She appeared in my hospital room three hours later, materialising through the door like she'd walked through it instead of opening it.
"Aunt Rose?"
She looked exactly as she always had. Warm brown skin, greying hair pulled into a bun, eyes that held storms I'd never noticed before. But now, watching her move, I saw the grace I'd attributed to elegance for what it truly was.
Power.
"Hello, little fish," she said softly.
That nickname. She'd called me that my entire life. I'd thought it was just affection.
"You knew," I said. Not an accusation. A statement.
"Of course I knew. I'm your mother's sister. Half sister, technically, but that distinction never mattered to Ondine." She sat in the chair beside my bed, moving with that same fluid grace. "I'm sorry I lied. I'm sorry I kept you i
