"Do not go gentle." ― Ally Condie, Matched
~oOo~
It was just a dream. That's all it was but for some reason, I keep having it. Almost like a memory. I've never told anyone about it in all of my twenty-four years. I had to protect it, just like my gift, so that no one would know. I was told, from my dream that no one can ever know about what happened, why I survived; cheating death. I swore to her that I would protect this secret, protect her. Even if I believe that it is a dream…it still feels like a memory.
But years later I would understand it's not a dream at all.
But a lost memory…a forgotten one.
"Ana, don't wonder off. We'll be leaving soon." My mom said, packing away the camping stuff. I remember this day. My family and I were camping for a week, to get away from the city life as we do ever since I was born. I'm six, my older brother Nick is ten and we're playing near the forest close to our cabin. Nick is teasing me since I'm wearing a red sweater so that made me Red Riding Hood. Mom told me not to wear it but I brought it along anyway, ignoring her warning.
"I bet you're scared to go into the woods by yourself." Nick teased. I looked into the woods and a sudden chill came over me but I turned towards Nick, pouting.
"No I'm not! I can go into those woods for five minutes without being scared. I bet you all your money in your piggy bank back home that says I can do it." I challenged him. Nick stuck out it hand.
"Okay. But if you don't, you have to wear whatever I give you one the first day of school next week. Whatever it is, you have to wear it. Deal?" I took Nick's hand and shook it.
"Deal." I said and started to walk into the woods by myself as Nick set his watch. It was early morning so a light fog settled on the forest floor. Something in the back of my mind was screaming to get away, to forget the bet and run back into my parents arms but I couldn't. I make and keep my deals. Thank my dad for that. "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, big bad wolf. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, big bad wolf. Certainly not I." I sang quietly to myself. I started singing that song a few days ago before we left to camping and my parents certainly hate when I sing it, especially when my aunt visits.
I continued to walk a little ways until I heard what sounded like someone fighting. I was frightened at first but curiosity got the better at me. I moved slower until I could make out a clearing ahead. When I got close I noticed a woman, wearing all white with white hair kneeling on the ground, something red was staining through her clothes as three black figured stood in front of her. They looked like grim reapers from the way they were standing, holding some type of weapon in their hands.
"Get it over with reaper. Kill the last of my kind." The woman hissed as wings unfolded from her back. She's an angel!
"How ironic how the last of the purest of creatures will be slaughtered like the monsters they are. I'll enjoy this." Said a man's voice as he smiled and raised his weapon to strike. "Welcome your soul to our blades." The woman closed her eyes, ready for his blade when my feet started to move on their own. I don't know why but I kept feeling a pull towards the woman, a sad protective lonely feeling. I moved in front of her just as dark figure brought down his weapon, slicing a large cut on my chest. I felt something warm and sticky spread across my chest, then a burning pain. I fell to the ground just as a white blur jumped over me. I couldn't really tell what was going on but everything was in a haze, the burning pain spreading all over. I could make out a few screams of pain along with a few curses my dad would say when he smashes his finger with his hammer before everything went quiet, a soft breath breathing heavy.
I just laid there….dying…
"Foolish child, why did you jump in front of me? You couldn't just let me die?" The woman's voice sounded like wind chimes that were echoing. She sat down beside me, her long white hair falling over her shoulders as her white eyes looked down at me. The red blotch on her dress was gone and her wings looked better than before. "And yet…I am grateful. You've giving me a chance…and for that, you will not die this day." The woman placed a hand over my wound and closed her eyes. The pain started to go away and I could feel my skin moving back together. When she was done I sat up and looked down at my torn sweater, a pink scar about two inches long sat on top of my heart. "You will have that mark forever little one but you have your life, a half life that is and for that I am sorry."
"Half life? What do you mean?" I asked the woman when I found my voice.
"A reapers scythe takes life and yet you life. Its blade took half of your life." She answered me.
"What does that mean? Who are you? Who were those men?" My brain was moving faster, my heart beat sped up.
"Relax child, you are safe. Those men are called Reapers, killers of Grimm and…my kind. My name is Serenity and I am…not important right now but you must listen to me for I do not have much time." Serenity placed a hand over my eyes and another over my heart. "You will live a half life now so I will give you your greatest weapon and yet your greatest weakness. There will come a time when you must risk your life but you must have no fear. I will be watching, protecting and guiding you until that time. Be careful little one, those Reapers will know you now. Do not let humans see you, keep this secret close. Only trust it to those who deserve that trust." She said to me and removed her hands.
"What did you do to me?" I asked her. She looked so tired and worn now…
"I gave you the sight of a Grimm. Usually only one Grimm is allowed in a family but you…you need to see. I also gave you the gift of possession. You will be able to borrow a wesen's ability to woge or change into what you see. Be not afraid little one for they are more frightened of you than you are of them." She explained.
