In my haste to stand my shirt caught on the light switch and Shapeshifter stood there in the door...staring at me in disappointment and disbelief. His eyes drifted from Silver lying on the floor to the bloody knife in my hands then at my face. Without hesitation he attacked. I stood my ground, sliced a corner of his shirt as he was in the air and threw him aside like he was a bag of feathers.
"Shifter stop! Silvers a traitor!"
He looked at the torn fabric on his shirt and the small cut on his elbow and stood.
"You best have a good reason why you make such claims towards a helpless innocent. You have ten seconds."
I breathed and started. "She's a traior. The reason why they got her so fast is because she told them. She knew what flower I liked but it was Sky who gave me the wrong color. First I took it as a thoughtful gift but later I knew it was deeper. Among other things Lillies symbolize health and protection. She couldn't say it in words but I had a feeling from the look on the girls faces Silver was the least happy to see me. Next in the courtroom with the king Silver was acting strange and her unwillingness to help after the king let us out I knew she was up to somehting. All this was superstition until Silver told me herself that she has done these things."
"Silver, is this true?"
No reply.
"Very well. I see now what you were doing. You may proceed."
He hands me the bloody knife and we turn towards Silver as her eyes grow wide. I pause and he nudges me forward from the back as my heels dig into the ground trying to stop.
"Why are you resisting? All she is is just another empty face that took your kindness for granted and used it against you. She's nothing more. Now end this!"
He nudges me again but I spin and shove him back then stand between him and Silver.
"I won't do it. You must have forgotten who I am and who you are as well. I don't kill just hurt to teach a lesson. What happened to the old us when all we had to do was get away and problems always worked out in the end? The times where kindness, compassion, and forgiveness solved problems; not hurt and war. Forgive and forget is what it was but now it is you stab me in the back I stab you. Why is it that with just a number pattern separates the old from the young and the older you get the more you have to fend for yourself. The strength of the wolf is the pack and the strength of the pack…..is the wolf." The knife drops to the floor and Shapeshifters countenance changes.
"Never send a sheep to do a wolf's work. I see I have to step in once again for something you could not finish. Now pick up that knife and give it to me."
I can't move.
"Fine then. I'll do it for you. A house divided will not stand!"
He brushes my shoulder and walks past me.
"I can't let you do that sir!"
He stops but doesn't turn.
"Get behind me Satan."
I edge closer and cut another strip off of hi shrit and he turns as it falls to the floor.
"I said, I can't let you do that!"
"Your emotions always get in the way from what you see presenting you from always making the tough decisions. Now let me handle this."
"I wish you hadn't saved me that day. If I knew who you really were I would have rather let go then spend the rest of my life with someone who never believes anyone can change."
"Son, I won't ask again. Give me that knife and I can arrange for you to get what you want."
He reaches in but I retract the blade and move my hand away then grab his with my free hand and hold him back.
"All she did was make a mistake and I forgive her for it. Everybody makes mistakes and everybody can change. It's not just that I see the light in everybody that no one else sees. It's that the light I see in them is there; it's just harder to see with other people's eyes because they focus too much on the negatives and the person's past."
His strength is outmatched and he twists my arm to the point of pain.
"What about this? She can't take this back. Her 'mistake' almost had us all killed. It is guilt and revenge she has been carrying for years. Can you still forgive her?"
"No matter what she does I will always forgive her because she's family."
""You don't have a family. Your parents abandoned you when you were four. You have no family."
"Blood related is not what makes a family but who you bond with."
I summon all my strength and push him off.
"So what does that make me? Friend or foe?"
"Foe!!"
He comes at me and we both hear the knife cut deep into flesh and blood hits the floor. We both look down then up at each other and Shapeshifter gasps.
"W-why?"
A tear rolls down my cheek and the blade is in so deep my hands are barely hanging onto the small piece of handle that protruded into the light.
"I'm sorry. I may have grown up but you have changed. You're not the man I knew who gave me roses and believed in me when no one else did. I believe Silver can change even if she or you cannot see it."
"Goodbye ol' friend."
He grabs onto my shirt but his hold weakens and he falls lifelessly to the floor as Shade and Sky enter the room. One looks at the knife in Shapeshifters back and his body laying at my bloody feet then the other looks at Silver all tied up."
"What happened here?"
Silver and I speak at the same time,Sky holds up her hand and both of us stop in sync.
"He was trying to kill Silver. I didn't mean to but I had too," I say as Sky walks towards me and I tense every step she takes as she puts a finger to my lips and I stop.
"Did I say you could speak?"
She removes her hand but before I can say anything she silences me again, then leans in close and whispers ever so faintly in my ear.
"I'm starting to doubt whether I should've given the lily to you or silver. Don't make me regret my decision.
She lets go and I stand perfectly still.
"Silver, is what all Xavier says true?"
"Why don't you unhook me first instead of keeping me here like a chained animal then I'll tell you," Silver says pulling on the chains and Sky takes a terrifying step back.
"Is it?" She asks louder.
Silver paused and contemplated her decisions then caves.
"Yes!"
Skys face turns to shock and Shade just leans against the wall knowing she'll get a free story.
"Everything he says is true. I got jealous and so angry that it never went away. King always wanted Xavier as his successor even though I was the first born. So what if I'm a girl. I deserve blood right. Having enough one night I made up my mind and snuck out. I waited till the dust of dark then slipped into Xaviers room. I only wanted to get rid of him so dad would have no other choice but to pick me. It was a solid plan! But when I opened his door he wasn't there and the window was open. I looked out and saw two shadows; one carrying the other. Before he reached the woods he turned and I'll never forget that face. It was Shapeshifter and he had a look of revenge. He sent you down here and wiped your memory all to protect you from the truth. Me!!
Then when I heard you were coming home my anger rekindled and I developed a plan. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for King to get hurt. Now she has your dad and I don't know what she'll do to him. I know this might be impossible and I don't deserve it but will you forgive me?"
"Forgive you? Your head will be mounted on my wall," Shade angrily shouted and attacked but I wrapped my arms around her and held tight as she spit and clawed.
"Stop it. Just be lucky you're a girl and I don't hurt girls but that doesn't mean I'll put one in their place when they need it.
Her body feels so warm and her heart thumps loudly but she starts to dwindle down and turns around then melts in my arms her head under mine.
"Please Xavier. Do what is right."
"This is the second time you melted and cried in my arms and hit. I see you still don't know who I am or you forget to fast so let me remind you. I don't hurt unless needed and believe everyone can change. Shade, open your sisters chains. Silver...
You're forgiven!"
The words sound like someone was speaking through me.
"Wh...what? How" Silver says and the others I know are thinking the same thing and Shade stops halfway to Silver.
"I meant every word. My quarrel is not with you. Silver, please proceed."
Shade kneels down and shakily removes the chains and Silver falls in her arms. I walk forward and Shade holds my hand. I extend my other to help Silver up but she doesn't take it.
"Sis, I meant what I said. No matter what you do and who you become I'll always love you and forgive you. You're family. No, You're MY family. Now who is this girl you've been in contact with," I say after I help her up and she clears her throat.
"It's not a girl I've been communicating with nor even a woman. She waited a few minutes then spoke.
"It's mom!"
The room erupted with questions.
"Our mom?"