Chapter Thirty Seven
The Reveal
The sun soothed Kayde’s sore skin as he lay in the reclining lawn chair, his eyes closed. Its warmth blanketed him as he breathed in the fresh air. This was heaven after spending so much time confined in a hospital bed. His body was still tired and sore, but he was going to live. Birds sang vigorously and, for once, Kayde enjoyed their music. The sounds of passing cars mixed with cheerful voices and the mouth watering aroma of grilling burgers and steaks. Kayde allowed himself a faint smile, listening as his dad’s contagious laughter trailed through the sweet summer air.
His parents had arrived the day after Becca had saved his life. They’d flown, terrified of what they’d learned, concerned that they would be too late. But Becca’s sacrifice had been successful. Kayde lived, and his gift had been restored. A lump caught in his throat, thinking of how she’d been so ready to give her life for his sake.
He didn’t deserve it. Even after all of that, after what they’d been through, Kayde still struggled with the dark music. It lingered at the edges of his defenses, waiting for him to have a weak moment. Would he ever be rid of it? A bitter taste touched his thoughts as a frustrated tear collected at the corner of his eye.
Soft lips touched that tear, kissing it away. Kayde opened his eyes to gaze into Becca’s beautiful blues. She was even more perfect than the day he’d met her, if such a thing was possible. Her head blocked the sun from his face, but its light shone through her strawberry hair, giving her a well deserved halo.
“Hey,” she spoke softly, her voice causing joy to jump through Kayde’s heart. “What’s wrong? We’re all safe now, remember?” She stroked his hair from his forehead, her touch sending pulsing energy through his entire body. His previous dark thoughts dissolved as she leaned closer. Their connection was stronger since that day in the hospital.
“Caroline is in prison,” Becca continued. “And the book was destroyed. We have no worries.”
Kayde stroked her cheek gently with his finger tips, reveling in the look of passion it invoked in her eyes. “I know,” he said softly. “I just don’t want to ever almost lose you again.”
Becca leaned over and kissed him, possibly not the best thing to do when they were surrounded by friends and family. The electricity between the intimate gestures nearly caused Kayde to lose any control he had left.
But they were somehow able to pull apart, Becca’s eyes glossy with emotion. After Kayde caught his breath, he smirked at her. “You know you’ll have to marry me soon, don’t you? I can’t control myself forever.”
Red blossomed over Becca’s cheeks as she gave him a sly smile. “I’m ready when you are.”
Kayde gaped at her, surprised at her confident answer. Becca giggled her special, music-box giggle. She leaned forward again to try another kiss. As if on cue, one of Mrs. K’s cats leapt onto Kayde’s chest, causing him to grunt and release a curse under his breath. Becca laughed and stroked the purring animal. “They really do like you, Kayde.”
Rolling his eyes, Kayde shoved the cat to the grass and sat up just as Mrs. K called, “Dinner’s ready!”
Becca helped Kayde limp along as everyone gathered around a long table that had been set up in Mrs. Kline’s yard. Paper plates had been set out as the day proved wind free and pleasant. The table held a meal suitable for several kings; grilled steak and burgers stacked to insane heights in the center of the table; an enormous bowl of freshly made potato salad waited tantalizingly next to a plate of steaming corn on the cob; other salads, chips, baked beans, and rolls filled in the rest of the spaces.
After saying a prayer, Mrs. Kline encouraged everyone to dig in. Kayde smiled at his sister, Tayla, as she giggled and talked almost faster than the speed of sound. Becca sat next to her, listening carefully to her, throwing in a word or two when Tayla took a breath.
Kayde’s parents talked animatedly as they passed food around. He’d been so happy to see them. How could he have ever wanted to run away? The guilt touched his heart again. Kayde wanted desperately to take advantage of the second chance Becca had given him and prove to his family he’d changed. But he had to convince himself first.
Becca beamed at Chris as she passed him the plate of corn. His blue eyes seemed brighter than usual as he smiled at his sister. Chris’ eyes turned to Kayde and they gave each other a friendly nod. Chris accepted him, as always, for which Kayde was beyond thankful.
