Grandma smirked. “They would say that, wouldn’t they? No, they are not the same, not exactly. But they are always in conflict, and the conflict is what makes this world. We are light-bringers, and we come to heal this world. Those who oppose us are of the darkness, and there is no light in them. From what you tell me, the Gentlemen were a sort of prison for Jeremiah, his aspect divided. You had to free him from that realm, Lee, and you did it. For that I will be forever grateful.”

“Why did Carl save me if his family hates us so much?” I said.

“Well, the truth is, Carl and that wretched mother of his tried to kill your uncle when he was about thirteen or so. Gave him a poisoned piece of candy. That’s why I cook all of your food myself, yours and Murphy’s, and I don’t allow any outside snacks. It just isn’t safe.”

“But why was he spying on me? Why did he follow me my whole life?”

Grandma seemed to grow smaller, like she was curling in on herself, drawing her bones closer, fresh pain brimming in her eyes. I was amazed how after so many years, the hurt of losing Jeremiah hadn’t dimmed at all. In that moment she seemed so small and fragile, like a doll of herself, like someone could snip a single thread and she would unravel, collapse into a tumble of old bones and dust.

The moment passed, and Grandma sat up straight again. She took a deep breath and let it out slow, and a fierceness replaced the pain in her eyes.

“Because after your uncle survived,” she said, “Jeremiah won Carl Urquhart over. And he grew to love your uncle, more than his own family, more than himself, even. He swore to protect Jeremiah, to give his life for him. Of course, Carl was such a nuisance about it that Jeremiah put a curse on him, took away his voice. He forbade Carl from interfering unless Jeremiah’s life was in danger. After he failed to protect Jeremiah, I guess he just moved on to you.”

That didn’t make any sense to me at all. How could someone go from such deep hatred, from wanting to murder a person, to loving him, to risking their life for him?

“It isn’t so strange,” said Grandma. “Didn’t Saul want to murder Christians before he converted and became Paul? It was the same with Carl and your uncle. Carl persecuted Jeremiah, and then Carl came to see the light.”

“But how?”

Grandma raised her eyebrows at me.