Chapter 12 The Truth
THE FIFTH ELEMENT 🌊🔥⛰️🌪️🌠
~Cassie’s POV~
“I need you to try and understand the things I’m going to tell you now, Cassie.” Mrs. Stone stood from her chair. The wood creaked.
She came closer to me, hands folded in front of her like a principal about to hand out detention.
“Okay. I’m listening,” I said.
“Before you were born, it was seen in a prophecy that you would possess the Fifth Element. An element that would serve a great deal in stopping the impending war. And we were worried that we had a traitor among us then, so we had to send you somewhere safe before any harm could come to you… before the prophecy could be fulfilled,” she said calmly.
“I don’t… I don’t understand. A war? Prophecy? Are you trying to make a joke out of this? Because I’m asking for answers?”
There was no way I could believe this.
“You asked for answers, Cassie. And I’m just giving them to you in the best way I can.”
“Wait, so what you’re trying to tell me is that I have this great power that’s supposedly meant to stop a war from happening. Here? In this school?” I asked, a little amused by the absurdity of it all.
“Yes and yes. Cassie, you do have great power flowing in your blood. Even your real mother had great powers, just like the rest of us, but not like you. She had the magic of the element of water. And I must say, you look just like her,” she said and smiled at me. A soft, sad smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“I don’t know what to say. Honestly, this is just way too much to take in all at once. Where is she? My biological mother? Is she still alive or not?” I asked her.
“Your real mother died while giving birth to you. None of us were fit to raise the girl with the Fifth Element at that time, as we were all rather occupied then. So we decided to let you live a normal life with your adopted mom,” she told me.
I nodded, trying to process all she’d just said. My throat felt tight.
“What about my father?” I asked, and I noticed her face change slightly. A flicker — there and gone.
“He was a nobody. Just some man your mother thought she loved. He died way before she even gave birth to you. I’m sorry things turned out this way for you, child. But you must know, we did everything we could because it was what was best for you at that time. To keep you safe. But you’re here now, all grown up. It’s time you know who you really are and where you come from.” She said it gently, but I started stepping backward, away from her.
“Why do I feel like you’re lying to me… If you didn’t want to answer any of my questions, you could have just said so instead of cooking up this lie just to get me to stay here with you people,” I said and turned my back to walk away from her office, but my legs were suddenly stuck to the ground. I couldn’t move my feet anymore.
“What the hell. I’m stuck to the ground? How is this happening? Wait… are you doing this?” I said with my back still turned to her.
This must be another trick of earth magic. The floor felt like wet cement around my shoes.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave just like that, without us resolving this.” She came and stood in front of me. Her expression was still calm. Too calm.
“Why won’t you tell me the whole truth?” I asked, my voice shaky.
“But I am, my dear. It _is_ the whole truth. I didn’t tell you this to make you feel bad. I only told you because I wanted you to know nothing but the truth about yourself. About who you truly are,” she said.
“So all my life has been a lie then? How could my mom not mention any of this to me? Not once. How could she hide this from me all this time?” I asked, tears pooling in my eyes, blurring the edges of her office.
“Oh, my dear. I’m so sorry you didn’t know about this. About everything. But I promise you that from now on, I’ll be here for you. Whatever you may need.” She pulled me into a hug. She smelled like lavender and old books. Safe, but wrong.
The door suddenly flew open, and Madeline walked in. She paused for a second when she saw her mom hugging me, her eyebrows knitting together.
“Sorry to bother, Mom? Your audience is needed by Mrs. Bellweather. Her messenger sounded like it was urgent,” Madeline said.
“Okay. I’ll be right there. And you, Cassie, it was great talking to you. Come by next time. Okay? We still have lots to talk about.” Her mom gave me a little shoulder rub before going toward her desk.
I tested my leg. I could move again. The floor was just floor now.
I made my way out of her office and Madeline followed me.
We both went back to our dorm.
On our way, I noticed that Madeline was awfully quiet, which was unlike her.
I didn’t comment on it till we were in our dorm.
“Is everything okay with you? You’ve been quiet,” I said while straightening my bed, just to have something to do with my hands.
“I’m fine,” she replied.
The reply seemed off to me. Flat. Clipped.
“Are you sure? Is there something bothering you?” I asked her.
“I said I’m fine, Cassie. Just let it go. Okay?” she said and put her earphones on, shutting me out.
I nodded to myself and flopped onto my bed.
I have a lot to think about anyways.
I didn’t know how to feel about the information I just received today about my life.
I wondered who my dad might be as well. Was he truly just a nobody, or was there something else Mrs. Stone didn’t want me to know?
This is all so overwhelming.
\~~~