“Sorry,” Jasper mused. “I wasn’t expecting company when I parked. There wasn’t anytime to clean up.”
“You don’t live in here, do you?” Violet asked, immediately wishing she hadn’t. A grimacing frown waited for his reaction.
“No,” he chuckled. “Although, sometimes it feels like it. I do a lot of the runs to town for my uncle. He can be quite demanding at times. They add up.”
“It’s definitely not a short trip to the store,” Violet said. “I’m not sure I could handle driving that much. Hours on the road is an eternity for me.”
“Right,” Jasper agreed, side-eyeing his companion. “I heard about your motion sickness. Perhaps you should roll down the window.”
Violet glanced around looking for a button. “Um. How exactly do I do that?”
Jasper chuckled. “You have to do it manually. This truck is as much a dinosaur as the beast we saw pictured. They made them better back in the day.” He patted the dashboard. “She needs a bit of work, but I wouldn’t trade this baby for all the souped-up engines in the world.”
That explained the truck. Violet turned the crank, grinning as the glass disappeared from sight. There was a certain satisfaction that came hand in hand with a manual job—even if it was a small one. “Where to first?”
“I’ll drop you at the government buildings,” Jasper suggested. “I can grab most of the list while you are taking care of your business. What is it you are doing?”
“Trying to find out about my biological parents,” Violet replied, biting her bottom lip after the words slipped out. It felt wrong talking about it—the same as a wish—if she told anyone, it wouldn’t come true.
“You were adopted,” Jasper said.
“Yeah,” Violet agreed. “The parents who raised me were great. They gave me everything.”
“But...”
“But,” Violet continued, “they never told me I was adopted. I found out when I was going through their papers after they were gone. There wasn’t much information to go on, either.”
Jasper, nodded, eyes focused on the road. “Hence the kit. It’s all starting to make sense now.” He paused, contemplation etched on his face. “Do you mind me asking how your parents passed?”
Violet glanced down at her twiddling thumbs. “It was a car accident, about six months ago.”
“That recently,” Jasper replied. “Are you sure you are ready to do this? The grief from your loss must still be playing a factor in your decisions.”
“I am. I don’t expect others to understand, but I’m curious about who I am,” Violet explained. “It would be nice to know what happened and who I am related to. I understand the odds are against me finding anything, but by some strange coincidence I am here.”
“Right,” Jasper agreed. “You might as well try. There’s no harm in doing that. What would you do if you found them?”
Violet’s head jerked sideways. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I never planned that far ahead. I suppose I’d have to check them out.”
“You know not all discoveries are good ones,” Jasper suggested. “Some stones are better left unturned.”
“I get it,” Violet sighed. “But what if I needed a transplant? I’d need a blood relative for a match.”
“That’s a long shot,” Jasper scoffed. “And you are assuming your blood relatives would be willing to donate their organs to save you. They did give you up once...”
“Okay.” Violet’s head bobbed up and down, jaw open. “What about the couple that almost got married and they sent in kits only to find out they were brother and sister? I’d like to avoid that happening.”
“You really are something,” Jasper snickered. “The odds of that happening are a million to one.”
His laughter warmed her heart, the way the main character in a cheesy Christmas romance movie did for his love interest. Christmas in July. She shook her head, turning to face the open window.
“Are you all right?” Jasper asked. “You look a bit flushed. Do you need me to pull over?”
“I’m fine,” Violet lied, sticking her head into the wind. “I just needed some air.” Heather and Carla were easily sidetracked by love, but she was there for two reasons, both of which involved delving into the past. Anything else needed to stand in line and she doubted it would move very fast, if at all.
“Let me know if you change your mind,” Jasper said. “There isn’t a lot of traffic out this way. I can stop anytime you feel sick.”
“I’ll feel better once we get there,” Violet replied. “Are we close?”
“Practically there,” Jasper stated. “Fifteen minutes and you’ll be on the front steps to the government building.”
Fifteen minutes was a lifetime. Her temperature was still rising and it wasn’t because she was sick.
Chapter 21
The government building wasn’t what she expected. There was only one window for almost everything: driver’s licenses, permits, town records, parking tickets, court dates, marriage forms, death forms, new birth forms, passports, and legal counsel. After an hour of standing, she was fourth in line behind a woman with a lunch delivery, two men arguing over a property line and a pig, which continuously grunted its complaints, whatever they were.
“Next,” a worker called out. “You, in the purple. You’re next. The pig is with them. Step around him.”
Violet did as she requested, watching the two men furiously scribbling their arguments on a form. “Hi,” she said, approaching the counter. The papers she received from the DNA kit shook in her hands. “I have these. I was hoping I could use them to trace my family history further.”
The government employee glanced at the pages, her frown indicating she wasn’t the least bit impressed. “Do you have a name?”
“I’m Violet Haze,” she answered. “Oh, but, no... that’s not the name that would match to anyone here. That’s my adopted name.”
“I’d need something more than this to go on,” the worker replied, tossing the paper back on the counter between them. “Without a name you have nothing I can trace.”
