The Forgotten Fairytales (23 page)

A breath caught in my throat. I was the product of forbidden love. Dad never struck me as the kind of man who fought for what he believed in. Sure, he had passions, but he was flaky. No wonder he never fought to stay with someone he loved. Then again, he was a teenager. But so was I. Yet, I felt so different about love.

“A year and a half later she left you at my door with a letter. The council put a bounty out for your life, giving a hefty reward to whoever brought them the heart of the hybrid baby. Your mother faked your death and the council believed you were dead. That’s why we moved so much, we had to be hard to find. After that, the council deemed us traitors and had our family removed from the council and replaced with another.”

A breath caught in my throat as I stared at the man who guarded my life. I was supposed to be dead. The council wanted my
heart
. A chill ran down my spine. I had a hard time believing my existence was so important.

“Why?” was all I could force out through my tight lips.

“Because you, my daughter, are a Hybrid. The mark behind your ear proves it. All hybrids have the same birthmark. Some smaller or larger than others and in different places, no matter where, the infinity-like symbol tells the world you have impure blood.”

Impure.
The word made my skin tingle. I touched the skin behind my ear where the birthmark was. It had held no importance until now. “Why are Hybrids a threat to the council?”

“One hundred years ago, before the council was at their full power, there was a rebellion. People from different rankings and breeds defied the laws and married whomever they wanted. There was an outbreak of hybrid children. Children without stories. Hybrids couldn’t be classified. Whether they belong in a preexisting story or not, the quill held no power.”

My jaw dropped. “The quill couldn’t classify me.” It all made sense. The quill, the blank results. My blood wasn’t traceable. Ohmigosh.

A smile twisted his lips. “Fascinating.” He let out a breath and scratched his jaw. “You hear the stories, but to know it’s true…I always wondered.” Dad stared beyond me, his soft eyes worried and yet full of wonder and curiosity. I didn’t find it fascinating. Not at all. Freaky and weird was more like it.

“It hurt like hell too, all for nothing.”

“I bet. Madrina probably put two and two together right then. She knew your mother and I. Wasn’t too fond of Natalia though.” Dad sighed. “Anyways, since Hybrids can’t be classified, they have free reign—more or less—to create whatever destiny they’d like. That kind of free will is not something the council approves of. They thrive off their ability to control and manipulate everyone.”

My head fell into my hands as the information piled. First, I learned of my parents forbidden love, then to find out I was a Hybrid. And the council disliked Hybrids so much, they killed them all. Fantastic. I wished my dad was a lame accountant.

“Why did you let me come here? Would it have been so terrible if I lived forever without knowing the truth? Wouldn’t that have been safer?” I tugged my hands out of my hair.

His lean shoulders slumped inward, a frown twisting his lips. “Being here is your birthright. Your mother knew prophets who believed you were brought into the world for a purpose. To do something wonderful. We wanted you to have a normal life as long as possible.”

My eyes shut and I took several long breathes. This was a full blown nightmare. I didn’t want to do great things. I wanted to be normal. Take art classes in Paris, apply to go to NYU, for what? I wasn’t sure, journalism perhaps, but having the option would have been nice. There was so much I hadn’t done yet. But going to college and getting my masters or traveling the globe the rest of my life wouldn’t have changed who I was.

“I know this is a lot to take in, Norah. When people see us together, they will know the truth about who you really are. Everyone knew your mother, they knew me by association. Nevertheless, you are a Petrovich, one of the strongest and oldest of the royal bloodlines. People will know you by your face, especially council members and those from my generation. Don’t let them sense fear or they’ll tear you apart.” A few minutes of silence passed between us then Dad pushed back from the table and grabbed his coat. “Let’s get some food. All this seriousness is making me hungry.”

I swallowed hard, a lump building in my throat, and stood up to join him. Food was the last thing I wanted, but I was in no place to argue, not now. My head was ready to explode.

