The Elders (Mind Dimensions #4)(91)

I proceed to tell them how the M&Ms—Mark and Margret—were respectively a Reader and a Guide. I tell them a little bit about the animosity between the two groups, and how things are changing. When I talk about the wars between Readers and Guides, I surprise even my friends when I mention how my Reader great-grandfather killed my Guide great-grandfather. Since it looks as if my moms are taking all this in stride, I move on to trickier information. I tell them how my biological mother used her powers on them, making it so they couldn’t speak about me not being Sara’s biological son for many years. I include this last tidbit as an extra bonus, since I’m sure they—and Sara especially—harbor guilt over keeping that fact from me for as long as they did. Their eyes widen as I tell them this part of my tale, but at regular intervals, Liz and Mira must do their magic, because Lucy and Sara calm down and accept the information relatively meekly.

“So you can do both? Read minds and make people do things?” Sara asks. “And your time-stopping delusions were actually for real?” She looks at Liz.

“She probably owes you a big refund,” I say, thinking of all the therapy to cure me of my ‘delusions.’ “Anyway, it’s probably more accurate to say that I did Read and Guide—past tense.”

They look surprised, so I do my best to hide my sadness and explain, “The situation has changed. I can’t do either at the moment, and there’s a chance I’m like you now—well, almost like you, since no one can Read or Guide me in my current state.”

Sara looks at me worriedly, as if she actually understands what I’ve lost. Seeing the pity in her eyes only worsens my ache for the Quiet.

Lucy has been looking troubled throughout all of this. Seems like even Liz’s juju hasn’t been enough to completely sidetrack Lucy’s analytical brain.

“So,” she says in that ‘about to uncover a secret’ voice. “People get amnesia when someone Guides them to do something that’s too out of their character, right?”

“Hmm, I think I know where you’re going with this, honey,” Sara chimes in. “For some reason, I can’t recall the last couple of days. Did one of you—”

“I’m sorry,” Hillary says. “I made it so the two of you wouldn’t worry about your situation, which, given that you were kidnapped and all, probably made you forget certain things in the process.”

“We were kidnapped?” Lucy’s more shocked by this than by some of my earlier revelations. Or perhaps Liz dropped the ball and didn’t stop her from worrying.

Sighing, I proceed to tell them the lengthier tale of how the Enlightened, my biological grandparents, kidnapped the two of them, Mira, and Thomas to use as leverage against me. As I talk, I feel as though either Liz is slipping in her duties or my moms are getting more resistant to her treatment, because the idea of being kidnapped and then forgetting about it seems to be causing them noticeable distress. If I could phase in, I’d have a talk with Liz about it. As is, I just give her a look, and she surreptitiously gives me an okay sign. Whatever distress they’re feeling, my guess is she’s allowing it on purpose.

Lucy’s face darkens as she says, “Are you done beating around the bush?”

“What do you mean, Mom?” I ask with concern, though again, Liz is nodding as if everything is cool.

“There’s a big secret. Something very disturbing that I was made to forget.” She doesn’t ask this; she states it as fact. “That’s why I’ve been going to see her.” She points to Liz. “That’s why I have this lost time . . . these gaps in my memory.”

Sara looks worriedly at Lucy, but then suddenly, her face relaxes. Whatever Liz’s strategy is, worrying Sara is not part of it.

“Yes, Mom,” I say, deciding to go with it. “There’s something so big that I don’t know how to tell you.”

“Give me the worst of it,” Lucy says, staring at me. “And give it to me straight.”

“Kyle made you kill my parents,” I blurt out, wishing someone would Xanax me for this part. “He used you as his weapon. You shot them, and then he made you forget about it. He also tried to have you kill yourself later.”

My moms look shellshocked, and that’s after whatever Liz did.

As I watch Lucy’s face, I see how quickly her shock gives way to quiet contemplation.

“Of course,” she whispers to herself. “That’s why I couldn’t solve the cursed case.”

She must feel like medieval people did when they learned the Earth isn’t flat.

After murmuring to herself for a few more seconds, she looks at me and says, “As bad as that is, I think there’s something worse. Something you still haven’t told me.” She takes in a breath. “Something deeper. Something that also has to do with Kyle.” She says his name with trepidation.

Hoping Liz has planted the necessary seeds, I gently say, “There is, and as bad as it is, it might not be all bad.”

I look at Thomas and feel a treacherous knot in my throat.

“Kyle . . . he—” I swallow. “He forced you to . . . to sleep with him.” I try to control my voice to keep it from cracking. “You had a child . . .”

She looks horrified, but there’s also a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. Liz prepared her for this, but at the same time, nothing could ever prepare a woman to learn she was raped. Nothing could prepare her to learn she was forced to give up her baby.