𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒

「 when they disappear 」

   "What about my friends?" She reminded him when he stopped speaking. For once, the man had lowered his eyes. He had backed down first. Now that was a surprise. Conan didn't have an answer or he didn't want to speak on the topic. The silent treatment. "What did you do to them?" She repeated demandingly. A part of her had been so thankful, she'd been so busy that she hadn't been able to stress over Emma or Louis except when Mary had been helping find them. She needed to know because that worry would truly break her, she couldn't have that.

   "I don't know, Eleanor. It has nothing to do with me." Was all he could muster, things became increasingly difficult now he had a face to all these names. He knew Emma very well and although he turned his nose up at her, he knew she was an awfully kind girl who had been rather talented. Conan Westbrook feeling empathy towards his own daughter, now that would be a first. It was almost laughable really.

   "Does Tom not trust you with such a big boy task?" She asked, a fake pout forming on her lips. When her father's eyes flickered up, she knew that she had struck a nerve. But he opted to stay quiet, not taking the bait this time. "You can help me get them back, along with the bookshop owner," Eleanor stated, giving him no option which caused him to scoff.

   "After all the trouble you've caused, why would I help you?" He replied flatly, a blank expression on his face to match Eleanor's.

   "Awe, it hurts having no choice or control over a situation, doesn't it?" Eleanor carried on with her fake pout and fake look of understanding. Again, he said nothing. "And you can decline my invitation but I promise you, all of my mischief will be the beginning of your trouble." She explained to him simply, her rebellious phase when she lived here would be nothing compared to the hellfire she could raise, especially now. She was aware and that put everyone in danger.

   "I can see what I can do." He coughed lowly, turning his attention back to the floor as he felt like she was about to dismiss herself. Oh, but he was wrong, like she said - that was only the beginning.

   "Thank you." She replied simply, watching the man she feared for so many years not be able to even look her in the eyes. "Adelaide, she's not like me. Is she?" The girl spoke up, reaching into her pocket to grab the chain of the locket. Silence. "Is she even mum's child?" Eleanor asked upon seeing Conan bite his bottom lip as he knew things were truly coming to the surface now. His perfect little family was shattered into pieces. Though, they were never supposed to fall in love. She was everything that he had preached about opposing for many years. Sure at the time of their fling he didn't know her secret but after the birth of their first daughter, Conan was completely and utterly intoxicated by the red-headed beauty. For she had snatched his heart and nothing would have changed that. But a part of him loathed her because she had now tainted his only daughter. How he would desperately have to cover for Eleanor until he had passed.

   "No, she's not like you and no, she isn't Florence's. It was the only way." The man spoke causing Eleanor to raise her brow at him. "By the time you were born, I wasn't aware of your mother's condition until you started showing signs of magic, powerful magic too. The only person you'd allow close to you without sending shocks through their body was Flora. And that's why she told me. By that time, I was already in love with her. I couldn't have my only heir being... tainted." Conan said distastefully, even though she could hear the regret in his words. "Riddle was aware of her blood and advised me to carry on the pure line with someone else in order to keep my business afloat. I couldn't leave Florence but I couldn't let my life's work fail. So, I had another child with someone else. Annabeth."

   Eleanor couldn't believe the words that were leaving his mouth. Sure, she had been the one to ask and she had wanted the truth but finally hearing how he chose money over everything truly summed up the man in front of her. He didn't even show remorse. Regret sure but Eleanor knew if he had to make that decision again, he'd choose the same one. That was the other thing you could rely on Conan to constantly be - a selfish bastard. The man had always been that way, probably stemmed from him being an only child and since escalated.