Dad and I walked down the main hall toward the cafeteria. I stared up at the chandeliers hanging every twenty feet or so. Above our heads were murals of the heavens with angels and harps, like something you’d find in an old church. Dad squeezed my shoulders, drawing my attention back to him.

“April decided to ditch today?”

I rolled my eyes, a familiar irritation returned. “I guess shopping with Cinderella is more important.” Then it dawned on me. “Is April mixed too? And who is her mom?”

Dad chuckled. “No, she’s not a Hybrid. April’s mom is an artist. Artists and writers are one and the same here. Her name’s Amelia. We were supposed to marry but after our family was shamed, they called off the wedding. When April was born, they gave me custody of her.”

A few heads turned, cocking to one side as they saw my father. Others showed no signs of recognizing him. At least until we entered the lunch room. Between the rumors and the shit with Danielle, I was so over people watching me.

“She won’t be here much longer.” Dad frowned and faced me. “There is a separate school for the arts. That’s where she belongs, where she’ll thrive the most and fit in. Madrina knows April doesn’t belong here, yet she’s keeping her, which doesn’t make sense. I can’t do a damn thing about it either. Once you stepped through those doors my rights were stripped away.” Dad’s hands balled into a fist at his side and he sucked in a deep, weighted breath.

“I’ll find out what they are up to.”

His eyes flashed to mine, big and wide and…unhappy? “No, you will not, Norah. Don’t fall into the trap. One mistake and the council could get involved. You do not want that. Lay low.”

My brows furrowed. “You want me to be invisible?” As the words came out, we both knew that was impossible. Dad wasn’t up to speed on life here, but he knew me. Invisible was next to impossible, especially when I was determined.

“I guess not. You are your mother’s daughter.”

“No,” I grabbed his wrist and smiled. “I’m my father’s daughter.”

He squeezed my hands and let out a short laugh. “Either way you’re stubborn and bullheaded.”

“Jonathan Grimm?” a southern voice rang from behind, interrupting what was a nice father-daughter moment.

Dad and I turned to find a bright red-headed woman with creamy skin and haunting deep-set eyes staring back at him. Her lips were a dark burgundy—a shade that did not go with her hair. “I’d remember your face from anywhere. You haven’t aged a bit.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true, but thank you anyway,” Dad said.

Her hand grazed Dad’s arm. A gesture I’d seen woman do before, yet I’d never felt hostile till now. The urge to slap her arm away rose within. I needed to get this short, red-headed southern belle away from us.

While they talked, I scanned the cafeteria. Parents stared at my father with recognition. Some nodded, others waved, but Dad did neither. He stood tall and proud with me at his side. Did the people who knew both of my parents put two and two together? I was the secret love child of Jonathan Grimm and Natalia Petrovich. If Dad was intimidated, he didn’t show it. Perhaps I got my strength from my father.

Our names danced on the lips of others, yet he was unaffected, uncaring. It was as if they only existed in a distant fantasy. I still couldn’t believe Hart wasn’t my real last name. I was a Grimm. It all seemed so weird to me. So unbelievable.

Outside, standing beneath a leafless tree were Wolf, and a man wearing a sleek black suit. A black top hat dimmed one side of his face.

“There’s one of my friends.” I yanked Dad’s arm and shot her a smile. “Excuse us.”

I pushed open the courtyard doors and a rush of cold hit me. Wolf caught my eye. The man’s attention followed, he didn’t see me though, only my father. Dad let out a low groan and cursed under his breath as the man strode forward.

“Ahhh, Grimm. What an unexpected treat.” The man pinched the end of his mustache.

“Gilbert. Here I thought you were sailing the Mediterranean stealing from tourists.” Dad, who was always the gentleman, didn’t shake his hand or even smile. Instead, annoyance filled in his eyes.

