Maddie stared at Clove with wide eyes, she could not believe this, there had to be some sort of mistake, did she hear her correctly or was she starting to hear things?
Maddie's mind was racing with many questions as she was stunned, she refused to move from her spot.
"Maddie, I am so sorry, please forgive me" said Clove as she was on the verge of tears as her words snapped Maddie out of her shocked state as she looked at her with an indescribable gaze.
"You… you re…member??" asked Maddie in uncertainty as her voice cracked, and she did not know why it did.
"Yes I remember… everything" replied Clove as she uttered the words that Maddie was dying not to hear.
Maddie closed her eyes as she felt her heart and mind shatter at the same time, she could not lie that she wanted Clove to regain her memories that was what she feared most because she was sure that Clove would go back to the way she was, and she hated that Clove, she loved this one, even though they were the same person.
"Maddie, I ask you to please find it in your heart to forgive me, I am so sorry for all the things I did to you, all the things I said, please forgive me" said Clove with tears as this was a better reaction than she had expected, she knew just how much Maddie hated her, and It was a relief to her that she had not pushed her away yet.
Maddie opened her eyes, trying her best not to let her emotions get a hold of her, oh how she wished that Annie was here right now, she would know what to do, or what to say right now, but as for her, she was silent.
"Maddie…" called Clove as Maddie looked at her and Clove walked closer to her as Maddie did not move away, which was a sign of relief for Clove as she continued on.
"Maddie, I know that I have hurt you, I have not been the mother that you wanted, that you needed, that you deserved, and I know that I have no excuse for that, can you ever forgive me?" asked Clove as all the emotions that Maddie was trying so hard to push away slipped through and she started to cry as she held back her tears.
"Oh Maddie" said Clove as she could not take the distance anymore and she hugged Maddie as Maddie did not push her away which reassured her.
"I'm so sorry my daughter, so, so sorry, I am sorry for not being there when you needed me most, for not being on your side when I should have, for not protecting you when that was all I needed to do" said Clove as she cried and Maddie sobbed silently as she hugged her.
"I should have never agreed with Azazel, I had always wanted a child, but I forgot about the implications, I was selfish, I did not consider how you would be raised, how you would suffer, because in the end Azazel wanted an heir to succeed him, and I overlooked it" said Clove as she cried.
"I know that I am the worst mother ever, I do not even deserve to be called your mother at all" said Clove.
"Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?" asked Clove.
"Oh I already forgave you a long time ago" replied Maddie as she cried and Clove hugged her tighter.
"I hold no grudges, I know that you did what you did because it was the only option you had, you fell in love with the wrong man" said Maddie as Clove cried.
"Honestly, I don't hate you… over the past few months, I have gotten to know the real you, you as a person" said Maddie.
"I don't hate you… anymore" said Maddie as she knew that Clove had already suffered enough, there was no need for her to add to more of her agony by refusing to forgive her, that would make her no better than Azazel at all.
"Oh Maddie thank you, thank you so much, you don't know how much your words mean to me" said Clove as she smiled.
"I… I… I… am just afraid that things will go back to the way they were before…" said Maddie in a low voice laced with sadness as she spoke out her heart, she was scared that when Clove got her memories back, she would return to Azazel, and all this time they had spent together would be wasted.
"Oh Maddie, never, never, why would you think like that?" asked Clove as she broke their hug and cupped Maddie's face with her hands.
"Because… you remember Azazel, and you might want to go back to him, and all this will be wasted" said Maddie as Clove looked into her eyes and saw the sadness of a child in them, and it hurt her so much that she was the one who contributed to that sadness and hurt.
"No Maddie, I would never do that never, I won't be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice" said Clove as Maddie sniffed.
"What I said in the crystal shard still stands, if Azazel doesn't change, then he deserves to die, as much as it pains me, but he has made so many mistakes, killed so many people, he needs to pay for all his crimes" said Clove as she wiped her tears.
"You right now are my top priority, you are my child, and I love you, nothing is more important to me than you, and things will be different, they won't go back to being bad" said Clove.
"You promise?" asked Maddie as Clove smiled and wiped away her tears.
"I promise you Maddie" said Clove with a smile as that was enough to assure Maddie.
"Thank you mom" said Maddie as she smiled and she hugged Clove as Clove was surprised to hear her call her mom for the first time that it just made her feel so emotional.
"I love you too…" whispered Maddie as that was enough to make Clove's heart explode as she hugged Maddie tighter and they stayed like that for a little while until Clove broke their hug.
"Oh I hate crying, it's so annoying" said Maddie as she wiped away the last of her tears and Clove laughed.
"It's alright to cry sometimes Maddie" said Clove with a smile.
