"What do you know about the Foxx family?"
"My grandparents were both in the Military but my mom had no interest in military life and just wanted to be a housewife and plant vegetables but she never got her wish before she passed."
It was Doctor Jennings' turn to look shocked.
"That disgusting man can't believe he kept it from his own flesh and blood. Do you mean to tell me that your father has never told you why he pursued your mother?"
Doctor Jennings' face turned red and he looked like he could explode at any minute.
Next, he took a deep breath before he spoke again.
"Your grandparents were famous and they only had one child, your mom, who was my next-door neighbour and best friends throughout our school days."
Well, that explained why Dr. Jennings always took a personal interest in their family and continued to visit regularly even after his mom passed.
"This just means you have no clue what your father stole from you and gave to your brother. It all makes sense why you seem so apathetic throughout the traumatic ordeal of undergoing surgery. You're just so naïve."
Dr. Jennings sighed.
Then raked his finger through his hair after yanking out a few strands of grey hair he fixed Sly with a bewildered look as if unsure of how to proceed.
"You should already know that the spirit bone is the ultimate source of our magical powers. Both your grandparents wielded the highest ranked bone known to exist. Your grandmother mastered the plant essence while your grandfather wielded the beast essence like it was second nature."
"The power flows through the bloodline and your mother inherited the rare wishbone, a mutated spirit bone that combined the powers of plant and beast. Since people kill for the power of the spirit bone, the Foxx family kept it a secret from outsiders but your mother foolishly fell in love and shared this with your father."
"He thought Ayana would be just like your mother but she turned out to be boneless. By then your mother started to see your father's true colours and kept it secret that you also inherited the wishbone."
"When he asked me to perform the surgery I didn't refuse because I'm skilled enough to split the bone in two. I gave your brother the beast half but your father doesn't know that you still possess the plant half. Not much is known about the wishbone. I don't want to give false hope but maybe someday in the future you will find a way to make your wishbone whole again."
Sly sat there silent and transfixed listening carefully to everything that Dr. Jennings had to say without interrupting him even once.
His eyes widened with disbelief even though it was just a small spark it gave him a glimmer of hope and suddenly his once dim future seemed brighter.
Dr. Jennings stood there watching Sly sadly as his mind slowly processed the information the good doctor had dumped on him all at once.
Sly's eyes suddenly glazed over and for the first time since Ayana passed a shy smile was pasted on his face and Dr. Jennings saw a shadow of the happy boy he used to be.
"It's getting late and we have to leave out early in the morning because I need you to get a good night's rest. So, I'll be taking my leave now. See you tomorrow."
The doctor finished packing the last of his utensils in his large leather bag and gave the attic one last look to make sure he wasn't leaving anything behind before turning to leave the room.
Disappointed, Sly snuggled under the blanket but kept his feelings to himself
Sly had so many questions but they would have to wait until tomorrow.
He intended to ask Dr. Peter Jennings all of them while they journeyed to the private academy.
Last night he barely slept a wink and despite the lack of sleep Sly still woke up early the next morning.
Sly sat up, yawned loudly then stretched his arms and legs that felt cold and stiff.
Even though the thick blackout curtains were meant to hide the presence of the illegitimate children in the Attic, Sly could still tell it was daylight.
He went and took a shower and put on his clothes.
Then packed a small burlap knapsack with the clothes that Sly got from his grandparents.
Sly had no intentions of taking anything from the Duncan's household with him.
The only thing of value in the bag was a keepsake journal that had passed down through the Foxx family; it had belonged to Ayana and after she passed it was now his.
Sly had yet to open the journal that Ayana treasured so tenderly the memories were still too fresh and painful so he buried them at the bottom of the knapsack.
There was a slight tapping on the door.
"Sly... Are you ready?" inquired Doctor Jennings softly so as to not wake the rest of the household.
"Yes," responded Sly. "Just give me a minute."
"Make it quick then."
Sly took one last look, the bed was neatly spread and nothing was out of place he would leave this prison of attic just like how he first encountered it.
"Do you have everything Sly, let's go then."
After Sly stepped out and closed the door gently behind him Doctor Jennings wrapped a plain knitted scarf around his neck.
It was five in the morning and even though the sun was out the air was still slightly cold.
There was no one to see them off so Sly didn't have to suffer the injustice of saying goodbye to people he wished to never have the misfortune of seeing them ever again in the future.
Sly was curious when they walked past the stables that held the horses.
The doctor took a cobbled path that cut through the manicured lawns and led out into the dark woods.
"Sir, how did you get to the Duncan's residence?" asked Sly.
Looking around for some kind of mount that he had perhaps tied to a tree away from the boundaries of the Duncan's property.
Dr. Jennings stopped suddenly and Sly almost walked into his back.
"That's easy, I flew over here when I got the message that your sister's condition had worsened."
Shocked, Sly repeated, "flew?"
A/N: In rare cases there are gifted children born with mutated spirit bones also called the wishbone that are able to wield more than one type of power.