She continued to look at me without saying anything. I though I’d break the silence. “Grams, what’s your name?” It felt funny that I had a grandmother for 16 years and didn’t even know her name. I guess she caught the joke cause she started to laugh.

“Althea. My name is Althea Rowe.”

“How is your name Rowe?” I figured that it would be my mother’s last name, not my grandmother’s.

“Because that’s my last name. When your mother had you, she decided to give you her last name instead of your father’s.” I could understand this since he left her.

“Why did he leave her?”

“Leave her? No Alex don’t think that. Your father didn’t leave you and your mother. Your father stayed with her to the very end. The reason you kept your mother’s last name is because it is a heritage to keep that name in this family.”

Then I couldn’t understand it. Why did they give me up? Did they hate me like my mother said they did many years ago?

“Then why did they give me up?”

“Alex, your mother and father were in danger. I can’t tell you everything but they couldn’t keep you or your bro…” She stopped but I didn’t know why. “She couldn’t keep you because you would also be put in that danger.”

“What was it Grams? Why couldn’t they keep me?”

“I’m sorry Alex but I can’t tell you. What I can tell you was that they were constantly chased and were always in danger of being killed. The day after they gave you up to adoption, they were killed. They only asked for one thing from the nun they handed you over to: that your name would be Alexis, like your father.”

I sat there. They didn’t hate me after all. They gave me up to protect me.

“Alex, how old are you?”

“I turned 16 last month.”

“Sixteen. I can’t believe I haven’t seen you in thirteen years.”

“Thirteen years?”

“Yes. You were three when your parent’s gave you up.”

“Grams, how come you didn’t raise me?”

“You would be in the same danger. Even I left the manor for some time. I returned here 7 years ago. Are you hungry?”

She wasn’t the typical grandmother. She was full of energy and seemed happy. “You can tell me about the last thirteen years I missed over some Chinese food.” I was hungry, so I went with her.

---

The next couple of hours were some of the best I had had in years. I told grams everything: from how I found out I was adopted to the day I decided to look for my mother.

“Alex, you live in your friends house now? His parents don’t mind?”

“I got to be honest, grams. Sometimes I feel like I’m a burden to them but they tell me to stay there whenever I say I’m going to go find somewhere else to stay. Jackie even offered me a room in her house.”

“Looks like you got yourself some good friends there.”

“I don’t think I could have made it without them.”

We finished lunch and had a walk though the park. After that we went back to the manor. It was about 3 in the afternoon and I needed to return back to Mike’s place.

“I’m glad I found you, grams. I have a family again.” I hugged her and she hugged me back. I didn’t feel alone anymore. It was strange, I only knew her for about 8 hours but I felt like I knew her forever. I made my way to the door when grams called me to wait.

“Alex, hold on a minute.” She walked over to me.

“I wanted to tell you that if you would like to, you could move back into this house that you once lived in. That way I won’t be alone anymore.” She smiled and kissed me on my cheek.

“Thank you, grams. I’ll get back to you on that.”

I got into the cab that was waiting for me and went home.

---

Althea went to the attic and set up six lit candles in a circle. She stepped behind a book and read from it. When she finished reading bright white orbs appeared and when they faded away, the figure of a dark haired woman stood in a white gown. She was surrounded by a brilliant glow. The lady looked at Althea and smiled.

“Hello Andrea.”

---

I got back to Mike’s house and thought about grams’ offer. I was seriously considering it. I’ve been living in Mike’s parents house for a few months now and I knew it wasn’t easier for them.

“So how’d it go? Meet your mom?” Michael and I were eating dinner in the living room watching television.

“Nope.”

“You chickened out? So where were you for the last 8 hours?”

“I didn’t chicken out, Mike.” I figured I’d tell him. I mean, why not? “My mother’s dead. So is my father.”

He looked at me. You could see that he was trying to think of something to say. Before he could, I said something. “It’s alright, though. Don’t worry about.”

“Alex, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, man. Don’t worry about it.” I was breaking down inside. It felt like at any second I would just start bawling. I tried to hide it best I can, but I guess I messed that up. I felt a tear run down my face. Michael came to sit next to me and punched me on the arm. That’s how we showed each other that we were there to help. I continued to eat and he brought up the question.

“So Alex, where were you all day?”

“I didn’t meet my parents but I did meet my grandmother.”

“Wow. What she like?”

“She’s great. She’s in her late 50’s. I’m not sure exactly, I forgot to ask.”

“What’s her name?”

“Althea. Althea Rowe.”

“Rowe?”

“Yup, Rowe. When I asked her about it, she said that it was a heritage to keep that name in the family. I’ll take you and Jackie to meet her one day.” I figure I would tell him about the offer she made me. “She even asked me to move back in with her.”

He didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. “So are you going to?”

“Yeah. Yeah I think I am. Do you not want me to?”

He looked hurt. I hated to see Mike hurting. I kinda got angry with myself for telling him. I would have had to bring it up some time though. “Alex, I think it’s great you’re moving in with your grandmother and I think you should.”

“Then why do you look upset?”

“Cause I’m gonna miss you. Not gonna have anyone to go to when I can’t sleep at night.”

I smiled. Then I chuckled softly. It was true. Whenever Michael had a nightmare or had trouble sleeping, he would crawl into my bed. It was a two-way system though. I’d crawl into his bed when I couldn’t sleep. If Mike came to my bed, then I’d be the one to put my arm around him. If I went to his, he’d put his arm around me. I loved the kid. We weren’t friends. We were more than that. I still didn’t know what it was. It was the same with Jackie.

“Why are you laughing, man? It’s sad, not funny.”

“I’m laughing because you think me moving out of this house would mean moving out of your life.”

“Well, doesn’t it?”

“Grams’ house is like 30 minutes from here. I’ll still see you and Jackie at school. And we’ll still hang out as usual. Just not as late anymore.”

“You still won’t be here though.”

“You’re right, I won’t. Not all the time anyway. Plus, grams’ wouldn’t mind if you stayed over some times.”

He smiled. Tried to smile anyway. “So things won’t be that different, then.”

“No. They won’t.” I punched him on his arm this time and finished my dinner.

---

Back at The Manor:

“Mother, are you going to tell Alex about…”

Althea cut her off. “No. Not unless it’s necessary.”

“But mother, the elders are saying The Source is regaining power.”

“Don’t talk to me about The Source, Andrea.”

Andrea sighed. She had a disappointed look on her face. “Mother, I think you’re doing a mistake here. If you unbind him at the last minute, he won’t be ready at all. The Source might even kill the other’s in the time he tries to find them.”

“Andrea, no.” She blew out the candle in front of her and Andrea disappeared.