Daughter of Dusk
Chapter Twenty-two: Evangeline

In the next moment, Teagan returns, placing an old file folder on the table before sitting down with us. “Here’s what I found. Everything that was ever recorded about her should be in here.”

I reach for the file, about to open its contents, when I’m suddenly overcome by a feeling I don’t recognize, but the closest thing I can tie it to is guilt.

These people are so willing to help me . . . but why? I’m not really giving them anything in return. Why do I feel I even deserve their kindness?

“You – you all don’t need to be doing all this for me,” I start.

Blaire snaps her head up and frowns, a flash of hurt crossing her eyes. “Why would you say something like that? We’re all willing to help you.” Her face relaxes with a light giggle. “Besides, I think all of us are curious about everything to do with your mysteriousness.”

“I know, I know,” I backpedal. “I suppose I’m just not used to it.”

“Well, get used to it, darling.” She winks.

I smile back and open the file, and the first thing I see is a photograph of a girl who looks to be in her twenties. She has a small face, like me, with bright blue eyes that reflect the ocean in the distance. Her skin is an olive tone – also like me – with straight brown hair. Her smile appears to be staged for the photo, but there’s still a kind, genuine quality to it. Bangs are cut straight across her forehead and just above her eyebrows, framing her face. Even from here, I can pick up on her gentle persona, and this is only a photo. I can only imagine what she was like in real life.

“She’s striking,” I breathe, before turning to the group. “You all think I resemble her?”

“I don’t think, I know,” Blaire starts, “look at the two of you side by side. It’s uncanny!”

As I study the photo more, I realize she’s right. If you replaced my eyes with blue ones, there wouldn’t be much that’s different.

Perhaps my hunch is right. But who’s to say this isn’t all just a farce? Putting together information and crafting a story that doesn’t even exist?

“I think she may have been my mother. Just . . . I guess just based on her resemblance to me, the fact that she was seen with a Shadow Wielder.” I trail off, shaking my head. “But I don’t know. This is all speculation. I don’t even know if that Shadow Wielder was my father. I just, I don’t know what to think.”

“But if it was your Father,” Mychal presses. “Then, maybe she was the reason he was here.”

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.

Is this why Father kept coming to Kera? To see Evangeline?

It would certainly explain why he stayed under the radar when he was here. Or, tried to.

“When did she die?” I ask solemnly, flipping through the pages of the folder.

“Oh, that’d be at the very back, here.” Teagan helps me pull out a report from . . . seventeen years ago. As long as I’ve been alive.

No, that’s just a coincidence.

Evangeline, aged 32, passed away on May 10, 2215, of sickness. Everyone who knew Evangeline knew she was a special woman, one that brought light and happiness into the lives of everyone she met. Kera has lost a truly wonderful soul. You could always count on her to be a shoulder to cry on, a peacekeeper, and everything in between. A tiny, unassuming person who carried the strength and poise of someone double her age. You’ve left this world too soon, we all look forward to seeing you again one day, in another life.

The words cause the corners of my eyes to prick with tears, my heart aching in my chest.

Whether or not this woman was my mother is irrelevant. The world clearly lost her too soon. I wish I could have known her.

But then my mind flashes back to the memory from when I was in the dungeons.

“Try and remember this feeling as long as you can, okay? I love you so much, my girl.”

Warmth fills me, expanding from my heart all the way to the tips of my fingers.

Maybe I did know her. For that fraction of a time.

“You all right?” Blaire places a hand on my shoulder.

I take a breath, rubbing my eyes. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

I look back at the page and realize the date. May 10, 2215. . . a week after my birthday.

“Teagan, is there any record of her being pregnant before this?” I ask.

She flips through the pages before shaking her head. “Doesn’t look like it.”

Then this couldn’t be my mother. There would have to be some record of a pregnancy if she was . . . right?

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Mychal reassures. “She might still be your mother.”

“But how could she? There’s no record of her pregnancy anywhere. Not even in the obituary here. The fact that I look like her and that she was seen with a Shadow Wielder is just a coincidence.”

“Maybe. Or . . .” Blaire taps her fingers on the table. “There’s the more sinister possibility that it didn’t get recorded on purpose.”

“Is that allowed?” I ask.

“No. I don’t know, it was just an idea. Dying to sickness is pretty vague, maybe it was part of that?”

“I think they would at least specify a pregnancy if that were the case.”

“Good point.” Blaire sighs. “But it doesn’t take away the chances of something, or someone, not wanting it recorded.”

“I don’t know,” I breathe. “It seems like a stretch.”

Maybe this woman isn’t my mother. It seems to be that way. Perhaps we have the wrong person.

I scan the pages of the obituary again before my mind perks up and I glance at Teagan.