“I get that, but I thought...”
The worker’s hand raised, palm first silencing her. “You thought, because the place this report suggests you come from is this area, it would be easy. I get it. I’d think the same thing, given the company that sent you the report is located right here.”
“What?!” Violet shrieked. “Here, where?”
The worker chuckled. “You’re saying you didn’t know the report came from one of Bordwell Drachen’s companies? It’s the first and largest of its kind.”
“No, I didn’t know.” Violet stared at the papers, glancing over each for an address. It was a post office box. Lines creased between her brows. He couldn’t have known every person who sent a sample of their DNA into his company. Still, he could have mentioned he owned such a company the evening before—or his nephew could have during their long drive.
“Can you move aside, miss?” the worker asked. “Next.”
Violet shoved her reports back in her purse, using a speed walk to exit the building. She was a woman with a mission. Jasper Drachen was going to answer a few questions, whether he liked it or not. The door swung open with force. She descended a few steps before a stupid grin stopped her in her tracks.
“I got done quicker than I thought I would,” Jasper said, standing on the side of the road. “How’d it go?”
“Lousy, but you knew that already, didn’t you?” Violet crossed her arms over her chest. “Please enlighten me. Why didn’t you tell me your uncle owned the company that sent me my results?”
Jasper’s hands rubbed over his face, covering a still obvious eye roll. “Do you know how many companies there are that handle tracing genes?” One hand popped in the air before she could answer. “A lot. There was no way to know it had been my uncle’s company that sent you reports.”
“Then why keep it a secret that he owned such a company?” Violet questioned, eyes slan
ting.
Jasper inhaled deeply, shaking his head. “It wasn’t a secret. If it was, it certainly wasn’t a very good one,” he huffed. “We didn’t mention it for a number of reasons... first and foremost, so as not to make you feel uncomfortable. If you used my uncle’s company you might overreact—like you are. If you didn’t, you might have felt awkward knowing you could have. He has been generous with you and your friends.”
“Did you know about the results?” Violet asked.
“No,” Jasper replied. “He doesn’t monitor every report that goes through the company. He has staff that handles that. There are far too many names for my uncle to keep up with himself, especially since he doesn’t leave the property.”
“The internet is a thing,” Violet snapped. “Plenty of executives work from home these days.”
“Not where he lives,” Jasper snickered. “I can’t even get cell phone service most days. There is no internet in the villa.” He glanced from side to side. “So are you going to tell me what happened?”
“The reports don’t give enough information to go on,” Violet sighed. “It’s another dead end. I don’t think I’ll ever find out anything about my ancestors.” She paused, lips twitching. “Sorry about...”
“Water under the bridge,” Jasper interrupted. “We should grab some lunch before heading back. There’s a great little restaurant around the corner. It’s not much to look at, but the food is amazing.”
“Sounds great,” Violet agreed, following him. He wasn’t kidding when he said it wasn’t pretty—it actually might have been an understatement. If anything, the building was more of a hazard than walking in the caves had been. Bricks were visibly crumbling, the windows boarded up, and roof in desperate need of some tiles. Luckily, they didn’t serve food inside. Instead, there were sectioned off tents for customers.
“They work on a donate to eat system,” Jasper explained. “Each tent is for a different level of contribution. The more you offer, the more elaborate the choices on the menu. They even have a section for those who can’t afford to pay a cent.”
“Don’t people just pick the free tent?” Violet asked. “I know they would back home. People always want something for nothing.”
“It’s a different mentality here,” Jasper said, ushering her to a folding chair. “These people have all known hard times at one point or another in their lives. When they have a little more, they pay it forward. That way the restaurant can continue helping those who need it.”
“That’s beautiful,” Violet said. “I’ve heard of communities coming together like that, but never actually witnessed it.”
“It is amazing, isn’t it?” Marge commented, leaning back on two legs of her chair. “I thought I heard your voice. They let you out, I see. I’m impressed.”
Violet chuckled. “You make it sound as if you thought you’d never see me again. I’m only visiting.”
“Yes,” Marge muttered, scooting her chair up to their table. “Mind if I join you? I’m all alone these days.”
“Of course not,” Violet answered. “I’m sure you know Jasper.”
“No. We’ve never met.” Marge declared. “I know everyone in these parts. Are you visiting as well?”
“He’s...”
“Working on the property,” Jasper blurted out. “I’ve been contracted to do some handyman jobs.”
“I’m surprised old man Drachen let anyone behind his fences,” Marge scoffed. “He sits alone in that villa, growing madder by the second.”
“I’d think the two of you are about the same age,” Jasper snickered.
Marge’s laugh alerted the staff of their presence. Two waiters came running to take the group’s orders. “I recommend the special. It is a very good choice today.” She turned to the servers. “Make it three,” she requested, ordering without asking her companions. She waited for the staff to disappear before speaking again. “Age is only a number by which we are judged. Take Bordwell Drachen for instance... he’s what two... maybe three hundred years old now.”
“That may be a wee bit of an exaggeration,” Jasper said.
