Fated Triad: Shadows of the Forbidden Moon

Ariel's POV

My pulse stopped for a moment. Marie hadn't seen since that day at the estate, and our previous meeting hadn't exactly been cordial. Part of me yearned to turn and sprint, to go as far away from her as might be. Another side of me, nevertheless, was inquisitive about her wants and the reasons behind her following of me.

"What do you want, Marie??" My voice quivering somewhat, I asked.

She smiled, a distorted one that escaped her sight. All I want to do is talk. There is some unfinished business here.

Uncompleted business? Tension permeated the words as they hung there. Though I knew better than to believe her, something told me I could not dodge this conversation indefinitely. If she were here, it suggested she had a motive-a motive connected to the secrets I was so feverishly searching for.

I hesitated, looking at the vacant street. The reasonable side of me shrieked to leave, to resist her dragging me into whatever game she was engaged in. But apprehension and a natural curiosity drew me toward the car.

I inhaled deeply, then opened the door and slid into the passenger side. The inside of the automobile was as black and chilly as Marie's stare; the leather seats practically felt too smooth under my hands. The door softly clicked to lock me inside with her.

Marie drove off without saying a word; the car slid effortlessly down the road. Every second that went by simply heightening the suspense, the quiet between us felt oppressive. She seemed uncomfortable, and I knew whatever she was about to say would not be appropriate.

She talked at last, after what seemed like a lifetime.

She continued, her voice flat and icy: "I know about Alan."

My blood ran frigid. "What do you mean?"? Trying to keep my voice calm, I asked.

She fixed me a sidelong glance with narrowed eyes. "Don't pretend to be dumb, Ariel. He can walk, as I know of. For some time, I have known.

I bit hard, my head whirling. Knowing would mean who else Marie knew? And for Alan as well as for me?

"What are you looking for, Marie?" I repeated, my patience fraying.

She laughed quietly, a sound that made my spine chillingly cold. "I wish what is mine, Ariel. What is ours? Alan has been playing us all like fools; I am done pretending I do not know the truth.

I scowled, uncertainty and distrust whirling inside me. "What are you referring to? What reality?

With the tires crunching against the gravel, she drew the car into an empty parking lot. The lot was hardly illuminated, and the flickering lamps created ghostly shadows all around us. She shut off the engine and looked at me, her face austere. Her voice lowered to a whisper, "The truth about our family," she continued. "Dad has been hiding truths for years. And Alan the secret to all of it is Alan.

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My heart hammering in my chest, the words hardly registered. Our family? Secrets, huh? And Alan was, somehow, at the center of it all? Though the elements of the puzzle were beginning to fit, the image they created was more horrific than I could have dreamed of.

What are you saying, Marie? My voice just above a whisper, I asked.

She bent forward, her gaze fixed on mine. "Everything you believed you knew about our family, about Alan, about why he has been hiding-all of which is a lie. And should you fail to assist me in revealing the truth, we will both find ourselves trapped in the crossfire.

Her voice carried actual terror that would have terrified me more than anything else. Marie was several things, but she was never terrified at least not until lately. Whatever this was, it exceeded both of us and the stakes were larger than I had known.

"I'm not sure," I answered, shaking my head. "What are we meant to do?"

Marie's face stiffened, and she reached into the glove compartment to extract a little, folded piece of paper. Her eyes never left mine, she handed it to me.

"Take this," she said. "It's the address of someone who might be of use to us. Someone with knowledge of the truth. But be wary, Ariel. Not even Alan-you cannot trust anyone.

I opened the paper and read the address written in precise handwriting while shaking hands. The weight of what Marie asked of me rested mostly on my shoulders. This was risky, and I had no notion who I could count on. "Why are you mentioning this?" Looking up at her, I asked.

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Marie's tone softened, only momentarily "Because you are my sister and I want to see you not hurt. Ariel, we have to hang together. Only this will help us to survive.

Still alive. The term kept coming back to me and made me afraid. Whatever was approaching, it was obvious we were over our heads. But not now-not when so much was at stake I couldn't back down.

I nodded gradually, folding the paper and sliding it into my pocket. Alright, Marie. I will take care of it. You would better not be lying to me though.

She grinned, but there was no fun in it. Trust me, Ariel. Right now, our least concern is lying.

She restarted the car with that, the engine roaring to life as we headed off into the evening. The weight of the secrets we carried rested mostly between us, and I knew that nothing would always be different.

I peered out the window as we neared the city boundaries, my ideas a jumble. Alan's face flashed in my memory, and for a second I wondered whether he was considering me too-if he had any concept of the storm building. But time was not for questions. I had to go the dark and unknown road ahead wherever it might lead.

The discomfort persisted until Marie dropped me off at my flat. I got out of the car; the cool night air slapped my face. She sped off, the tails gone far away, not waiting for me to say anything.

With the folded paper burning in my pocket, I stood there momentarily staring after her. Part of me wanted to pretend none of this had occurred, hurry back inside, lock the door. I understood, though, that was not an option.