WILL'S POV

I dropped my bag at the floor behind the door. Then forced my feet for the couch ahead.
   Before I plonked on it, mom showed up from the kitchen. Her face spoke of sheer surprise.

     "You're home early. Don't tell me you got suspe-" "Andy is dead mom. They ripped his heart out."

Without any words, it was as clear as daylight she had hinted on something.
    "W-what?"

I could have glared at her for acting so innocent.

  "Quit the games mom. I know you're aware of the undead. Of the Natalines. I guess it's time you  come clean on all of this."

    All color drained off her young face. A stranger could have thought it was an iceberg frozen at the doorway.
         "I...I don't know what-"
"Who's my father really? You said he died."

  "William!" She cracked stubbornly. "I will not have you question me like a child. I'm your mother for chrissake!"
    I huffed getting up.

"FYI mom, an undead is after me. He's killed two people to send me a message. Now if you're done putting on the motherly aura, just know that your son can be dead before you can even blink."

  With that, I strode out.
Why was she holding back about that information? I pretty much knew everything. Well maybe she still thought I'm that innocent troublemaker of a son she always knew.

          I got back home at around six. With no intention to see her, I dashed for the stairs.
    "Will? Is that you?"
"Yes." I managed a mumble.
"We need to talk," she said in a much authoritative tone like none before.
  Like a cat from the rain outside, pretty much snow, I walked back in the lounge... She was standing at the windows, her gaze outside.

     I didn't make a single noise, just slid in the couch facing her.
"If you know about the Underworld, you also know of the Nataline's right?" Asked without moving a muscle in her body.
     
    "Yes. I know everything."

"It was so difficult to resist him. I was only a teenager back then. Hyper, innocent, curious... And he was my Prince-charming in the night. I still remember his dark eyes, how they bore such care for me. He warned me that we would never be anything. That I should not feel anything for him..." Mom paused from a slight sob.
    
    "But I, I didn't want to listen. Just kept pushing him, and pushing, till one night, he couldn't go on. He just left... I was terrified, in need of help. Then I met the Cruises. Right then, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. But all I could remember was that they offered protection for me, and my unborn baby. I had no one else in the world since your father left... So I did what I thought was best for us, accepted the help."

   Another pause and more emotional sobs.

     I didn't want to interrupt the story session. Not when I was getting close to finding out our real connection to that historic family.

     "So I moved in Black Hills. Gave birth to you... But they said you'd be a threat to them. Talked about you being a triling. So over the years, the underworld has been watching you. I don't know how I found myself mixed in all that weight, but I've never regretted having you as a son."

     I realised I had been holding my breath. So I breathed, silently ingesting the information."Why did they offer you protection? Was someone after you?"
        She didn't respond.

A few seconds vanished to a minute. Two minutes. Three minutes.
     "Mom!"

"Yes. Yes. Someone was after me."

       "Why?"

I saw her bury her face in her hands. All through that dramatic moment, she never did turn to meet my hot inquisitive gaze.

   "Because of you Will!" She exploded.
"Why, me?"
      
      "Oh gawd!" She sniffed angling her face to the ceiling.

It must have been hard for her. But it was not easier for me.
    "They wanted to kill you."
"Who's they?"
    "Will, please."

"No mom. I  need the entire truth." I barked furiously. She had kept me in the dark for long enough. Never telling me of the raging war between these two rivals that each wanted  my heart or my head. Or whichever part they wanted. Just hoped none was aiming for my precious balls.

"Natalines! Your father's people."

It didn't make sense. If I was half-human half-nataline, how did I end up a triling?

   "Then why am I a triling?"
Did some undead make love to you before I was conceived? Wanted to add. But that was stupid, an egg can only be fertilised once, or so biology dictates.
   "The Cruises gave you their blood. I don't know how, but they said it'd help clean out the Nataline in you. But you ended up what they termed as an abomination."

          "Like Agatha?"
That was more to myself. But mom seemed to have heard it.

"Yes. There was that little girl. The heiress. She's supposed to bring back her ancestor years back then. But the ritual could only take place once she was eighteen. Her mother was my...my..."

     If I thought hearing about my truth was the biggest knock in the world, what she blurted next was the peek of it.

I sprang to my feet. Every vein in my body suddenly alive and throbbing.
     "Your what mom?"

"My sister!"

All the energy inside felt like an immortal had fed on it.
 
    It couldn't be.

Agatha was my...cousin?

     "W-what? Why did you keep all these from me mom? Didn't I have a right?"

  She spun towards me, her eyes lost in pools of tears. Never in my life had I ever seen her so broken. So emotional.

    "It was a secret I wanted to die with. To save you, and my-"
"I've had enough of this revelation session. You know what, I'll be in my room."

   It's all I could say and think. Just stormed up the wooden stairs in a half-run.

Hello people. I know this has been like the shortest part in the book. But I thought of not mixing anything else and just hear his mom's confession on her dealings with the undead, and Natalines.

   So far, how's the book?
If you got any questions, please do ask. I'll be more than honored to guide you.

   Yours lovingly,
Maggiesamw.💃💃