I leaned back in my seat. "What's there to say? I was the problem child." I shrugged.
Helen had reappeared in the doorway. "No offence, I had you pinned as someone who has parental issues."
"Some taken." I replied. "I haven't spoken to any of them in four years, though. I'd say it's been good but I did die, so take that with a grain of salt."
Edith narrowed her eyes. "Thats when you moved to London, right? Four years back?"
"Yeah, into the Royal College of Surgeons. It was that or study law in Trinity and probably die in a similar timeframe. That said, i wasnt exactly wanted at home." I explained, hoping to end the conversation there and then.
It didn't work. All three of them looked expectantly at me. I would have to explain now.
"I was fully intending to leave anyway, before I go on." I said, "but this was the kick in the hole that got me out faster.
So I was eighteen at the time, maybe seventeen, doesnt matter. Anyways, my friend had convinced me to go out drinking that night." I began.
"Recipie for disaster..." Silas cut in. "Go on."
"Anyways, he deemed me the social equivalent of an invalid, which I dont necessarily disagree with, and made it his mission to get me my first kiss. And he did, for better or worse."
"Which was the reason you left the country how?" Silas asked.
"Well you see, I had never been drinking before, and was about 8 pints down, before I was approached by a woman a little older than me, we got to talking, and then, without me really realising, she kissed me."
Silas clapped his hands together, "Go on, didn't think you had it in you!"
"No, no you see thats the problem, it blindsided me and I didn't like it, i was shaking a lot, and she kept at me, so I excused myself to the bathroom, and then when I came back, it continued, and I didn't say no, so it isn't her fault, but I couldn't say anything."
Silas' face was now graven, along with Edith and Helen's. He said nothing, for once.
"I tried to get up and leave, but the door was locked, which it turned out mean there was a lock-in. Thankfully the staff allowed me out, but she followed. At that point, offered to, and walked her home, so it could be over. She tried to have me stay the night, and at that point I cut and run."
"Why bother? Helen asked. "Why walk her home?"
"Dunno." I said. "I guess at the time I felt like any positive attention was enough to justify her doing what she wanted. I'd also still feel bad if something happened to her."
"Hmph, fair enough, who am I to judge?" Helen said.
"Anyway, that all was bad enough, but its when I got home that it all went to hell. Father was waiting for me, and was already in a bad mood that i was late. When I explained what had happened, I was berated for putting myself in a position to be accused of... anything, and dragging his reputation in the mud. Apparently having no legal responsibility to someone was reason enough to abandon them while they were in a compromised state.
Bad and all as that was, it was the morning after that caused me to leave for good. Mother got involved, as did my twin sisters. Essentially... they..."
I paused, wincing a little at the memory.
"They took it a step further, saying not only could I be accused of something awful, but that that I had done something awful, because in mother's eyes, thats what I was. Her words exactly were that I "had no capacity for alrtuism", and that my inability to offer any kind of response to that was an admission of guilt. What do you even do in that situation?"
Nobody said anything.
"Anyways, soon after I just upped and left. Moved to London, changed my name and sent money home to keep the peace. It's an unfortunate arrangement, but better than the alternative of living with people like that."
"You changed your name?" Edith asked.
"Well, anglicised it, went from O'Connor to Connors, it helps you get on in England if you have an English sounding name. My accent is enough to pass as a native, one benefit of grammar school I suppose."
Silas stubbed out a cigarette. "I'm a touch confused as to how your parents came to the conclusion making false accusations is something one does as a way to pass the time, then again, I am old."
Helen raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked men were the ones known for making false accusations."
Silas looked over at her. "You ARE a witch, though."
Helen flicked an ember into the side of his neck. "I wasn't then, the witchcraft came after."
"Ow!" Silas yelped. "Learn to take a joke!"
Edith took a while to add anything. "Sorry..."
"Not your fault." I told her.
I felt a sudden urge to get up and leave. "Silas I'd like to re-enter the caverns with the Cherub."
Silas shrugged, seeming to want to move on as much as I did. "Just be careful, either of you can probably take it down alone, but I'd rather you go with Edith."
Edith stood up, "Fine by me. Do you want the gun back?"
"It's fine. You're a better shot anyways." I said, smiling weakly.
A while later, we stood at the teleportation circle. Silas had, strangely, supplied me with a new outfit. It consisted of a plated long jacket over denim jeans and a high-collared shirt made of some kind of toughened material. It had been too small for him but it was apparently close enough to my size.
Silas also came to both Edith and I with two cloth-wrapped objects. Take these, every sorcerer needs to learn how to use relics.
"What are they though..." I asked, but yet again Silas was grinning like an idiot.
"No clue, picked them at random, have fun!" He said before activating the teleportation runes.
I heard Edith exhale in frustration before we were back in the caverns.