So I'm back. My muse took a long vacation for this story and now decided it's time to continue this story, so without further notice, I leave you to read.
Oh! I wanna thanks Bluetreeleaves for helping me with this chapter! Is always great to have your opinion about how is it going!
Chapter 11
Family
A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black,
because all things in nature are dark
except where exposed by the light.
Leonardo da Vinci
Ava POV
It feels like an eternity since I'm standing between the two people that in a moment of my life meant so much and a wolf pack that wants to destroy them. The same pack that Seth must belong. A voice adds on the back of my head, and I fight against the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, they needed to enrage Seth's pack. I want to scream to the sky like the teenager I am, but that wouldn't look so good, so I bit down my lip and grip the bow and arrow with more strength than needed.
The black wolf is holding still, we are in the middle of a glaring contest were blinking is not allowed. I can see in his eyes that he doesn't want to harm me in any way, but too the resolution to deal with something they believe is a threat. Suddenly Seth appears right besides me, his hand in my arm, moving it down with gentleness. I can see the way the wolves relax a little bit, and I relax my stand, letting Seth move my weapon down.
-Are you both alright? - I ask to the people behind me without turning around.
-Yes, thank… - A woman's voice replays, but I interrupt her.
-Don't thank me yet. – I cut her, anger growing by the minute-. We both know I'm merely protecting both because of the bond that was formed during my childhood and the one you have manage to keep with the clan. But we are going to have a very long, serious and detailed conversation in which I will decide upon keep protecting you or leave you to your fate. Now, I don't want to hear another word from you, till I'm done dealing with the issue at the moment, am I clear enough? – Resignation and sadness mixes with my anger, from the corner of my eye I can see Seth looking at me in surprise-. Can you tell me what the problem is?
-It appears that they came thru their territory and one of them recognizes the scent of the one who attack you a couple of months ago. – Frowning at me, he adds-. Now they are confused on why would you protect the same person that attack you, when they are just trying to protect you.
-It's complicated.
-Explain. I'm sure that we can keep up.
I hesitate for a moment, before turning around and approach the two figures in capes. They discover their faces. I stare directly to Maureen eyes, so different from the last time I see her, instead of deep hate and revulsion, her black eyes are full of sadness, pain and broken hope. I turn to see the woman with brown hair, her eyes full of a grief I have never seen in those eyes. Her head is a little bit down, her eyes never meeting mines and I can't help but feel guilt and shame. I take a deep breath and keep my eyes on them.
-Sagarts form bonds between family and very close friends. Those bonds make it possible for us to know how the other person is feeling, sharing knowledge or even having conversations if the bond is strong enough. It's to alert us if they are in immediate danger and be ready to go to their aid. That's how I knew where to find them. – I sigh -. There is another kind of bonds that only the head of the clans form, marking the person under our protection. When the head of the clan pass away, the bonds formed by him or her passes along to their predecessor. Both of them are under the protection of the O'Connell clan. Maureen used to be my best friend and she,– I look to the brown haired woman- she is my mother.
Gasp rose from every person around and a high-pitched bark from the wolves.
-Ava… - my mother voice is full of regret and affection -. I know we haven't done anything to win your trust but if you let us show you, you could begin to understand.
I shake my head, wishing with all my heart that my father was here to show me the right path. Closing my eyes, I let my forehead to rest in fingers. Burgundy eyes come to my mind, and a cruel smirk in the face of the man, fear and resolution is all I can feel. His lips are moving so fast, the words are lost, no sound reach my ears and I try my best to run away from him. My mind slipping into darkness I know it's not my own. I fight against the darkness, casting every protection spell I know, but soon my mind becomes my prison and I'm left to do his biding. Being able to watch what I'm doing, but never the owner of my body and mind. Opening my eyes, I look directly to my mother, I know she send me that memory.
-Those spells are forb…-. My voice breaks.
-He cares little for the rules of our kind or any. – Her voice is barely a whisper and I'm having trouble accepting everything as it is -. I cannot ask for forgiveness after all I did, and I feel I don't have the right to be standing here in front of you, but w...
