 100 representatives. Our family held the diplomacy seat for generations.”
My head wags from side to side. “How am I your daughter and this never came up in conversation with anyone?” I shoot her a look that says ‘and that means you, too.’
“No one noticed me after the war and I wanted to keep it that way.” She picks stray threads from her weathered comforter. “Armageddon took over Purgatory for one reason: to get more souls in Hell. In the Senate, we gave souls every chance to get to Heaven. It’s only fair. Demons don’t need souls to survive. Consuming souls is just a drug to them, a high.” Her eyes flash with a bit of red, something I’ve never seen before. I knew Mom had wrath powers like me, but I figured she somehow only inherited the tail and not the temper.
“How can we let them get away with this?” My eyes burn with anger. “The ghouls teach us that quasis are basically the biggest losers in history.” I point toward my room. “I’ll make copies of that book and hand it out to other kids at school. Maybe I’ll grab even more books from the library–”
“Myla, no!” Mom grips my hands. “We can’t take that risk. You have to understand. Armageddon’s war was more than a takeover; it was a massacre. He wanted to wipe out any memories of the old ways, the generosity, the tolerance. Who knows what they’d do if someone started bringing up the republic again?”
“I don’t care. People have a right to know.” I jut out my chin. “Besides, I’ve fought evil.”
Mom’s features sag. “Not this kind of evil.” She stares out the window at the rain. “This is the kind of darkness that can’t stand even a glimmer of light.” She turns to me, her face lined with tears. “During the wars, they hunted down and killed every member of the Lewis family, save for me.”
My forehead creases as I wait for this news to seep through my mind. Every relative dead? I picture the happy faces in the diplomacy offices. Shock waves run through my body. That can’t be right. “I thought there were Lewises in Lower Purgatory. I wanted to meet them.” Plus Grandma, Dani, and the million other Lewises from the diplomatic offices.
“Those folks have the name, but they’re not part-Furor. None of them have our fight in their veins.” Her bloodshot eyes lock with mine. “The ghouls wiped out anyone who could be next in line for our Senate seat. Anyone who could remember or resist.” Her eyes glisten. “It wasn’t just us; they targeted all Senators.” Her voice breaks, and the sound cracks my heart in a way I never thought possible.
“We can talk about this later.” I half-rise from the bed.
Mom sets her hand on my arm. “No, you’re right. You deserve to know your heritage.”
I sit back down beside my mother, my mind spinning. “I don’t get it. Why did you and I survive?”
Mom bites her lip. “A friend sacrificed everything so I’d be safe. When you were born, the protection applied to you as well.”
My throat tightens. “Who was that person? Was it my father?”
Mom squeezes her eyes shut, fresh tears glide down her cheeks. “That’s all I can tell you right now, Myla.”
I know my mother well enough to realize one thing: that answer means ‘yes.’ Yes, your father died to save us both. And more. A web of dark secrets still hangs around this house. Part of me wants to grab her shoulders, force her to tell me more and tear the sadness from our lives. Another part feels super-guilty for having pushed as hard as I have. She looks red-eyed and miserable.
Trembling, Mom sets her hand over her mouth. “I need some time alone.” She sucks in a shaky breath. “We’ll talk again after Verus’s next visit.”
I rise to my feet. Rage, empathy, and guilt battle it out inside me. I force myself to step toward the door. Best to end this before we both lose it. “Okay, Mom.” I walk away, gently closing the door behind me. Her quiet sobs echo through the house.