Mrs. K’s voice bubbled out at everyone, mixing into the conversation. Kayde chuckled. The woman had been more than surprising in the past couple of weeks. She had admitted to being the one sending the clues to Becca, slipping the de-faced photos into her pocket, mailing her Kayde’s bank card, and finding the gift and taking it to Becca’s house when no one was looking. She’d wanted Becca to remember him. He’d be forever grateful to her.
Even after all that, after she’d tried so hard to help Becca remember, the woman had gone even further. Somehow, she’d found out what was happening in Toby’s basement and called the authorities. It was because of her that they were all alive and whole today.
As the conversation died slightly, Kayde took the opportunity to speak. “Mrs. K, I’ve been meaning to ask what you meant when you told Becca about having ancient books and about Henry’s music having magic. Was Henry one of us? Was he a music mage?”
Becca had told Kayde that she’d revealed everything to Mrs. K. After all she’d done, telling her the truth had been the least they could do, although the woman had mysteriously already known most of the story.
She smiled at him now, her eyes alive with adventure. “Yes, dear. Mr. Kline was, as you call it, a music mage. I kept that secret for so long,” she giggled before continuing. The rest of the table was silent as everyone hung on her words. “Henry was a descendant of one of the mage’s who’d been stripped of their gift by that horrible man. Henry had this book, given to his ancestors by that man’s wife. It lists in detail the original names, new names, and cities to which this woman helped relocate the victims in order to keep their offspring safe from others like her husband.
“Caroline’s book was similar to mine, and it included the spell for extracting a mage’s gift, as we all know. But, my book contains a lot more. That, dear Becca, was how I knew a master could not only take a mage’s gift, but return it as well.
“Now,” she waved her fork at Kayde and his family, “I think I’ve figured out where you all came from.”
Kayde and his family became statues, stunned into silence. Kayde felt Becca’s hand squeeze his arm. His dad was first to find his voice. “You have no idea how long we’ve been searching for that information. Please, tell us.” His face took on a youthful excitement as he looked expectantly at Mrs. K.
Mrs. K was exuberant. “I’ll do one better, Mr. Harper. Wait here.” She leapt out of her chair and was in and out of the house before anyone knew what was happening. She carried a thick, fragile looking volume in her hands. The covers and pages of the book were tied together with newer straps of leather.
Shoving plates and food aside, Kayde’s dad made room for her to place to book on the table. Everyone leaned in, trying to see better. Mrs. K opened the pages carefully, quickly scanning each yellowed paper as she leafed through them. A tree was drawn on each page with names along the trunks and branches; family trees.
“Ah, here we are!” Mrs. K exclaimed. Kayde’s heart skipped a beat. His mother smiled up at him quickly, then rested her gaze back on the book. “Look, this name here, ‘Deering’. I believe this is your family. It lists that Clive Deering and his wife, Amelia, were wood workers, making boxes, and instruments” she looked up with her eyes at Kayde’s dad, “and teaching others to play instruments.” Her eyes met Kayde’s mom’s. She looked back and forth between Kayde’s parents for a moment before continuing. “Although they made a lot of music boxes and other instruments, the Deering’s specialty was harps.
Hence, the change in name to…”
“Harper,” Kayde’s dad breathed.
“Yes!” Mrs. Kline clapped her hands together. “They didn’t move far, either. Just over to Melstone City and, later, some of them to Canada. They continued to teach their offspring to make musical devices, but didn’t pass on the information about their inner musical gifts. Although Clive no longer had his ability, the magic was still in his genetics and was passed to his offspring. This explains the gifts you posses today.” Mrs. Kline released a bubbly laugh, overjoyed with her discoveries.
“I can’t believe, after all these years, we finally have the answers,” Kayde’s dad said. They all sat back in their seats, silent in thought. After a minute or two, Kayde’s dad spoke again. “Mrs. Kline, maybe you could tell us then, something else that’s been bothering us for some time. When we lived in Melstone City, my wife and I came to Glenville for an auction sale. It was at that house,” he glanced at Kayde quickly before continuing, “that house where Kayde was kept. An overpowering fear drove us away. Well,” he said, gazing at his wife, “It scared me away, at least. I never could explain it, but I’ll never forget it either.”
