Warning: referenced known character deaths in this chapter.
Lucille Evans, known to many as Lucy and to me and my brothers as Mom, was a red-haired, green-eyed beauty. That's what I can glean from vids and pictures.
I don't remember her at all. She died before I was two, when she and Scott and I were caught in an avalanche on our winter holiday in Aspen.
At least, that is what everyone thinks. Even Scott thought this until recently.
The story, though, is much more tragic than that.
Let me begin by listing our ages.
I was two, Gordon was three, the twins John and Virgil were five and Scott was seven. Our Grandparents were with us. Dad and Grandma had taken the twins and Gordon to the nursery slopes. There were special lessons for Gordon that Grandma took him to and which John and Virgil had already had. They were still young, but they could ski and they stayed with Dad.
Scott stayed with Mom, Grandpa and me. At less than two apparently I was too young even for private lessons, but Scott was always happy to spend time with me. I think we were building a snowman, but I'm not sure. Scotty never talks about that time.
Grandpa had just gone to the shop to buy something. The three of us were just outside our cabin when the avalanche hit.
They eventually found Scott wrapped around me and Mom wrapped around Scott. Grandpa, out in the open, hadn't stood a chance.
That's the official line, anyway.
Scott only realised the truth recently, and since this business is all over he has explained what actually happened.
He saw a girl. She was probably about Gordon's age, and she was standing in the snow in a simple white dress, white socks and white shoes. Scott's not quite sure why he remembers the details so clearly now.
The girl had her back to us. Scott, seeing that she must be cold, called to her, and when she didn't answer, he made his way over, unwinding his scarf to give to her.
So like my big brother.
But Mom wasn't happy and called Scott to come back. When he didn't respond and kept walking, she apparently scooped me up and hurried after Scott.
We had almost caught up to him when the girl finally acknowledged Scott and turned. He doesn't remember much else. There was the faint memory of eyes so blackā¦then his Mom was there, thrusting me into his arms and holding us close.
The next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital.
Dad wouldn't let Scott see our Mom, saying the injuries she sustained in the avalanche were too severe.
It was only after Scott told us this story that our Grandma explained that Mom had died from slash wounds. The medics didn't know how she sustained them but blamed the avalanche.
Now we know differently.
Mom died protecting Scott from a danger she couldn't see but could feel.
A Hollow in disguise.
Ever since he has been the one protecting us.
