Chapter 196: A Mother’s Secret

Opening the door, Rachel strode inside to drop into a couch. "You two seem to be having a lovely time chatting about my awkward teenage years. Way to be that mom, Mom."

Her mother swept her bangs behind her ears with a smile. "You were never the embarrassed type, so don’t think you’re teasing me, Sweetie. I’ve heard whispers that you were plotting something behind my back this morning."

Rachel lifted an eyebrow at the fire-haired Legend.

"I didn’t say a word. Your mom’s scary informed; she knew all sorts of stuff about Amelia and me. I can see where you get that side," he laughed as her mother winked at her. "Spy work runs in the blood, huh?"

"Pfft! I’d hardly call her sneaking into school to keep tabs on me ’spy work,’ but you can call it what you want. Wait, what do you know about him and Amelia, Mom?"

Her mother put a finger to her lips. "Secrets! And that’s not fair," her mother huffed, a light glare making Rachel’s stomach hurt. "I was very active in your schools. Why couldn’t I check up on my daughter while being on the Florida Board of Education? Those were fond years..."

Rachel’s ears fell forward a tad as she recalled her mother’s resignation from the board shortly after the accident. Sure, her mom had a lot of contacts and did a lot of community things, but it was never as big as it had been when Rachel was younger.

"I bet they were."

Crossing her legs, she leaned against the comfortable and historic couch, where powerful people from across the world had sat. It was time to get down to business.

"Mom... I wanted to talk about your shaman powers. Did you bring your tools?"

The light atmosphere tempered as her mother sighed and, for some reason, gave Anthony a gentle smile. "I suppose it is time for me to answer that constant thunderstorm hanging over your head?"

"My what?" the man asked, glancing at her for an explanation, yet Rachel could only offer a shrug back.

Her mother rose to her feet, prompting Rachel to do the same.

"Allow me to fetch my items. I’ll only need one... The spirit world wants to be heard. For once, it is them entreating us rather than the other way around. One moment..."

Swapping to Korean and following her out of the room, Rachel grabbed her elbow. "Wait, Mom, did the spirits tell you about Anthony’s request? How does all of this work?"

Her mother put a finger to her lips as they neared their room; her father was sleeping inside, having gone to bed at his typical time of 9 p.m. Voice becoming hushed as she opened the door, she used the hall light and cracked the door to reach her suitcase.

"I can speak to many types of entities beyond our veil; spirits are just a catch-all term people use. Many come to me for advice or help... I cannot offer much, but the world on the other side is not so peaceful and free of strife. In fact... quite the opposite. Oh, fiddlesticks, your father must have moved my bells when he was getting my perfume when I was in the shower."

"TMI, Mom... Oh, it’s over there."

"Where?" Her mother squinted in the dark, but to Rachel, it was as good as day. "I can’t..."

"I’ve got it," she mumbled, moving to her mother’s side of the bed to snatch it off the bedside counter. "Dad probably..."

"Mmmgm. Do you need anything, Chan-hee?"

"No, Darling," she soothed. "Go back to sleep; I’ll be in shortly."

"Mmm."

Rachel was a tad surprised to find her air locked in her lungs, trying not to make a squeak as if she were in the middle of doing something wrong. Letting it go, she was careful with the bell so as to keep it from tinkling while following her mother into the hall.

Once the door was shut, her mother chuckled and accepted the colorful brass bell. "Your father is such a light sleeper. He used to wake up every night when your brother was twelve, and he would sneak downstairs to get a midnight snack."

"Nam? No way," Rachel scoffed, unable to see her brother taking that risk; she heard him and his wife sleeping in a room on the 3rd level. "But seriously, Mom, I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything. I’m just... worried."

Her mother gulped and looked down at her bell with a fond expression. "...I’m not lying to you, but I am keeping secrets, my little bun."

"Mom..." she growled, tail and ears twitching at the nickname.

Suppressing a giggle, her mother nudged her head toward the room Anthony was in. "You hated that nickname even as a little girl. Do you remember me chasing you around, threatening to steal your tail if you didn’t eat your vegetables?"

"No," Rachel whispered with a small smile, "but I can picture it... You’re purposefully changing the topic. What are you scared of?"

Stopping in the hallway, just outside the room, her mother drew in a breath, focusing on the carpet. "Something... horrific that I hope you will never have to experience." Her motherly brown eyes lifted to look into hers. "It is not anything you can fight or punch... Your worst fear. And I will never do anything to hurt you, and telling you the whole story will hurt you... in more ways than you can imagine. I can’t hurt my daughter... I can’t hurt your brother or your father. So, please... drop it."

A shiver ran down Rachel’s spine at her firm tone; it was perhaps the most adult conversation they’d had. "Okay." She couldn’t say anything more. "I’ll drop it."

Rising up on her tippy-toes, her mother kissed her cheek and brushed back her bangs with a sad smile. "I know you won’t be able to say that forever... I do so love how respectful you are of me and your father. I am so lucky to be your mother... Now, let’s summon Anthony’s guest and some bunnies that couldn’t be more opposed."

Rachel couldn’t release the tension around her chest with a sigh as her mother returned to the room with a cheery smile, returning to English. Her mom had never lied to her; sure, she tried to hide her guilt, grief, and pain, but whenever asked, she always told the truth, which was something Rachel respected about her parents. Yet, something wasn’t right, and she wanted to destroy whatever was threatening her mother.