“Well,” Mrs. Kline answered, “That was the house where all the horror happened so long ago. So many music mage’s had their magic torn from them, even killing some of them. Your ancestor was one who survived. Negative energy from Caroline and her spells probably filled that house in more recent times. Perhaps one of your abilities as a mage is sensing a threat to yourself and your kind.”
“I had the same sensation when I was near there,” Kayde spoke, not entirely successful at keeping his voice steady. Becca wrapped her arm around his shoulders for comfort. “I’m not sorry the place burned to the ground.”
A police cruiser pulled in then, interrupting the conversation. After it parked, Officer Adams and Toby stepped out of the vehicle. They were both dressed in suits, looking out of place at the casual gathering.
“Sorry we’re late,” Adams said smiling. Mrs. K stood, allowing him to give her a peck on the cheek. She giggled bashfully before returning to her seat. “The memorial service lasted longer than we expected. Terrance had more friends than we thought possible.”
Kayde felt no remorse over Terrance’s death, only that the man had suffered so many delusions in life. He was thankful the young policeman hadn’t died by his hand--or voice. He’d been surprised to learn that Toby had wanted to go to the memorial service. But he’d told him and Becca that it would help give him closure. Plus, he wanted to make sure Terrance was really dead--the villains in his books always came back to life for revenge.
Toby approached and squeezed Kayde’s shoulder. “Glad to see you out of that hospital bed, Kayde,” he said.
“Thanks, man. Glad to be out of it,” Kayde answered as Becca stood and wrapped her arms around Toby’s wiry frame. Her left arm, finally free of its cast, was thinner than the other.
The meal continued, the conversation jumping from one subject to the next; mostly, they talked about music mages and all that had happened. Mrs. K wasn’t sure where Becca’s family descended from, but she’d suspected since her parents’ deaths that Chris and Becca were special, too. Chris singing at the funeral was her biggest clue. She even had suspicions, but no proof, that Catherine may have been responsible for the Snow’s deaths.
“As soon as I heard Catherine spouting rumors about your dad being a drunk, I knew something was up. Your parents may have been on to her little schemes. Who knows? Anyway, my cats never liked her much, either,” Mrs. K said, giving Becca a knowing wink.
Later, Toby pulled Becca and Kayde aside. “I haven’t really had the chance to thank you both for everything you’ve done. And to apologize, Kayde, for being such an idiot. I could’ve helped so much more if I’d had my head on straight.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Toby,” Becca answered immediately. “You couldn’t have possibly known what was going on with your mother. She had everyone fooled for awhile.”
“Don’t sweat it, Toby. Besides, you were always looking out for Becca. In my book, that’s worth a lot,” Kayde said, and he meant it.
“Thanks,” Toby said, looking shyly down at his shoes. His cell chimed then. A huge smile spread across his lips as he looked at the phone. “Tara will be here in a minute to pick me up. We have a date.”
Kayde chuckled as Becca squealed and hugged her friend. “I’m so happy for you, Toby. She’s beautiful. But, are you going to be okay? I mean, living on your own? You can still stay with me and Chris, you know.”
In spite of the sadness in Toby’s eyes, his words were reassuring, “Becca, I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than I’ve been in a long time. Mom’s where she belongs, and Dad’s getting the therapy he needs. I think he’ll be okay after awhile. Besides,” a sly grin touched the corners of his mouth, “I have an appointment to meet my birth parents next Saturday. They’re coming to Glenville.”
“Are you serious?” Becca said, slugging Toby’s shoulder. “You will tell me EVERYTHING! Do you understand? And pictures! Lots of pictures! Do you think I could meet them?”
“I don’t know yet, Becca. You’ll be the first to know, I promise,” Toby laughed as a blue mustang pulled in. He waved quickly before hopping into the sports car and left.
As much as it pained them both, Becca and Kayde said their farewells later that night. Kayde’s family was staying with him at Mrs. K’s. He was exhausted, but wanted so desperately to have Becca lying beside him through the night. It was a comforting thought, but only a thought for now. He’d have to remedy that soon.