I held my hand up, and force myself to not over think, I just need to accept it, and then move around to think about it. I take a step forward closer to my mother; I grab her chin gently and raise her head so our eyes can meet. The woman I saw a couple of month ago have disappear, instead the same warm that seemed to surround her is back. I let a couple of my mental walls down, so she can be able to feel how much I still love her, and how much I have been waiting for something like this to happen.
-I lost all faith about making amends in our relation after we suffer the lost of your Amháin and my father. – I join our foreheads the good memories of us three together as a family flowing-. He told me to cherish the good and forget the dreadful ones. We can try it now, okay?
She smiled and nodded, I placed a small kiss on her forehead.
I caress the face of a baby, his brown eyes full of joy and love, even if I'm feeling destroyed, I smile to the baby. Soothing words of comfort, I try to find my voice so I can tell him what his name is. However a sharp pain in my mind sends me back to my prison, as I see the burgundy eyed man takes my son away.
Gasping for air, I move away from my mother. Ignoring her warm, my mind feels like swimming in the middle of a storm.
-This can't be – my knees feel weak and I search for Maureen's eyes, tears stream down her face without sound -. Where is he?
My mother embraces Maureen, who by now is sobbing without restrain. I have a terrible feeling about all this, about the father of the boy, how he was conceived and about many things, but right now they are not important.
-Not far from here, he… got scared and released his powers. – My mother is trembling while she answers me-. We weren't able to reach him, so we come to get you. If anyone can reach him is you. We didn't have time to raise any containment spell… we stop trying when a small regiment from Scrios got close enough…
-You are telling me you left a half Sagart, half Scáth in the middle of nowhere, with his powers raging out of control, at the mercy of a regiment of Scáths or who knows what to try to reach to him? – I close my eyes and press my fingers to my forehead trying to calm down-. Is there is something else I need to know?
Maureen only sobs harder and even if I want to apologize for how hard my words are, it's better if I get all the bad news at once.
-He is only three years old… - mother hesitates -. Ava you need to understand we did our best, but you know there were restrictions… - I raised an eyebrow to her-. When we reached out to him, his father already convince him that he was darkness and nothing else could reside on him. He is so powerful, so young and…
My mother's voice break down, distress all over her face, she whispers something softly to Maureen, who looks calmer by now.
-Does he have a name? – Both shake their head and I bit my lip knowing that yelling at them is not going to help-. Did you marked the path to get to him? – Maureen nods. – About his father… tell me he isn't who I think he is. – The sob that comes from Maureen is the only answer I need. – When the boy is safe, we are going to have a very serious conversation. You are still hiding things from me and I need to know everything if we are going to attempt to make things right. – I walk towards the black wolf -. I'm afraid you will need to wait a little bit longer till we are able to discuss about what you wish to do about their invasion to your territory, and even I'm going to ask your permission to enter that territory to retrieve the boy.
I wait, as I see the different opinions be voiced by the pack, Seth is standing closer to me, barely inside my personal space.
-He says you are allowed to enter as long as they are able to go with you. – Edward says. I nod. – We will be going too, you are family now.
I smile and shake my head. Walking back to Maureen and my mother, I check them for any injuries.
-I need to ask you to remain strong for a couple of hours, and then I will do my best to provide a safe place for you to rest. - I place a hand on their shoulder and smile.
Taking the path marked, I let my mind wander around, focusing only on the soft whispers of the Gnaithe. I barely notice when Seth start to walk next to me. I reach out to Phelan's mind, and determination comes thru the bond.
Ava…
Yup, it's me.
It's everything alright? Do we need to come back?
Things are complicated, but nothing I can't handle. Are you in the middle of a fight?
You can say that.
Oh… Reach for me when you are done okay? Stay safe.
I feel the determination fading away, turning to the right when the marks move that way. I try to reach out to sense what is ahead, but something appears to be blocking my view. The block is getting closer.
-Mom, can you place the barrier please?
-Earth, fire, water or air?