"No mom it's not, it makes my eyes all watery and red" said Maddie as she sniffed.
"Anyway come on I can't wait to tell Annie and the others the good news" said Maddie with a smile as Clove smiled.
"Sure Maddie, but first I need to see the Chancellor" said Clove seriously as Maddie nodded.
…
"Where is Sage?" asked Hunter as he looked at Nia.
"She left" replied Nia.
"Left to where?" asked Hunter.
"She went home, she cannot stay here any longer after what happened to her" replied Nia.
"Nia, she can't leave just like that, Azazel will ask of her" said Hunter as he was well aware of Azazel's sudden interest in her.
"Then tell him what I told you, there is nothing else that I can say, she left, it's not like he can go after her" said Nia.
"Alright, and what about the plan?" asked Hunter.
"I will find out what we need to do soon" said Nia.
"Okay, and what's wrong with you? Why are you upset?" asked Hunter.
"I am not upset" replied Nia.
"You are lying" said Hunter.
"Oh am I now?" asked Nia with an annoyed smile.
"You are, the way you replied me doesn't say otherwise" said Hunter.
"I am sure you have something better to do" said Nia as she walked away and Hunter scoffed while shaking his head.
…
"Azazel" said Hunter as he walked into Azazel's office.
"Hunter, where is Sage?" asked Azazel as he looked at Hunter.
"She left, she went back home, she said that she could not stay here after what happened to her" said Hunter.
"She was a spy" replied Azazel.
"So you knew and didn't do anything against her?" asked Hunter in confusion as Azazel said nothing, which meant that he was right.
"Why?" asked Hunter as Azazel said nothing, he himself did not know why.
…
"With what Clove said, it is evident that we need to strike now" said Stella as she looked at Curtis who nodded.
"Maddie already said so, if we wait any longer, Azazel will have the upper hand" said Curtis.
"I know that, and for that reason King Henry has already sent us some vampire soldiers to battle the rogues" said Stella.
"And everything is already set in place" said Stella.
"That is good" said Curtis.
"You were right Curtis…" said Stella as Curtis just looked at her.
"If by now you still doubt my plans then you don't know me" replied Curtis.
…
"Maddie is totally happy, she in such a good mood" said Matt as he smiled.
"I know right, I am so happy that she and her mother are together again" said Annie with a smile as they walked through the garden together.
"That I agree with" said Matt as he smiled and the sun was starting to set.
"I wonder where my mom kept her gardening tools?" asked Annie as she looked around.
"We can use a location spell" said Matt.
"We don't have to use magic for every single thing" replied Annie as Matt laughed.
"Maddie would pay to argue with you on that one" said Matt as he laughed.
"Yeah I know" said Annie as she laughed and Matt caught sight of a little red toolbox under a tree.
"Found It" said Matt as he walked to pick up the toolbox.
"Thanks Matt" said Annie with a smile.
"You are welcome, I am going inside are you coming?" asked Matt with a smile.
"I am, give me a moment, I want to check on the flowers" said Annie with a smile.
"Alright, don't stay out too long, it will get dark soon" said Matt.
"I won't" replied Annie as Matt smiled and walked away as Annie walked to see the flowers that her mother had been planting, they looked like they were growing well.
Annie heard some rustling in the bushes which did not faze her, she was sure that it was just one of the guards.
Annie turned around and she decided to get back inside when she heard a plopping sound in the little stream nearby, which caught her interest as she walked in that direction.
Annie walked to the stream and looked around as she saw no one there, which was weird, but something told her to look down at the clear stream as she saw some rumbling in the clear stream which made her frown as she saw an imagine form in the water right before her eyes.
"Annie" called the familiar voice calling her name as she shrieked and moved back.
"Griselda??!!?" asked Annie in shock as she looked around and into the stream as she saw Griselda's image there.
"Yes Annie, how are you?" asked Griselda with a smile.
"Wait a minute… I am good Griselda and how are you?" asked Annie.
"I am well Annie" replied Griselda with a smile.
"Gosh Griselda you scared me… what?? How are you here how is this possible?" asked Annie.
"Magic" replied Griselda with a smile as Annie hated that answer.
"It can't be magic, there is no magic on Caligo, so how can you be contacting me right now?" asked Annie.
"That's not important Annie, I have some important things to tell you" said Griselda seriously.
"What is it?" asked Annie as she bent down and looked at Griselda's reflection in the stream.
"Are you alone?" asked Griselda as Annie nodded.
"Yes I am… or I think that I am" said Annie.
"What's wrong Griselda, you are worrying me?" asked Annie.
"It's about Azazel Annie" said Griselda as Annie suddenly didn't feel well.
"What about him?" asked Annie in seriousness.
"Something has changed" said Griselda seriously.