"What's a wesen?" I asked her.
"I cannot say at this time little one for you will learn when you're older." She petted my hair with a sad smile. "You will have a hard life little one. There is a lot to taken in but you must not forget what you did." She pointed to my heart. "Follow this as you did today. Do not become cold and uncaring for what you see around you. Smile and help them for they do not know the way. You will learn that there are some who are beyond help but do not forget those who are not. I have faith in you little one. I'll be watching." And with that she kissed my forehead and disappeared, fading out with whispers in the air. When she was gone my eyes began to sting and my chest felt like it was on fire. I screamed as loud as I could, the pain getting worse and worse until I fell to the forest floor once more. In the distance I could hear my parents and Nick yelling, calling for me but I continued to scream. Whispers in a different language grew louder and louder, my vision becoming blurry.
"Anastasia! Anastasia!" My mom continued to yell for me as my eyes started to close…and the darkness fell on me…
Anastasia…
Anastasia…
"Anastasia wake up!" I jumped awake and landed on the floor of my Aunt's living room with a thud. I groaned and opened my eyes to see my Aunt standing over me with her hands on her hips, a small smile on her lips as she looked at me. "What time did you get home last night Anastasia?" My Aunt asked me with a chuckle as she helped me out of the sheet that was wrapped around me.
"Around two maybe three in the morning. Where's the fire?" I asked then froze. "Are you okay? Are you in pain?" I asked her, getting to my feet quickly. My Aunt has cancer, really bad cancer that has left her bald and as of right now, dying.
"No dear, I'm fine. Just surprised that you stayed up all night when you know that we're leaving for Portland this morning. We need to see that brother of yours." Aunt Marie smiled that weird smile of her then went into the kitchen. I've been living with this crazy woman ever since our parents died sixteen years ago. When Nick was old enough he went off to college and started his own life. As for me, I went to college too, but I stayed with Aunt Marie for…different reasons. "As soon as we get there, you will no longer be a Grimm so why are you frowning?"
That's the reason.
Since there could only be one Grimm in a family Nick was chosen and I was stick as a 'substitute' Grimm. Since Aunt Marie is dying, Nick should start seeing….things about now. Lucky him.
"Why does there only have to be one Grimm? I've trained, killed, stopped, and helped Wesen all over the U.S! Nick knows nothing about the Wesen world and he's never faced what I have. Why must it be Nick?" I asked as I walking into the kitchen still dressed in my jeans, white tank top and plaid shirt over it.
"Grimms only inherit the powers when the Grimm of the generation before them dies. You were able to see at age six, far too young to be a Grimm and no Grimm in our family had died. Since I am dying, Nick is going to be a Grimm soon enough weather you like it or not." Aunt Marie said. I groaned and went upstairs to finish packing. After last's night…search, I didn't have much to pack since most of my stuff was already shipped to a house I bought in Portland. After high school I went into college as a private detective, something that a Grimm does best at since Grimms possess superior fighting skills, and good heads for observation and, a Grimm's uncanny instincts for people and their personalities; even besides that their ability to sense the supernatural. I graduated early and started my 'detective' businesses. I usually take human jobs but the most of my time is spent with my Aunt, hunting down rouge Wesen who start trouble. My Aunt does the killing; I do the negotiating with those who've just made bad choices but there have been times where it's up to me to put them down. There are always sides to different stories; for me, I really don't have one.
A few months ago Aunt Marie got news that the cancer has taken a turn for the worst, giving her at most a couple of months. Since she's dying I decided to buy a really nice and old looking house, much to my taste in things old century, and move in. Once Aunt Marie dies it's up to me to train Nick on how to be a Grimm.
Great.
"Anastasia, car's packed! Time to leave!" Aunt Marie called from the bottom of the steps. I changed out of my dirty clothes and changed into a fresh pair of boot cut jeans, a low cut blue shirt and a black vest to go with it. I zipped up my duffel bag, grabbed my violin case and went down stairs to see my Aunt waiting for me. I walked out of the house and put my things in the back seat of my Aunt station wagon, looking back at the house I grew up in all my live before getting in the front seat. My Aunt locked up her house and got in the driver's seat, starting her up then taking off down the street with her silver trailer hooked up. "Don't be sad Ana; you'll see this place someday." My Aunt gave me a smile so I smiled back. Tears pricked my eyes and I reclined the seat, closing my eyes to catch up on my sleep. I felt my Aunt pat my hand before returning it to the steering wheel.
I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't want my Aunt to die and I didn't want to give up on being a Grimm to Nick who will be freaking out by the time we arrive. I have to help him, even if he is my brother, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I've made friends in the Wesen world more than I have in the normal human one but I have also made enemies too. Bringing Nick into this…is going to a lot more work than my Aunt says it will be. I just hope Nick will understand and not go off his rocker when he learns to accept it.
~oOo~