-Maybe try something with all. Since it will need to protect, reject, conceal and keep.
-Give me a moment, then.
I nod, Seth stands in front of me, his face full of worries. He places a hand on my cheek and caresses it softly with his thumb. I close my eyes, breathing slowly his scent helps to clear my mind and be ready for what I need to do. When I open my eyes, his are asking me a lot of questions and I can only shake my head.
-Everything is going to be alright. I promise- my voice is barely a whisper.
Seth nods and looks over my head, I guess to my mother.
-Can we trust on them? – He says.
-I will tell you and the others the whole story, I think even my mother do the telling herself, but right now, the only thing you need to do is trust me.
He kisses my forehead and I can't help but smile, bringing out comfort from the gesture. A cough in the back, brings me back and with a slightly blush, I face my mother. She hands me a small paper.
-Maureen already agrees, only you are missing. – I barely read it, before nodding.
I concentrate in the paper and the air around it, willing to make it float and move to the middle of the circle my mother, Maureen and me are forming. I look to both of them, extending my arms towards them, I picture in my mind every single wolf, vampire and Sagart around me. I grab Maureen and my mother's hand, silently asking if they are ready, a small drop of water next to the page is Maureen's answer and a rock levitating towards the page is my mother's. I focus my gaze to the paper and blowing slowly a fire appears in the right corner of the top of the paper.
Through Dóiteáin I pledge spurn,
Our voices become one, and it seems to consume everything around us. Blue and red spreads all over the paper, as the fire devours it.
Through Uiscigh I pledge shelter,
A small flame reaches out to the drop of water, caressing it with gentleness, bringing it to the center.
Through Talmhaigh I pledge safeguard,
The rock is summoned by the fire to join the other two, where the paper used to be.
Through Aeráil I pledge withhold
Colors from the different elements mix and a point of gold and silver originates in the middle.
Gnéithe around us and inside us,
Light revealed, now sealed.
Gold and silvers connects with the edges of the fire, incorporating all the elements. A small explosion breaks the gold and silver into small orbs that moves to each people around us, where it expands forming a barrier.
You must be ready, I tell to my mother and Maureen. I might need you to freeze both allies and enemies to be able to see how to reach him. Both blink in confusion. They don't know how to fight against them, you are too tired to fight and it's always the trouble of your son loosing control. I'm afraid if we move all at the same time we will make the situation worst. The barrier spell should help you to freeze allies, and Maureen I'm counting on you to at least slow down enemies. They lower their head and I move towards the clearing, hiding behind the shadows of the trees.
Óg, you are finally here. The voice of the boy of my dreams freezes me in the middle of my step. I signal the others to stay where they are. I have waited for so long for the light to come and look for me.
I'm not the light you are looking for, for that light is inside you.
I'm only shadows and darkness, no light resides inside me. You were made out of love and you haven't harmed anyone. I was born out of hate and my only existence harms the world.
I move slowly to the closest tree at the end of the marked path. I can see about twenty-five ghouls around the little boy from my dreams and that I know now is the son of Maureen. He turns around, looking towards the spot I'm now hiding, his eyes completely black. Making up my mind, I move towards the others, taking my bow and arrows and hand them to my mother.
-There are about twenty ghouls; I didn't see a Scáth, though we know one is bound to be close. Maureen, though I'm able to communicate with him, he doesn't believe in my words. I will continue to try to reach him by words, but you need to freeze the ghouls, okay?. – Don't let them pass the trees to the clearing, if they want to watch is okay, but getting into a fight with them is out of question… none of them are ready. I say to Maureen and my mother. Let us show to your son, what real darkness is about.
I can't help but smirk, my eyes growing fully black, just like Maureen's son. My hair is now on fire, moving with the wind that encloses me. My smirk growing wider with the surprise on the faces of my new friends, I take a step backwards toward the clearing. I reach for Maureen's son's mind.
Maybe it's time for you realize how utterly wrong is the person that dared to tell you I'm only light.
I would really appreciate some reviews about the chapter, and if my muse lets me, I will post a new chapter soon.
Nai