“Is it?” Marge questioned, a smile trying to crack through a thick layer of makeup. “Well, that is neither here nor there. What brings you to town, Violet?”
“Picking up supplies,” Violet replied. “I was wondering if I could ask you a couple of questions about those clay pots?” Jasper darted a glare in her direction.
“What would you like to know?” Marge mused, observing the silent exchange going on between her two lunch mates.
“On the way here, I witnessed a girl burying one in a field,” Violet lied. “I was hoping you could explain why anyone would do that.”
“I’m glad that’s an easy question to answer,” Marge chuckled, taking a sip from a glass of red wine. “The pots are used to trap regrets of this lifetime. The clay is thought to absorb them. It is believed that, if they are shattered, the regrets will be released and follow the soul from one life to another.”
“Forcing them to live the same events over and over,” Violet mumbled. “Why bury them, though?”
“There are rituals for everything in these parts,” Marge explained. “Bodies after death are cremated and ashes set free in a release ceremony. This detaches the spirit from the earthly realm and releases their knowledge and magic to their next of kin. Burying the pot is part of a grieving process.”
“How do the relatives receive this wisdom?” Jasper asked. “I mean, if it were true, wouldn’t there be an awful lot of very smart babies walking around?”
Marge chuckled. “Goodness, no. The gift is waiting for them when they reach adulthood. There’s another ceremony that has to be performed for them to accept it.”
“Do you know how to conduct one?” Jasper asked.
“I suppose I do... they aren’t difficult,” Marge answered, biting her bottom lip. “You’d have to have the right incantations.”
“Where do you get those?” Jasper scooted to the edge of his seat, gaze fixed on their lunch guest.
“It can be passed down through generations,” Marge replied. “Every clan has their own unique spells, if you will, all kept in one place: a master book. They are sacred secrets. Ah, here comes the food.”
Violet felt the colour draining from her face. Beads of sweat tingled as they dripped down her skin. Staring at the wiggling mess on the plate was worse than motion sickness. She darted for the exit, making it round the corner before heaving up her breakfast. Not only didn’t she eat lunch, but now there wasn’t anything in her stomach.
“Are you okay?” Jasper asked, staring down at her. He offered a hand up. “Maybe you are coming down with something.”
“Yeah,” Violet agreed. “A case of I don’t eat worms or slugs. I’ll wait here if you want to finish...”
“Let me pay and excuse us from the table,” Jasper suggested. “I’ll be right back.”
“Tell Marge thank you for the talk,” Violet called after him.
Chapter 22
The camp was already set up by the time they returned. Open tents fluttered in a cool breeze, taking on the appearance of a colony of supersized white butterflies dancing around open flames. The newly built firepit was already ablaze, the sun retreating behind the mountains for the night. Adrenaline levels were off the chart—the buzz of excitement carrying from one person to the next.
“Oh good. You’re back,” Mrs. Becker said, rushing to unpack supplies from the horses. “We were worried you might not make it until tomorrow. Everyone is raring to get started around here.” She burst out into a chorus of giddy giggles. “This is so exciting. If you two are tired, take a nap. We are heading in shortly.”
“So soon,” Violet said. “I thought you’d want to wait for morning and sunlight. Are you sure going in now is a good idea?”
“There is no light in the cave anyway,” Mrs. Becker replied. “What difference does it make? Enthusiasm is at an all-time high for this project right now. I want to harness t
hat and get results. Last time I checked, no one made a great discovery while sleeping.”
“Point taken,” Violet agreed. “What do you need?”
“Rope,” Mrs. Becker answered, “and lots of it. We are going to tie a scout off and have them begin the exploration. Once an area is deemed safe, we can all move forward, leaving a trail of glow sticks to find our way back.”
“Don’t glow sticks only work for so long?” Violet asked. “What if they go out? We could end up lost.”
“Not these ones,” Remi said, coming to help with the supplies. “These are battery operated. We also have a bright spray to mark the ground. It’ll be fine.”
“What can I do to help?” Violet asked.
Mrs. Becker glanced around. “Double check the packs and make sure we have everything we need. Then wake Carla and Heather. They’ve been sleeping since the tents went up.”
“I’m on it,” Violet agreed, shoving her hands in her pockets.
The backpacks weren’t hard to find, being all lined up against the wall of the mountain. She opened each, confirming they all contained the same items: extra flashlights, batteries, markers, a multi-tool, specimen containers, some food, and plenty of fresh water. The final two bags were filled with excavation equipment and tools.
“Everything okay?” Jasper asked, bringing over an arm full of the glow sticks. “You look a bit off.”
“I’m fine,” Violet lied, falling on her backside from a squatting position. “It’s been a long day.”
“You need to eat something,” Jasper suggested. “I’ll grab some snacks while you wake up the sleeping beauties.”
“Deal,” Violet replied, forcing a smile. It disappeared the moment his back was turned. He’d said it. He thought her friends were beautiful. Knowing it was going to happen and having it happen were two different things. For once, she wished someone would say she was the pretty one.
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