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.“Enric made her sound taller.My father was a short man—for a Famila.He made us promise to marry the tallest men we could find.I suppose that was one of the reasons Radala fell in love with Enric.”“You are Radala’s bloodline?” Wisteria looked up at Enric and witnessed the hurt in his eyes when that name was mentioned.Radala was Enric’s girlfriend.She’d died in Franklin as a result of what Doc did to her.“We did not come here to discuss her,” Enric said coldly.“You know me?” Wisteria changed the subject.“Wisteria, come with me.” Merce shuffled down the corridor to an antique sofa in the hallway and sat.She patted the sofa as a gesture for Wisteria to join her.“I am certain you have a lot of questions.”No way did she intend to fall into another trap set by a seemingly kind member of the Family.Sure, she kind of trusted Enric, because he’d always be loyal to Bach, but this Merce woman was quite a different story.“I have many questions too.You were there when my grandbaby died,” Merce said.Baby, that was what Wisteria’s mother called her sometimes.Hearing the word spoken with such sadness softened Wisteria’s heart.“Take a seat.Standing after she has offered is disrespectful,” Enric prompted while glaring at her.Wisteria felt exhausted.Her heart raced and she felt dizzy, but she wasn’t going to give Enric the satisfaction of thinking he could intimidate her.Snapping her head up at him, she glared.“Don’t ever talk to me like I’m nothing.” She intended to say more but was struck by how distressed he appeared.“Radala died to save you.The very least you could do is show her grandmother the honor she requires,” he stated.Wisteria gasped.“She died because of me?”“I sent her to find where Coia had been hidden and also bring you back here,” Merce revealed.“I should have never let her go in that Red Phoenix stronghold.”“Franklin wasn’t a Red Phoenix stronghold.” Wisteria wanted to add, it was a small town of scientists trying to figure out a cure and they also believed Felip was helping them, but Merce was right.“Radala was my friend and the one of the few members of your Family who was ever nice to me.”“You do not understand why.” Merce guessed.“You believe all of us hate humans?”Leaning against the wall to stop herself from slumping, Wisteria didn’t answer.“Look around, there are no Thayns here.Like the rest of the Fifth Pillar, I do not keep them.I would not imprison them and I do not believe your people should be slaves,” Merce assured her.“I hope in time, you will believe that I am your friend.”“Sure.” But Wisteria had been tricked many times before this.“Our people almost killed her and her beloved, I would be cautious too.” Merce glanced at Enric.“Leave us, everyone.”He opened his mouth to speak, but Merce waved him away.Once they were alone, Merce turned to Wisteria.“I can tell you a lot about the First Pillar and probably some things about your father and Ivy.I am sure, you’re mother told you a lot, but I hope I can fill in one or two of the blanks.”“How did my father die?” Wisteria asked without thinking.“Who from the Family did it?”“He was killed by an immortal.”“An immortal, as in the Family or the Dy’obeths?”“We are not immortal.We simply live longer than most humans.Dy’obeths live extended lives, because they feed on each other and on the Family’s essence.” Merce shook her head.“The immortals are pure magic.”“Why did they kill my father?”“The Family are not the only ones who wanted the First Pillar to stay away from the discovered realms.You have a lot more enemies.”“Other aliens hate humans?”“Other Supernaturals fear the humans of the First Pillar,” Merce corrected.“It is hard to believe that humans, a people so child-like, can be so feared.”“Why?”“Because you are powerful.So much so, they were sent away from Earth by the humans three thousand years ago because they mistook their knowledge for witchcraft.”“Why are they so advanced?”“If I knew, I would be like them.The First Pillar do not want this, so for the most part, they keep away from other races and the humans from Earth.When Hemlock came, I had to track him down personally.I needed to see at least one First Pillar before I died.”“What did he look like?” Wisteria asked [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]