***Revised Chapter
Literary universe not mine!!!
When Francesca came into her daughter's room that evening she found Skylar lying on her bed clutching the wolf tightly to her chest, tears streaming silently down her face. Those crystal droplets were the only indication of emotion in the girl. One look at those sightless eyes and the small body curled into the fetal position sent Francesca into a state of abject terror. Do you have need of me? Gabriel's voice was clear in her head. She sent him back a clear negation, wanting to be the one to bring her daughter back from wherever her sadness had taken her.
"What is wrong Skylar? What has happened?" Francesca sank down onto the floor next to the bed and took Skylar's face in her hands, wiping away the tears that streamed unheeded down her daughter's face.
"He is gone." The trembling voice was hoarse; barely a whisper of noise, but it carried so much pain and sorrow that Francesca was nearly swamped by it. There was no need to ask whom Skylar spoke of. There was only one person that could have caused Skylar to feel such deep sorrow at his leaving. Dimitri, her daughter's lifemate. Francesca knew all too well what it was like to have your lifemate walk away from you, to exist with the bleak absence where the other half of your should have been. And worse, Skylar and Dimitri shared a blood-bond. That would only serve to increase the awareness of his absence in her daughter's life, make the pain more acute. But there was no sense in wishing away events that had already occurred. No matter how powerful her people were, Francesca knew that it was not within the realm of their power to change the past. Had that been a possibility, Francesca would have moved heaven and earth to remove the unforgivable horrors Skylar had been subjected to her entire short life. But there was only the future to change, to make into a life full of joy and love.
"He has gone back to Russia." Skylar continued; her voice a little stronger now.
"How do you know?" Francesca sighed mentally as she rubbed Skylar's back, trying to sooth her with healing hands.
"He came to see me before the dawn this morning."
Francesca inhaled sharply. How had he been here, on her property undetected by herself, undetected by Gabriel? It was inconceivable! Was he really that powerful to have evaded detection by two ancients? She could hear Gabriel's disbelief echoing in her mind as strong as her own.
"He was here in the house?" Francesca queried, trying to keep the shock from her voice.
"On the balcony," Skylar affirmed. "I stepped out to see the stars, to feel the night around me. It is the one time when I feel true peace, you know. Then he was there, in front of me. He came to say goodbye." Tears began to fall silently down her cheeks again.
Please do not cry for us lyubof maya. We both know that I had to go, or I could not have been honorable with you. Skylar instantly bit her lip to hold back the tears.
I know you are right, and I thank you Dimitri, more than I could ever say.
It is alright, little one. Words are not necessary. I can feel you. I will always feel you no matter how far apart we are.
She could feel the brush of his fingers over her cheek, as though he could eliminate the wetness from her cheeks from a thousand miles away. She felt him begin to extricate himself from her mind and it took everything in her not to protest his withdrawal. She silently reprimanded herself. She knew it hurt him just as much as it hurt her, maybe more. She had no right to be such a baby. What had he said to her the night before? That she had a spirit of steel. She did not believe that this was the truth, but she vowed in that moment that she would make it so.
"Francesca." Skylar instantly sat up, her eyes bright with a new-found resolve. "I know that Dimitri is doing what is right and honorable for me, and I must do the same for him. I must become the woman that he sees in me. I've spent years in the shadows of my own mind, terrified to come out, yet terrified to illuminate the darkness inside myself and know the truth. I can't hide any longer. If Dimitri can face the darkness for me, I can do no less for him."
"What do you mean, Skylar?" Francesca relied, her worry for her daughter apparent on her face. "You must do nothing but enjoy the childhood that you have long been denied."
"No, Francesca, no matter how much you and Gabriel want to give it to me, childhood is something that I can never have. I wouldn't want it now, though I thank you for wishing to give it to me." And she knew that it was true. Childhood could not exist for her now, there was no going back. She could only go forward. She had to illuminate her past and allow it to burn. Then she could rise anew from the ashes and build a life she could be proud of. She could be the person she was meant to be. Lifemate to Dimitri.
