Chapter 2 VICTORIA'S DEATH

NIC'S POV

I slowly got up confused, seeing this stranger in the cabin carrying a baby. The events of last night had eluded me. There were flashes but it felt more like a dream. I turned my gaze towards the bedroom, there I saw my mother laying almost lifeless on the bed. "Mom?" I muttered trying to get up but was struck down by a really bad migraine, immediately sending me to the ground.

After about fifteen minutes, I woke up again and the images from the previous night became clearer to me.

I was consumed by fear and accidentally woke my inner beast. Except in my case, it was an actual beast just like my mom's. Except mine was mightier, like a lion to a cub.

The transformation frightened me. I could feel it that I wasn't in control of myself, and all I could think about was getting to the cabin, which according to my mom would keep me safe.

"The cabin would keep you safe." My mom's voice echoed in my head as I turned around, sprinting towards the cabin which for some reason I instinctively knew was to the east of the forest.

I could feel myself slowly fading away and the next thing I knew, I was waking up inside the cabin with this stranger by my side holding a baby. Then again, my mom!

I ran to her hugging her as she groaned weakly in her death bed. She was bleeding badly with scratches allover her body. I teared up seeing her condition, thinking I might have hurt her.

"Mom! Mom I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you?" I pleaded in tears for forgiveness.

"No Nic you didn't hurt me." She replied with a weak smile. "You are the perfect little Senior Elder." She whispered into my ears. "Shush, it's a secret. Don't tell anyone." She instructed giving my hand a little squeeze.

"What does that mean. Mom, what was that last night?" I asked terrified. "Don't worry about that. You can tell me later, let's just go to the hospital mom." I cried trying to carry her up but couldn't.

"There's no need Nic, I won't make it." Those words killed me instantly. Tears rolled down uncontrollably as I watched my mother die.

"Don't cry Nic, I'm so sorry. I wish... I wish I had more time. I thought if I kept you away from it all, you'd be safe. But I wish I'd told you sooner. I didn't know your powers would be awoken so quickly. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I failed you as a mother."

"No Mom, you didn't fail me. Don't talk like that. Don't talk like you're going to die. Please don't die. Stay with me. Mom please!!!" I begged desperately in tears, even though I knew she was already gone.

"Alima" she called out to the woman outside. "Please take care of my son. He's just like you, but he's a special little boy. He is much more than you could ever imagine so please, keep him safe, and keep him hidden. That way, you would have repaid your debt to me. Goodbye Nic. I love you. " She groaned weakly as she drew her final breath, letting go of my hand.

There was an immediate emptiness in me. I screamed in agony as my mother died right in my arms. The only family I've ever known. The only family I've ever known is gone. She is gone and she left me in the hands of a total stranger.

I have so many things to tell her. So many questions to ask her. There's still a lot I need her to teach me and to protect me from but she's gone, just like that. How will I survive without her now? And how can she just trust a complete stranger to take care of me?

I wept and sob bitterly, secluding myself from the rest of the world. That cabin where I didn't want to be, became the only place I'd rather be.

Days became weeks and weeks became months and I still couldn't heal from the loss but Alima stayed by my side.

She made all the funeral arrangements and just for that day, I went to say my final goodbyes to my mother. After which we returned to the cabin. I won't leave and Alima allowed me grief for as long as I needed. And it took almost a year before I finally festered up the courage to return to the country side with Alima.

And just as my mother instructed, Alima never left my side, neither did Iris, the little baby girl.

To Be Continued...