"It's a wonderful power. Your mother was not the first to have it. However, I'd never seen it present in personal writings. Usually it only presented if the person was writing about something made up or that they were not involved in," he smiled, "Your mother always had to be different! Seems that even carried over to her power!"
Tim took the journal as his grandfather handed it back to him. "People can have the same powers?"
Grandpa Cire nodded. "They usually run in families. Once in a while, something new will pop up, but usually, looking back, you tend to find that the power was in the family somewhere- possibly another branch that formed its own family in the present time that shows the power more dominantly. Many families in Snillotia have common ancestors if you go back far enough. Like your family and Anna's. Your father’s ancestors and her mother’s were brother and sister after all- the first Sibling Rulers."
Tim nodded, understanding a little better. He looked at his grandfather, who had moved to the desk where all the books were piled. Grandpa Cire was running his fingers across the covers, almost lovingly. Tim started, shyly. "Am I allowed to ask people what their powers are? I know Anna's parents' and Grandma An's, because they all told me. And now I know my moms, but what about my dad's? And your's and Grandma Aras' and Grand-"
Tim stopped talking, as Grandpa Cire laughed. "Slow down, son! I forget you didn't grow up here and don't know much how about things work, sometimes! Why don't we go find the rest of the grandparents? Yours, I mean, and we'll have a little family reunion! We'll tell you anything you want to know, that we know ourselves, of course!"
Tim followed his grandfather from the room. As they walked, Tim realized the castle was a lot bigger than he originally thought. Besides the sections that looked like the house he grew up in and the house Anna grew up in, there were yet more doors and hallways he had not yet seen. Tim shook his head. His grandfather glanced over at him. "I know; it's very confusing at first! You'll get used to it soon, I promise! After all, this is your home now!"
Tim nodded, slowly, as that reality once again, sunk in. It didn't feel like home yet, even the section that did resemble his real home. Putting those thoughts aside, they finally stopped in a cozy room. Tim's grandmothers were sitting at a table with Grandma An. The women looked up, surprised as they realized Tim was with Grandpa Cire. Grandpa Amme smiled warmly at Tim. "Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?"
Tim nodded, as Grandpa Cire spoke, "I realized, while talking with Tim, that our children really did not tell him anything about who he really is. Most likely they were waiting for when they thought would be the best time and, unfortunately, we know that they didn't get a chance."
Grandpa Cire's voice caught, thinking of his daughter, then he continued. "Tim has a lot of questions. Questions that will need to be answered if he's to play the part in our salvation that we believe he is to play. I also have some questions for him. I'd like to get to know my grandson better. I think we need to take some family time and just talk."
Grandma Aras nodded in agreement. "What a wonderful idea!"
Grandma An stood up. "I think we'll do the same with Anna!"
She closed her eyes. "I've told Mit what we've planned to do. He'll meet you here shortly," she paused, "and he'll bring some breakfast!"
Tim looked surprised and Grandma Amme laughed. "It's a sibling ruler thing, Tim," she explained, "They can communicate telepathically. It does take some getting used to."
Tim just nodded, his head already filling with more questions than he would ever find time to get answers for. As Grandma An left to find Anna and the others for their family time, Tim sat in the seat she vacated. "I don't know what to ask first!"
Before anyone could respond, Grandpa Mit came in, arms full of donuts and other pastries. "Breakfast is served!"
While Tim chose a danish to eat, Grandpa Cire, took charge. "I know you have many questions, Tim, but before we answer yours, I'm sure we all," he paused, indicating the grandparents around the table, "would like to know the same thing. Were your parents happy?"
Tim thought for a moment. "Yes, for the most part I think they were. I can remember times- around holidays mostly- where it would seem like they were lonely. But they laughed and smiled a lot. They always did what they could to make sure I was happy, and I think that made them happy too. I don't understand, though, if you could communicate with them when they first went through, why did you stop? They told me you were dead. If they had known you were all here, I'm sure they would have still missed seeing you, but at least they could talk to you."
"We don't know what happened, Tim. After your parents and Anna's went to the backwards world, we knew they were safe. Yes, we could communicate, at first, but it wasn't like using a key or a "phone" as your picturing in your head," Grandpa Mit paused, “Yes, I can see what you’re thinking, but not all the time- only when you’re thinking about something quite a bit, and only if I'm near you. It's my power. As, I was explaining though, communicating between the worlds was more like signs that we could read, but after a while they stopped coming, and we assumed ours stopped getting through as well. Your parents must have