“Stealing is such a harsh choice of words,” Gilbert grinned. “And you of all people know the importance of choosing your words wisely.” With a long, wiry face, pointed ears and one of those creepy mustaches that curled, I saw a little wolf—the animal—in him, but he wasn’t built like Wolf or Koyte. He was tall and scrawny with little-to-no muscle. But boy, he was a creeper.

Gilbert’s attention slipped from my dad to me. His eyes trailed up and down me, like he was trying to place my face. “Who is this?” His S’s slurred and my stomach coiled.

Dad’s arm went around my shoulders, tugging me close to him. “My daughter.” There was no introduction, no names exchanged. Dad’s defense had to be up because he hadn’t held me protectively since I was little.

Gilbert’s eyebrows rose and his lips twitched into a wiry smile. “She’s a Petrovich.” It wasn’t a question but a fact. “Interesting.” A bitter taste rolled over my tongue, leaving me uneasy. He knew my mom, just as Dad had said people would. I wondered how well everyone knew one another. What was their story?

Beside him, Wolf’s back straightened, drawing my attention. He’d cleaned up today more than usual. A skinny crimson tie and a black dress shirt cuffed at his elbows. The material hugged his muscles in all the right places. His hair was dry and messy, just the way I liked it. Suspenders hung low around his waist. A part of me wanted to grab hold of those suspenders and drag him against me, if for no other reason than to get lost in his kiss and forget I’d ever been here.

Blinking away the thought of making out with a boy who refused to talk to me, I tried to rid the tension from between Gilbert and Dad.

“Dad, this is my friend, Wolf.” I motioned to Wolf.

“You’re friends with my nephew? Excellent.” Gilbert’s golden eyes widened with joy. Wolf mentioned an uncle once, and only because Gilbert was his legal guardian. “That makes us practically family, doesn’t it, Johnny Boy?”

Dad’s teeth ground together, anger flickering in his gaze. He turned his attention to Wolf.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hart,” Wolf said.

“Hart?” Gilbert barked a laugh. “Is that what people are calling you these days. I must say, smooth move.” Gilbert clapped as he laughed.

Dad’s nostrils flared, hands balled at his side as if he wanted to spring forward and wrap his hands around Gilbert’s throat. He stayed poised and unmoving. Never had I seen such hatred in my father’s eyes. His attention held Gilbert’s for far too long. My palms were sweating, my heart racing. There was a history between them. I wondered if they met at camp, too.

“It’s nice to meet you, Wolf. If you’ll excuse us.” Dad directed me away from them, but I caught a glimpse of the half-moon smile slipping over Gilbert’s mouth. Dad leaned down and whispered in my ear, his voice full of authority and agitation. “Please, please tell me it isn’t true.”

He opened the door and we walked down an empty hall. He ran his hands over his face and let out a loud groan.

“You have feelings for that boy, don’t you? Please, Norah, tell me you aren’t in love with a wolf.”

My eyes widened. Love? No. Wolf didn’t want to have anything to do with me these days. Love was way too strong of a word to describe what we had. Dad and I had a lot of talks but boys…we never talked about boys. My defensive walls went back up. “Why? Are you going to tell me how it’s forbidden and stupid?”

“And be a walking contradiction? No. I’m more concerned with the family. They’re scum, Norah. And not for the reasons you might think, Gilbert, he’s…”

“I know.” Dad didn’t need to tell me about Wolf’s family. I knew already, probably more than he did, but I’d accepted it, and arguing over a guy was the last thing I wanted to do when Dad and I were on borrowed time. “It doesn’t matter. We aren’t together.”

Dad scoffed, ran his hand through his gelled hair, and nodded. Hopefully he’d drop it and we could move on to something more important.

“I’m only trying to protect you.” He sighed and pushed the hair out of my face, staring at me as though I’d somehow changed. A twitch formed between his brows and a slight frown took over his thin lips. “I will always protect you.”

For the first time since he arrived, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his midsection, burying my head into his chest. All my problems melted away with one hug. A hug I needed so, so badly.