Evanora released a long breath and looked at Yasmin's pleading eyes directed at her. She denied Yasmin this information for too long. It was time for the girl to get some answers about her father.
"When I met your father, this realm was different. We had several portals open and people were coming in and out at will. Sisters of the Silver Flame Coven lived outside, in nature, with nature, and we would gather to celebrate milestones.", Evanora said in one breath and paused. "When I met him, I knew immediately that he was my soulmate. He said that he will take me to his realm, but later he changed his mind and we stayed here."
Evanora spread her arms like she was gesturing at everything around her. "This was the place where high-ranking sisters stayed. It was an administrative building, a gathering point for the Silver Flame Coven. Your father was the one who suggested creating the illusion so that the entrance is hidden."
"In time, the number of outsiders was reducing as the portals started closing. We formed teams to investigate and try to reopen them, your father was at the head of that research, but it was in vain. One day, we had an energy disturbance in the North. He went with a team to see what was causing it. He never came back."
Yasmin stared at her mother. Evanora didn't speak about Yasmin's father and a few times when Yasmin asked, Evanora had a pained expression, so Yasmin assumed that he abandoned them and she even hated him for leaving her pregnant mother on her own, but now it seemed that he encountered some accident.
"Did you look for him?", Yasmin asked anxiously.
"Of course, I did", Evanora snapped. "But there was nothing. Like they disappeared into thin air."
"Do you think that they passed through a portal?", Damon asked.
Evanora shrugged, indicating that she was not sure. "At that time, we were experimenting with reopening the portals, and the disturbance matched something an unstable portal could create. However, we didn't have any approved tests in that area, so it was unusual. That's why he went to investigate."
"Was the portal to the Midnight Guardians pack open then?", Axel asked Evanora.
"No. That portal was closed for a very long time."
Yasmin asked her next question, "Was it possible that someone entered the realm and attacked them? Or that my father left through a portal?"
"I told you everything I know, Yasmin.", Evanora said. "Shortly after they left, the disturbance was gone. Anything beyond that is just guessing. We assumed that they dealt with the issue, and when they didn't return after some time, we went to look but there was nothing. Shortly after that, I found out that I was pregnant so I couldn't take risks."
Evanora now turned to Talia. "There. That's all. Our deal is completed."
"It is", Talia confirmed while her eyes darted to Yasmin who was visibly shaken up by this information.
Talia saw Evanora's hand waiting for a handshake, and Talia realized that the witch wanted to close the deal. Did Evanora really tell her everything about the portal there was to tell? Talia had no way to verify, so she shook Evanora's hand and white light flashed upon contact.
"I'm sorry I can't tell you more about your father, Yasmin", Evanora said, this time sounding genuine. "But I know that he loved me, and he would love you as well only if he had a chance to meet you."
"You can tell me more.", Yasmin said.
"I told you everything…"
"His name.", Yasmin interrupted her. "What was his name?"
"Edgar", Evanora responded.
"I want you to tell me about him. How he looked, what he liked to eat, how you met. Everything."
"Now?"
Yasmin was impatient, but she realized that her emotions were fluctuating. She decided to leave talking about her father for later. After so much time, waiting a few more days won't make a difference. Besides, if there was really a portal there and her father passed through it, investigating that place and finding clues was more important compared to listening to Evanora recollecting her romance.
"Not now, but soon. What I want to know now is the exact location of the incident he was investigating, and any reports you have from that time.", Yasmin said with resolve. "Is any of the sisters present that was investigating his disappearance?"
"I know what you are thinking. But that happened a long time ago and we looked everywhere.", Evanora said to Yasmin.
"You did, but we didn't.", Talia said and turned to Yasmin. "Let's look for your father together. There was no body so we can't be sure he perished. He might be still alive." Talia was also hoping that her parents might be alive. Was this connected somehow? That would be a stretch.
Yasmin's eyes filled with tears at the sight of determined Talia and Damon who was right there nodding in agreement.
'Kitten?', Damon's voice sounded in Talia's head through their private mind-link. 'Are you thinking of doing something reckless again?'
Talia turned to smile at the overprotective Alpha. 'It's just to check the area. How can that be reckless? Besides, you will be right by my side to keep me safe.'
Damon's eyebrows twitched. He had a bad feeling about this.
Evanora looked at Yasmin who was talking to Axel about water and healthy snacks they will pack for their trip. With coordinates from Evanora, Yasmin can teleport them there, but Axel wanted to have nourishment for his pregnant mate. She was eating for three now. Damon also joined in the discussion about food and Talia started teasing him if an Alpha needs to pack sandwiches for an outing or if he can hunt when he gets hungry. Axel and Yasmin laughed at this comment and Damon's comical expression.
Evanora wanted to say that she will go as well, but somehow, after seeing the cheery mood among the four youngsters, she felt like an outsider.
At least Yasmin was in good spirits, Evanora thought. She feared that Yasmin will be sad or blame her for keeping this from her, and Yasmin was probably doing that, but she didn't want to show it.
Everyone who sees the mother-daughter duo says how Evanora and Yasmin are alike, but that was only skin-deep because Yasmin's personality resembled her father's. Yasmin always had her ways of doing things, achieving unexpected with determination and a spirit ready for adventure while making it look easy... Just how her father used to do things.
Before leaving Evanora's office, they finalized their plan.
"Let's go tomorrow after breakfast", Yasmin said. "That will give us the whole day to check the area. I will get the coordinates and prepare the spell for instant travel."
Since he had nothing else to do, Axel expressed his desire to see the archive of the Silver Flame Coven. Evanora said how information about the portals was gone, but what if she missed something?
Axel was not a witch, but there were probably all kinds of useful information in there.
Seeing Evanora's frown of disapproval, Axel was quick to come up with an excuse.
"I want to see if you have any recorded history of interaction with the Midnight Guardians pack."
