“No, she doesn’t.” Arek vocalizes what she already has discovered.
Her eyes are apologetic, “I had only assumed since she was in the room with you that she had remembered.”
“I would love for someone to tell me,” I urge.
She pulls her black winter gloves off one finger at a time, then removes her scarf and throws everything on the bed. Even the way she moves is that of a seasoned dancer, which is quite breathtaking to watch.
“Should you or I?” she asks Arek.
“Nothing should be said . . . not yet,” Arek answers.
“We have no choice, Arek. He knows what has happened. She will have to stand before them, and I think it best that she knows something. You don’t have to tell her anything of her past, just what and who we are. We can’t expect her to do anything for us unless we tell her why.”
“Who?” I laugh. When both Arek and the woman look at me with straight faces, it stops me from asking again.
“Arek, please tell her.” The woman urges him. But when he won’t continue, she does, “Remy, I’m Elizabeth . . . your aunt.”
Immediately Arek growls in frustration, “Elizabeth!”
Laughter nearly bubbles to the surface, but I chew my lip instead. Yet the longer her face is like stone, the more my stomach swirls and my skin creases between my eyes. “Wait, you’re serious? My mom didn’t have any sisters.”
Elizabeth looks at Arek with disapproval. “You should have told her something by now. How dare you take her from her life and mention nothing of ours.”
“Those are the orders,” he states.
“Well if you don’t tell her right now, then I will.” Elizabeth crosses her arms.
“Who is Remy?” I finally ask.
Elizabeth gestures a hand toward me, ushering Arek onto his soapbox, but Arek crosses his arms in front of his chest obstinately. Elizabeth sighs, “You. It’s your name. Or at least it was in your past life.”
Finally, I can’t help but chuckle, “My past life?”
“Yes.”
“You’re crazy,” I say quietly.
This frustrates Elizabeth, but she continues anyway. “We’ve been watching you your entire life.”
“I just started seeing Arek a month ago.”
“No, honey. He just let you know that he was there a few weeks ago.”
Arek seems to be removed from this entire process—hoping to discourage her momentum. She lets me digest in silence, but it lasts so long that she grows uncomfortable.
“You’re better at this.” Elizabeth places a hand on her head and rubs slightly.
“We don’t know whether he has spoken to the Powers. No explanation is allowed, yet . . .” Arek explains.
“The Powers want to own us, Arek, nothing more. Their Totalitarianism doesn’t scare me. I won’t be oppressed or exploited by anyone wrapped in patriotism. They want us to put our heads in the sand and act like robots . . . for what? Money from the Ephemes? Control? No. We have work to do. If you don’t tell her I will. Briston informed me already that he wants her to know. Leigh and Briston can battle it out later.”
Arek’s eyes don’t hide his refusal.
“Tell her, Arek!”
He steps to her so heavily the floor shakes beneath his feet. His face is only inches from hers. “It is neither allowed nor my duty.”
Her sunken chest finally has girth when she breathes in, “To Remy or to the Powers?”
She draws a line, but I can see that he isn’t going to step over it.
“I can handle it.” His words slip out quietly. Arek growls, placing his hands on top of his head while she taps her foot impatiently. He looks at me. “There is more to this world than you see and more to your life, but we cannot risk resurging your memory. Everything will be revealed, but not now . . .” He turns to Elizabeth, “Not now.”
“We have an hour till she meets him. When will she be ready?” Elizabeth disagrees.
Not knowing was worse than knowing, and my nerves made me sure of that. “Tell me,” I finally say. “As much as you can. Please . . .” I can see that he is torn the moment he hears my voice. “Arek,” I plead, “you took me from my home, from my life. Men who have haunted my dreams were suddenly real and at the school. You knew they were there, and you came to help me. I’m trusting you. That’s why I’m here. Please help me.”
It takes a moment, but for the first time his guard melts. Elizabeth is unable to sway him, but my words do. He looks down for a moment, clenches his jaw—the war raging. Finally, he speaks quietly. “I want you to listen carefully.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
In the bedroom full of windows, Arek walks to the double doors and places a hand on the edge. He turns to Elizabeth, “Give us a moment.”
“Arek, we haven’t got any.” Elizabeth places her graceful hand on her hip.
“Give us a moment.” He is unmovable.
She hesitates. I try to avoid the crossfire between them. In the end, Arek wins. Elizabeth’s shoes clap the wooden tiles as she hurries to the door. Her long body accentuates her even longer stride, and with one last look she leaves the room.