“Wait, Teagan, you said Evangeline and your mother were friends, right? Would she know about a mystery pregnancy?”

Teagan shrugs. “I don’t think so. She told me they had a big falling out about a year before she died. She never told me what it was about, only that she didn’t agree with some decisions Evangeline was making. What those decisions were, I don’t know.”

A year before I was born . . . and that lines up with the times the Shadow Wielder was spotted around the island.

Is that why they had a falling out? Because Evangeline was with Father?

No, there couldn’t be a connection there. How could there be? This is all just speculation anyway. Besides, even if them together presents an answer for my Aether abilities, how could such a gentle soul fall for someone like Father?

None of this makes any sense.

This is all too much.

I put my head in my hands as Blaire puts her hand on my shoulder again.

“Come on,” Blaire helps me up. “Let’s go for a walk. Just you and me.”

I’m about to tell her no, but one glance in her green eyes changes my mind.

You can trust her, Luna. She wants to help you. Let her.

I grab the amulet from the table, pulling it over my head again as I follow Blaire out of the Archives. I savour the warmth of the sun on my skin as our shoes click on the white sidewalk and let the sensations filter my stress away.

“If I’m the reason you’re overwhelmed, I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t mean to – I - I’m sorry if I or anyone else overstepped your boundaries.”

I give her a reassuring glance as her green eyes buzz with energy. “No, none of you did anything wrong. It’s just a lot to take in, is all.”

She breathes a sigh of relief as we enter one of the quieter streets lined with houses. “Good. And I know. I can only imagine what is going through your head right now.”

I sigh. “I want to believe that Evangeline was my mother and that the Shadow Wielder she was seen with was Father. It would explain how I have Aether powers, but all the signs seem to be pointing against it. There aren’t enough pieces to finish the puzzle, so to speak.”

“Is there a place in Zala that might have the so-called missing pieces?”

I think for a moment. I know Father won’t tell me, and I’m certain I won’t find what I need in my library. Maybe I could get it out of Nox or Melinoe somehow.

Ha, absolutely not. There’s no telling if they even know about Father’s past anyway.

Maybe someone in Soren’s village would know . . .no, why would they? I know for a fact they wouldn’t know something so intimate about his life. Where could I possibly go?

I gasp as my thoughts click together in my mind.

The study. How did I not see it before?

Blaire turns to me. “What is it?”

“I think I know where to go to figure this out,” I trail off. “It’s not exactly a place I’m allowed to be, though. I don’t know what will happen if I get caught.”

“Sounds mysterious.” She pauses, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Be careful, okay? Well, I know you will be, but, er,” she sighs. “You know what I mean.”

“Ha, I will.”

“I mean it. I haven’t known you that long, but I consider you a friend, you know. If I never see you again, I won’t forgive you.”

I chuckle. “I’ll be back. I promise.”

She plays with her curly hair with her fingers, smiling to herself.

I find my mind wandering to Soren in the next moment before a realization hits me.

If I don’t need the amulet to survive here, then I could give it back to him.

And then . . . he could come here with me.

I smile to myself as I play with the dark stone between my fingers.

Blaire nudges me. “Whatcha thinking about?”

I glance at her. “Oh just . . . the person who gave me the amulet. He – well – I’d love to bring him to this world one day.”

“Sounds like you like him,” she teases. “What’s his name?”

“Just a little.” I smile, fidgeting with my fingers. “His name is Soren.”

“Well, he better treat you right. You deserve it.”

“He does, don’t worry.” I grin as heat rises to my cheeks. “He’s everything I could ever want.”

“Can’t wait to meet him.” She bites her lip with a grin.

“I’m sure you will, in one way or another.”

“Hmm.” She looks down before changing the subject. “I know I mentioned it earlier, and I’m not trying to pressure you or anything, but I think it’d be really amazing if you took on the leadership thing. You know, when you stay for good.”

I think for a moment. “Maybe. We’ll see. But I’m not ready to leave Zala just yet. I still need to find out all this about Evangeline, and I think Zala is the only place that will have the definitive answers I need.”

“And . . . after that? What happens then?”

“After that, I . . .I think I might stay here. My Father is a very dangerous man, so if I leave his grasp but stay in Zala, I’ll constantly be on the run. My best course of action is to come here.” I smile. “For good. And then I’ll see what the future holds about fulfilling the prophecy and becoming a leader.”

Coming here would likely be the best course of action for Soren too. I wouldn’t dream of putting him through Father’s persecution. But I’ll speak to him about it when I’m back.

Blaire puts an arm around my shoulder. “Well, in that case, I hope you find what you need in Zala. And you better make it back.”

I look up at the blue sky once more, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face.

I really do belong here.

But for now, it’s time to find out if Evangeline was really my mother and discover the truth of what happened between her and Father all those years ago.

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