Merry Christmas to anyone reading currently or happy day to anyone else! Enjoy! 😈

Thanks for the save guys, Hestia says to us, but I still think Father is onto us.

No really? Who'd have guessed that?

Shut it Sammy.

We wait in our rooms for an hour. I read my favorite book, Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince, one of the few books translated from the old era. The entire series had been remarkably famous. I own the only known copy, it's such a great book. Before I knew it, it was time to visit mother.

Sammy goes in first, pushing the door open. Then the rest of us followed. Mother is staring at the wall, digging her nails into her hand, almost without thinking.

"Hello, Mother." She jumps and flinches at Z's words, then relaxes when she sees its him. I wonder who she thought it was. She's not really scared of anything.

"Why are you guys here? I'm pretty sure a month is not over yet." Her words and face seem calm but something seems turbulent beneath.

"We were wondering... Do you know Clover? The maid?" Tia inquires.

"No. Why would you ask?" Mother replies. She is lying. I don't know how I know, but she is.

"No reason. By the way mother, we have a project from Uncle Julian."

"What is it?" Mother questions. She sounds like she doesn't have any questions about her knowing Clover.

"We are to write a paper on how you and father met. And we want your perspective." Mother's shoulders tighten. Her eyes are looking far away.

"No," Mother says in a clipped voice. We look at each other. She never says no. And she never has an attitude. Mother is placid. I wonder what's bothering her. She must be sick. Or rather, sicker than usual. She has always never truly been well.

But there is feeling that I used to have, an uneasy feeling. It lessened when mother said no. Could that be mother's true attitude? "Is there anything else? No? Well, go. I need to be alone," she laughs bitterly.

We leave, shocked. What was that?! Sammy screams in our heads.

"Mother lied!" I said.

"Mother was mad!" said Tia.

"What is going on???" says Z.

"Did you guys used to have a weird feeling that went away?" Asks Sammy. We all respond in shocked tones "yes!".

"I think the release of the feeling means the truth. We always have a funny feeling when someone lies to us." I say.

"Does that mean mother has been lying to us for years?" Tia says.

"Anything's possible," Sammy says, "But whatever you do, don't tell father. He can't know. Mother would have his wrath for lying, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Clear?"

"Clear," we all say. Sammy will be a great king someday.

——————————-2 years later——————————-

"Happy birthday guys!" I say. It's our eighteenth birthday. Sammy will have Queenstrial in a week, and we'll be betrothed in two. "I have some presents for you!" I hand out what I made, story's I hand wrote about them. Tia hands out homemade mini apple pies. She makes them every year and they are amazing! Z gives us pocket paintings of us together. He is so artistic. Sammy made little charms, either fire or lightning, with our initials on them. We each gush about how amazing each gift is, as we do ever year. "What do you think mother and father will give us?" We end up coming up with no ideas, as Father's mind is just as labyrinthine as always. Our birthday outfits are reminiscent of the outfits we wore during that portrait session.

Essentially, uncomfortable. We hear a knock on the door. Clover walks in. She doesn't call us prince or princess anymore. We bonded over having hard family life. She gives us four four leaf clovers. There was this ancient superstition that they were good luck.

We hug, and decide to head over early to mother's room. Ever since that odd day two years ago we have never again allowed ourselves to miss a second, because we have discovered something new. We have the power of a whisper. Our brain connection and our ability to tell truth from lies apparently stem from that. If we show up early enough we can find the truth from mother. We never really do though, Father always seems to be there.

When we get to the room, we wait outside. "Maven Calore, don't you dare!" We hear a female shout.
"Mare, do I need mention that I am king, and I do whatever I want," Father says in a exhausted tone. I hear a slap.
"You only mention that every time I disagree with you. Don't touch her."

"Julian could-"

"You are paranoid. Was killing your brother, father, most of the Scarlet Guard, and my family, not enough for you?!"

"If I recall, you were the one in arena."

"With a whisper in my head. And that was your cousin. Let him go, you literally control him. He would not do anything resulting in harm for Sara."

"Do I get payment?" Father inquires.

"Was there a choice?" Mother shoots back. Father pauses.

"You know how attractive you look when you're angry?"

"Shut your mouth Calore. Let's get it over with," mother says and then both of them fall silent. Mother has never really outwardly fought with father but we have never shown up this early. Those two details must be connected. A couple minutes later Father exits, looking rather pleased with himself.

"Go in children," says Father. We bite our tongues to avoid arguing that we are in fact adults, "I will be back with your presents presently. Your mother already is ready to give you yours." We walk in to the room and nod to the Arvens protecting her from the harm she fears. Mother's face is bright red. Suddenly she beams, erasing any look of discomfort.

She does this a lot. In fact, we notice, when we are early we can hear things that we would never even hear otherwise. Smashing things, shouts, things being ripped, tears, and so many things. She is hard to read, but today that will change.

"How are you? How does it feel to be 18? Goo-" She suddenly stops talking when our minds slam into hers. It's a struggle for us, but it is still possible. Stay out! She shouts in our heads. She puts up a defense just as strong as a brick wall. Our minds ram toward it and we suddenly are back in our own heads groaning. But mother is shaking, from fear, or exhaustion I don't know. "Don't. Touch. My. Mind," she says, in a controlled temper.

She whispers something like I can't live through that again. Just as the door starts to open, she smiles and says, "And here are your gifts. Crowns for each of you, including Sammy, they are newly made." She hands out the delicate crowns for me and Tia, and firmer crowns for the boys.

Suddenly, one of the young members of house Avren walks in with a senior member. They guard her, day and night to protect her.

"Is something wrong Your majesty?" The adult arven with green eyes hisses, "we thought we heard noise."

"I'm sure you did. You are right outside. The noises came from my children," she spits back, "are there any other questions? I'm sure you have more important things to do." The Arven curtly nods and leaves. What was that about?

I'm about to talk, when father walks in. And begins to distribute his presents.

P.S. if you guys can vote when you read that would be a great present for me. No pressure though, enjoy your life.