His words left me stunned. It wasn’t the love story Papi told me. He always said Mama’s family didn’t like him because he was too poor and too indito. And I believed that. A bitter taste filled my mouth. How could I have been so naïve?
“Why did she leave?”
Javi shifted in his seat, his eyes dancing away. “I… I don’t really know. My dad won’t talk about her. He says she was power hungry. She wanted to use dark magic, so she became a witch.”
“And then she left the coven.”
He nodded. “Yeah, but… the coven she joined, they’re one of the worst ones. We’re constantly having to keep them in check.”
I blinked as his meaning registered. “You mean… you’re enemies? With the witches?”
“Well, yeah. They practice dark magic. Someone has to keep them in check.”
For some reason his answer didn’t sit well with me. I’d known about this secret world only a day, but I found it hard to believe his simple reasoning. Was I just being biased because I didn’t want my mom to be some evil witch? I frowned. If my mom left the coven, then maybe they were bad.
“There’s more, but I’m not sure I should tell you yet. It’s… a lot to take in.”
I snapped to attention. “Tell me.”
He hesitated. “Not here. But I promise, I will. Later.”
My eyes met tío’s as he glanced over at us, a frown on his face. I returned the glare until he looked away. I spent the rest of the short trip feigning sleep, tossing the questions and answers Javi had given me around in my head.
In no time, Javi was telling me to get ready to get off. Below us, blue water and white beach stretched. I stared out the window as we passed over gorgeous greenery and buildings.
I sucked in a breath. We’d made it. How in the world was I going to make it all the way back home now? It’s not like I could sneak back onto the jet without anyone knowing. No, I’d have to hitchhike my way back to wine country. Dread filled me at the prospect. No. Even if I did manage to run away, I couldn’t go home. They’d only drag me back.
I needed to disappear.
My stomach leapt into my throat as we descended. I bit back a grin, but not quick enough to hide it from Javi. As much as I wanted to hate it, I couldn’t.
I loved flying.
It was exciting and disappointment filled me when it was over.
I followed the others off the jet and stepped cautiously down the stairs. My eyes scanned the area, shoulders tense. The air was warmer and saltier than home and the ground we stood on was mostly sand.
Opened doors along the hangar revealed more jets. People milled about outside, glancing in our direction. I blinked. Did my tío own more than one jet?
“This is the academy’s property,” Javi interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to him with a frown. “Academy?”
He grinned. “GRIMM Academy.”
My eyes widened. So, this was where he went to school? Where people—kids—trained to hunt monsters? How did they keep it a secret from the rest of the world?
“Can I show her around campus?” Javi’s eyes flashed with excitement.
Tía Teresa gave him an indulgent smile and shook her head. “Not now, Javi. Let her get settled first.”
Dread coiled in my gut and despite my reluctances, I did want to see the school. Who wouldn’t want a tour of a magic, secret school? I shook my head.
This couldn’t really be happening. Any moment and I’d wake up and find myself returned to my normal, boring life. An ache filled me. No, it wasn’t boring. My life with Papi was good. More than good, actually. We were happy.
I stared down at the thin metal bracelet around my wrist. Anger stirred inside me. I attempted to wander off, just to see if the creepy hold over me lessened.
It didn’t.
But I would keep trying, keep waiting. I was not going to accept my captivity no matter how much they claimed it was for ‘my own good.’ Heat spread up my neck.
“Rose?” Javi’s voice startled me.
Relaxing my face, I turned to find the others standing and waiting for me. My eyes met tío’s. His cool demeanor made me seethe. What kind of man kidnapped his own niece? What other horrible things had he done?
Tía Teresa folded her hands in front of herself. “Joe is here.”
A sleek, black SUV pulled up. I blinked as the driver got out to open the doors for us. He was middle aged and dressed in dark slacks with a button up yellow shirt. He nodded to my tía and motioned us in.
I glanced at Javi. He shrugged off my questioning gaze. Did my tío not drive either? Following the others, I slid into the plush leather seats. Was hunting monsters really that lucrative or was part of their wealth inherited from my grandparents? I knew they were rich and they disinherited my mother before I was born, leaving my tío as their sole heir.
When the door closed after Javi, I frowned.
“Tío isn’t coming?”
Tía Teresa shook her head no. “He has business to attend to and will return home later.”
I looked away, trying to mask my excitement.
Without him hovering around, maybe the bracelet wouldn’t work as well. This could be my chance to get away.
The car ride to Javi’s house was filled with awkward silence and Tía Teresa’s occasional attempts at small talk. I rolled down the window to stare out at the coastline. Blue water sparkled in the afternoon sun and lush greenery dotted the smooth sandy beaches. So different from Sonoma. I was entering a world of surfboards and thousand-dollar designer bikinis. I’d stuck out back home for my odd taste in fashion and here, I grinned—I couldn’t wait to see the reaction of my family’s friends when they introduced me.
A thought startled me. What if they intended to keep me locked up? Hidden
