Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Purple Lilac, Part 2

Aubrey wanted badly to take a step back. He had never seen his father so angry - even defying him to go to school had not resulted in this loss of temper. But he refused to play the coward. "I could not sleep three nights ago. I explored. On a whim, realizing I knew nothing about my mother, I decided to learn what I could."

"You did not have my permission to do that," Sangre said angrily. "I have forbidden any of you from entering your mother's room."

"Why?" Aubrey demanded, barely restraining an urge to throw the books at his father. "You didn't want us to know Mother fought for the freedom of Pets? That she cared passionately for Mina? Why would you keep that from us? Were you ashamed of her goals?"

He did step back then at the look of hurt and fury on Sangre's face.

"Do not ever suggest that I was ashamed of your mother," Sangre said, so furious he was shaking. "Do not dare."

"Then why did you never tell us?" Aubrey demanded.