Mary had long sensed that Cate was keeping something from her, but she had never expected Cate to just come out and fess up to the truth. Mary put down her wine glass and looked into Cate's eyes. From this look, Cate determined that Mary was ready to hear it all.
Cate also understood that Cate had sensed that there was something stopping them from growing closer. The reason as to why Cate understood this feeling so well was because it was the same feeling she got from Mary. They were both keeping secrets from each other.
Cate hoped that by opening up to Mary, she would do the same and they would finally have an honest relationship that has a future. This kind of thinking was a bit naive and flawed, but Cate still hoped for there to be a future where her heart was not ensconced in solitude and despair. Cate had lived through thousands of years where the only contact she had with other people was when she was being used to turn them to stone.
Her heart had been filled with loneliness that ate away at her soul. Now that she had a second chance at life, Cate's greatest fear became loneliness. She did not want to be alone, and yet she understood the risk that came with connecting with other living beings. Betrayal was what had led to her fall during her first go at life. She did not want something like this to happen again, and yet she felt so strongly for Mary that she wanted to make things work. Cate hoped that the truth would set her free.
Cate was slowly transforming into something she did not understand, but she was sure of one thing: her lifespan had greatly increased, and even now, it was still increasing. Cate had healing powers greater than the vampires and the werewolves. The vampires were immortal beings, while werewolves could live for at least one thousand years. There are records stating that some werewolves live for several thousand years. This was all due to their powerful healing abilities. Since Cate's healing powers already eclipsed those of the vampires and the werewolves, one could only imagine how long she would end up living.
The prospect of walking through countless more millennia with her soul shrouded in solitude was a fear that Cate currently could not handle. She hoped that Mary would be that person who would walk with her down this path, even if not forever.
"I am not Catherine Staranse." Cate blurted out this truth. This was only one of her many lies, and saying it out loud was sure to bring out more. Mary had been expecting something, but this was truly not something she could have ever imagined even on her wildest day. Mary Looked at Cate without blinking. Her head was filled with rumbling sounds.
Cate waited for Mary to process what she had just said before trying to explain. When Mary unconsciously moved into a defensive position, Cate felt her heart skip a beat. This was why Cate had needed years to find the courage to do what she was not doing. She feared that Mary would reject her due to all the deception.
"I am Ecaterina Dănescu. I took on the identity of Catherine Staranse in order to join Avalon." After this, Cate went on to explain what she had done and why she had carried on with each action. Cate told Mary about the real Catherine. When Cate believed that Mary had digested this information, she went on to tell Mary about her real self, Ecaterina Dănescu.
Cate told Mary about the fact that she was hunting for the Twelve Chaos keys, just like her evil parents had done before they were killed by Avalon. Cate even brought out a large chest from her storage ring and showed Mary the key of destiny that she had stolen during their mission against the Chimera Project. From this chest, Cate also brought out the eye that she had stolen on their first mission in Congo.
Basically, Cate told Mary everything about her life as Ecaterina Dănescu. The only secret Cate was not willing to share with anyone was the fact that she was Medusa reborn. This was a secret Cate would never tell anyone since it pertained to the success or failure of her greatest ambition, the fall of the gods.
After saying her piece and asking for forgiveness, Cate moved into the chair furthest from Mary. She wanted to give Mary some space and time to think about what she had been told.
"Did I wait to tell her until she was on a plane so that she would not immediately leave me?" Cate thought. She sat in the chair and watched Mary like a treasure hunter who was about to lose everything.
The plane moved through the sky at a great speed. The journey was only a few hours long, but Cate felt as though she had aged by thousands of years. They finally landed in Germany and got off the plane in silence. Cate had invited Mary to show her her home, and that was what Cate was going to do. Cate had chosen to trust Mary with this life of hers, and she was going to do that even though things did not seem to be going well.
There was a motorcade waiting for them at the airport. They traveled for another few minutes and reached a point on the Allgäu Alps where they stopped. Cate opened the door for Mary and helped her out of the car. Cate was surprised that Mary did not pull away.
"I am the Master of the Wandering Palace. I hereby grant you the right to see this wander on earth." Cate said while holding Mary's hand. These were simple words, but when spoken by the Master of the Wandering Palace with a clear intent, the intended person is granted the ability to see the Wandering Palace.
After saying these words, Mary suddenly saw a magnificent onyx place appear before her eyes. The palace sat on the highest peak of the Allgäu Alps. It looked like a palace used by devils and nightmarish beasts, but Cate had grown to love and call this place home.