"See Harmor, your wife and daughter returned without a hair out of place or a different color, you can tell Larae to stop fussing," Mom bragged as we stepped out of the forest into the clearing around the school.

Ruby chuckled, "Lucinda we all know that Larae's natural state is fussing."

She didn't deny it, even as Celica was looking between her parents. She looked a little less nervous. It was nice to see her start to relax.

Jarec was being quiet. I don't think it was his, 'I'm being telepathic right now,' quiet, he looked like he was thinking. I wondered whether or not I should try to talk to him. But finding a chance to talk to him one-on-one would be harder with our parents around.

Also, if he wanted to talk to me about it he would find a chance himself.

Celica and her mother left us to go return to her father and brothers. Celica gave Jarec one last look that basically screamed, 'I'm telling him something via telepathy.'

Jarec nodded at her.

I hoped they didn't think they were being subtle.

"Do we wait until it's time or do we head over and wait for the meetings with the professors?" Mom asked as she swayed on her feet. She wasn't tired or anything, she was probably just antsy.

"I'm taking Jarec to Banshee in the meantime. We'll see you later sister, niece."

As his mother spoke Jarec looked at me with a strange look. I didn't know or have time to respond to it.

Celica winked and they and us parted ways. Leaving me and Mom alone.

"What's your favorite spot on campus?" Mom asked.

It took me a moment to process the question. "I…I don't know. I haven't had a chance to really think about it."

"In three months? No where you find yourself ending up? No where that brings you peace?"

I looked away and up towards the statue around Dragon Tower. Today it was twisted around the front, with its head right underneath the mural window.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"I don't remember a burn mark on the outside of Dragon Tower," Mom mused as she took a step closer to it.

"That would be because it's only a couple of months old," I admitted while looking away from her.

She tilted her head and looked between me and the tower a few times before laughing. "That's my girl."

"I didn't do anything, the curse was being a…"

"It's okay kiddo."

"I hate this curse."

"I know. We'll find a way to get rid of it."

I hoped so. I scratched at my wrist again.

"You keep doing that. Is it bothering you?"

"Umm…it's just…lots of emotions, you know?"

"Hmmm," Mom was clearly thinking. "I wish your father was here."

"Me too."

"He's better at emotions than me. It's not exactly my greatest strength."

"Dad understands mine better." It wasn't a tease, but it wasn't meant to be mean. We had our way of doing things. And Dad was like me. Or maybe saying I was like him was more accurate.

"Victor being different was one of the many things that drew me to him. I wouldn't want him any other way. You're like him in all the best ways. I love him and you exactly the way you both are."

"Do…" I hesitated, then lowered my voice, "Do you have a word for autism here?"

She looked back towards the dragon statue with a narrow-eyed and very intense look. I wouldn't call it a glare, but there was something in her eyes that made me uneasy.

"No," she said as her expression softened and she looked back at me. "There isn't. Not really. There's a lot of things we don't have words for."

"Maybe it's for the best. I don't know if I want to explain it to Vivian."

"I don't know if she would understand. Mother is a Kraken, and remember what I said about them?"

"That they're judgy?"

"Exactly. And Kraken's minds don't tend to change once they've judged. Mother has always been slow to adapt to change. Between you and me I think she adopted Ruby because she always intended to give me siblings but didn't want to remarry after…"

"After Merripen."

She winked. "But I think after some time to get used to it she'll adjust to all your little quirks."

"And if she can't?"

"Everything I know about Mother tells me that she probably wants both of us to stay in her life," Mom mused. Her expression changed to one that worried me a little. Mom was planning something, I could see it.

"I don't think I would mind that. Having a maternal grandmother. And an aunt and cousin."

She was planning something. And I wanted her to know what I wouldn't be happy with her messing with.

She nodded. "Don't worry, I won't torpedo your chances to have a big healthy social circle."

"Is that why you've been blurting out my secrets to my friends?"

"What? You said you wanted to keep your friends and you've only told me good things about them. Maybe knowing how highly you really think of them will help keep them around."

That's about what I expected her to say. "This is what I get for telling you stuff."

"I think it pleased Larae's daughter."

I groaned and covered my face. "It's going to be two days of this, isn't it?"

Mom laughed.

I took a deep breath and tried to not panic. "Okay. But please don't do that in front of my professors. Speaking of, we should probably start heading over there."

"If we must," Mom was grinning again.

I really wished Dad was here. He was always better than Mom at these things. Hopefully nothing happened that I can't live with.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.