January 4, 2004 – 16:00
"I remember Dad telling Donny and Robbie, our older brother," said Dawn, still unmoving. "But he never told them why."
She opened her eyes back up and stared at Coralis.
"You look so much like Dad, it's not funny. He never spoke of his family god and always worshipped our mom's one. I'm a water mage, just like our mother and the name Golmar is from her bloodline. It's the surname of a water mage bloodline. He never told us why he refused to acknowledge his family god and insisted that my brothers practice water magic."
"Really?" said Coralis, looking at her aunt in disbelief.
"Yes," said Dawn, returning to sit next to Coralis. "Donny always thought he was a wind mage. He found out that he was a spirit mage from Lord Meozo. When he went into hiding in his family temple with your mother, he hoped he could learn about his true family god. When I met them there for your introduction to the gods, he didn't tell me if he found out."
"Maybe it's just me being ignorant of that aspect because I was raised among humans, but when you introduce a child to the gods, don't you have to call upon the child's god? Or is it that they weren't sure what type of mage I turned out to be? If you went to his family god temple… you would have seen symbols, scriptures and sculptures associated with that god, no?"
"I have lived as a human for the past 23 years, so my knowledge of our customs is a little bit rusty, but I remember that day very well. Can't ever forget it. Donny didn't tell me anything about what he found out and your parents made a global introduction, so I assumed they didn't know if you were from the Golmar's god or his. I didn't ask. I'm not from that bloodline, so to me, the walls were blank. I am guessing that you aren't a water mage?"
"I am not a water mage and I know I am a spirit mage. That bit is clear. When the CMMA cornered me for the branding ritual, my partner agreed to the elemental ritual, reasoning that if something were to happen to him, it'd help me find him. The CMMA agents didn't question him further, it was quite the stunt he pulled."
"If you are asking me about your family god, I'm guessing you haven't completed it yet?"
"Correct. I remember what Dorothy told me. Before I complete the ritual with him, I need to know why my dad was told not to mark his mate."
Dawn looked away but knew that Coralis kept staring at her.
"I wish I could tell you more. Robbie was the same type of mage as Donny, but I don't know where he is if he is still alive. When Lord Meozo rose to power, he went into hiding. If Lord Meozo ever got to him, then, he is either dead or without his elemental powers, like me. Our mother died when we were young. When Lord Meozo searched my memory to find you, he found out where our dad was. Naturally, he tried to recruit him, but Dad refused to join his ranks," said Dawn, a tear rolling down her eye.
"So he stole his elemental energy and killed him?"
"Yes, the day after he took mine, just before returning to Montreal."
Dawn wiped the tear and turned to look at Coralis. She grabbed her hands.
"If you aren't going to hide," continued Dawn, "make sure you train your powers properly, as I think it's what got my dad killed. He feared his bloodline, I believe, and never trained them. As a spirit mage, had he trained, he would have been able to block Lord Meozo, like you did when you destroyed him."
January 7, 2004
With a coffee mug in her hand, Coralis searched the database on her hologram for a Robbie Golmar. She was growing frustrated when she couldn't find anything.
"I can't even find a death report or a speed ticket. It's as if he never existed."
"That man mastered the art of hiding by the look of it," said Frank, sitting next to her.
"He should have left me an instruction manual before he went to hide. You'd think if he'd have hidden all this time among humans, he would at least have gotten some road infractions under his name. Even my aunt got some parking tickets."
"Maybe he changed his name and moved to a different country?"
"It's probably what he did, just like what I'm about to do if we're realistic. I won't move to a different country, but you know what I mean. I'll put Gus on him." said Coralis as she heard her doorbell.
"Do I need to move forward our wedding date?" said Frank as he got up to answer the door.
"No."
As soon as Frank pressed the buzzer, he heard the door below opening and closing, followed by the sound of steps rushing up the stairs. He opened their entry door, and before he could pass his head through it to see who was their visitor, Jemerie ran through it.
Coralis stared at him from the living room couch, her hands still on either side of her hologram. Frank closed the door so that the soundproofing could activate.
"I'm sorry to show up like that. I tried to call, but it wouldn't go through."
Coralis got up and pulled her phone out of her coat pocket.
"Battery is dead, sorry about that."
"Coffee?" said Frank as Coralis plugged her phone.
"Sure, thank you! Besides Sally, do you know a witch who can make the potions to prevent us from shifting during a full moon?"
"I'll have to look. These days they're hard to locate. Why do you insist on taking them? Unless you've been placed in another home? You should avoid taking them if you don't have to, you know what it does to you when it gets out of your system."
"Because I don't know where I'll be sleeping tonight."
Frank and Coralis looked at each other.
"I don't work today, I can look into adding a bunk bed over Samantha's, that is if you two don't mind sharing a room," said Frank.
"I won't mind it, if it's fine with you. Is she here at the moment?" said Jeremie.
"No, she works at the gas station a few streets over. I have a game tonight, I'm not sure if I'll be back before the moon rises, but if you have to shift in here, so be it. After the game, with Sebastian, we can alter the wards to install a fixed portal in your room closet that leads to the roof, to allow you and Sam to shift there during full moons. I have invisibility and soundproofing wards on it."
Coralis's hologram lit up.
"All right, so if you want to crash here, we've got our plans set for today. I'll get another spare key done before shopping for bunk beds," said Frank as Coralis answered her hologram.
"Prince Nuuka, I hope you're not calling me with bad news."
"Rest assured, I am not. I am happy to see the painting my family gave you on your walls."
"Glad you are, but I'm sure you're not calling me to check my décor."
"You're too smart for your own good, Blue Thunder. My younger brother told me that you are set to get married soon. My family would like to attend."