The Beginning of Everything
Chapter 3: The End of the Mystery Woman
By
Cherie Duarte

A/N: as you know, I don't own that good stuff.

"They were after me partly because of who I am…" (Shiella) She thinks for a moment.

"Who are you?" (Jak) He squints his eyes, sick of asking who she is and wondering when she'll answer.

I don't know any other easy way to tell you this….I'm your mother, Jak." (Shiella) Jak's jaw drops. The woman smiles.

"M – M – mother? (Jak) He shakes his head.

"Yes, I know it's a shock, that's why… I didn't tell you right away… I wasn't sure how you'd take it…" (Shiella)

"But, how can that be? How is this possible? Every one said my parents were dead…" (Jak) He stares at her, his mind races.

"We are… well I was…" (Shiella)

"Was? What do you mean was?" (Jak) He looks at her even more confused. The woman stands and walks slowly around the table towards Jak.

"Jak, cough I used the last cough of my powers… to get to you." (Shiella) The woman leans over with her hand over her mouth. Jak stands and helps her over to a thinly cushioned bench. The woman sits down and looks up at Jak.

"I wish… I wish… I could stay longer… but cough I can't…" (Shiella) Jak shakes his head, 'she can't leave… I have so much to ask her… so many things…'

"… Can I… see your face?" (Jak) He sits beside her. She nods her head and takes off the silk and pushes back the hood. Soft, light blond hair fell to her shoulders. A sad look is on her face and her pale green eyes are full of tears. A thin cut that runs from her left temple and disappears down her neck into the cloak bleeds slowly. Jak blinks and then looks at her speechlessly while he searches his pockets. Finding what he is looking for, he pulls out a napkin and wipes the blood off the side of his mother's head. She closes her eyes and hugs him.

"I've…I've missed you so much, baby… so much." (Shiella) She takes a deep breath.

"I've missed you too, mom." (Jak) Jak tries to fight back his tears, but can't. He cries, still hugging his mom.

"Shhh…." (Shiella) She rocks side to side with him.

"Why do you have to leave?" (Jak) He pulls her away, looking at her sadly but with a hint of anger.

"I have to…I am supposed to be dead… I've already died. I…I needed… to know…that you were ok…" (Shiella) She coughs again, this time coughing up blood. She wipes it with the napkin. For the first time, Jak realizes the blood stains on the cloak.

"What's…was that…there before?" (Jak) Shiella nods her head.

"I'm…it was like that…when I…died…" (Shiella) She leans forward, coughing hard into the napkin in her hand. Jak places his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you… you… going to…die…again?" (Jak) He watches her sit up through his tear filled eyes.

"Once… cough… my powers…drain cough…" (Shiella) She looks at Jak sadly, telling him with her eyes that she must, it is how things are meant to be – she has already died.

"Is there… anything I could do?" (Jak) She shakes her head slowly.

"Don't… try… to stop it…" (Shiella) He stands and then lays her down.

"But – " (Jak) He stops as she raises her finger.

"No… but… you cough you have to… find her… I couldn't cough find her…" (Shiella) Jak takes her hand.

"Who? Find who?" (Jak) Shiella closes her eyes.

"Don't you remember? – your… your sister." (Shiella) Her body trembles.

"I have a sister?" (Jak) He looks at her surprised. She smiles.

"Yes…you must find…her…she's…she's in…in trouble…" (Shiella) Her smile turns to a frown.

"But…I don't know… I don't know where she could be… I don't know what she kooks like or her name… How will I find her?" (Jak) He shakes his head.

"Come here…" (Shiella) Jak leans closer, his mother's arms rapping around him giving him one last hug. Jak hugs her back, crying quietly. She whispers in his ear.

"I'm…I'm a…precursor…"(Shiella) Jak turns his head and looks at her slightly surprised and now starting to understand how she could have come back. She smiles weakly.

"I love you…Jak…tell…your…sister… that I love…her too." (Shiella) Shiella draws in her last breath. Jak sits back on a near by stool, crying harder.

"I love you too mom…and sniffle…I'll tell her too…I will… "(Jak) hearing footsteps, Jak looks up. Keira walks over to Jak.

"Are you…ok, Jak?" (Keira) Keira looks at Jak, wiping his tears.

"She…she…was my…mother." (Jak) He stands and Keira hugs him. He rests his head on her shoulder, still crying.

"Oh Jak…" (Keira) She looks towards the woman on the bench.

"Jak… Jak look… What's happening to her body?" (Keira) In shock she lets go of Jak and backs up, still staring at the woman. Jak turns around. Shiella's skin is getting lighter and her hair gets longer. Within seconds Shiella turns into her true form of a full grown precursor, all wounds briefly appear and then disappear. Then her body disappears, leaving only the blood stained cloak and the silk mask behind.

"You mother was a…precursor?" (Keira) Jak nods his head and wipes away the rest of his tears.

"Yeah… sniffles, his voice is still shaky from crying and guess what else?" (Jak) Keira shakes her head.

"What?" (Keira)

"I'm… I have… a sister." (Jak) Keira looks at him in surprise.

"No way!" (Keira)

"Way." (Jak) He looks at her just as surprised.

"But why didn't – wouldn't some one know?" (Keira) Jak shrugs.

"No one knew about my mother, but she still exists…" (Jak) Keira nods her head.

"True…" (Keira)

"I've got to find her… maybe Torn and Ashelin know something that could help…" (Jak) He starts to walk toward the door. Keira giggles.

"Jak, it's one in the morning – I highly doubt they'll be up now." (Keira) Jak turns stops and turns around.

"Well you never know..." (Jak) The two laugh. Jak is the first to stop laughing. Keira looks at Jak

"Are you going to be ok, Jak?" (Keira) Jak sighs and nods his head.

"Yeah… yeah... I'll be fine, but Keira?" (Jak)

"What?" (Keira)

"Can I stay tonight?" (Jak) Keira smiles.

"Sure, Jak, sure." (Keira) The two talk quietly by the trophies until they fall asleep.

that's it for now... don't worry I'm working on the second one right now! Thank you loyal readers! Sorry for the long timeno up-date, between not having an internet connection at home, dealing with some major issues, and getting ready to go to collage this upcoming Sept. I've been very busy, still ain't finished either! well do enjoy, and let me know what you think.