The entire day, I had been feeling uneasy, because the previous days in which l had been visiting my mom, she seemed to be getting worse, but I ignored it subconsciously. She told me to give her time, and I am sure she would get better. That was what I always told my self.
That day, my mom didn't come down for dinner, so I had to take her food to her. As I walked into her room, I saw her covered with her duvet all the way to her neck --- which she had always been doing-- and her eyes were tightly shut. She was looking more pale than ever, her skin looked like it was devoid of blood and her usually healthy looking ginger hair which I had inherited, looked like it was wilthing away, in all she looked lifeless.
My heart fell with a stump as I rushed to her side, placed the tray on the side table and shook her with urgency "mom?," I called out cautiously, when she didn't respond I started to panic " mom?... mom wake up!" I say, my voice shaking with panic and fear. I ran up to the attic to call Aunt Gaia's attention, we ran back to the room and my mom was still in the same position, not moving at all. It was as if she had stop breathing. I grabbed Aunt Gaia's sleeve and say to her, my voice already croaking with tears " she's not waking up, why is she not waking up?. I called her but sh...sh .... she's not moving at all".
And then she walked close to her and put her finger under her nostril and said "she's still breathing Phoebe, but I don't think she has more time, I think she's leaving." "What are you saying?.. why would my mom leave, she said to give her time. I'm sure she's just too weak to open her eyes, she has not had her dinner yet". I say while moving over to the tray I put on the side table, brought it onto her bed and shook my mom again. "Mom, it's time to eat, you have to eat to get better, look it's your favorite soup, it's clam chowder just the way you like it" by then my hands were already shaking, and my tears were pouring down full force.
" Isn't there anything you could do ...Aunt Gaia, isn't there some kind of spell that you could chant to make her feel better". I turn to Aunt Gaia with eyes of desperation, waiting for her to just say that there was something, just anything that she could do, but I was bound to be disappointed . "I can't do anything Phoebe, when it comes to the matter of mates, there's little that magic can do.".
At some point while we were discussing, my mom had woken up and she called out weakly " Pho... Phoebe.." I turned to her quickly and took hold of her hand as gently as I could. " I'm here mom, I'm here." I said and then she turned to me with a wry smile on her face, like she already knew that she was going, her expression was scaring me, it was as if all the strength in her had been sapped out.
"I'm sorry Phoebe, I don't think I can keep my promise. I guess I overestimated myself." she said.
"no.. no....no mom don't talk like that, you will be fine , you can take as long as you need I'll be here, I'll wait" I try to reassure her, and then she said "I'm sorry Phoebe, I don't think I have much time left, I tried too, but I'm tired, I can't win against the mate bond." my anxiety and fear just kept mounting in my mind, I was utterly devastated, that no matter how I try to reassure myself or look brave in front of my mom, it just didn't work out. I broke down in racking sobs.
At that instance, I didn't even notice that Aunt Gaia had excused herself. My mom held my hand and said, "I don't have time to spare Phoebe, so you have to listen very carefully. I'm sure that Gaia had told you about the story of how your father and I met, and yes I was spellbound so that the power of the Nueva-seth's blood would not be passed unto you, but somehow that didn't work out. When you were a baby, I noticed that the powers were still given to you, I don't know how to explain it, but I was scared, because I knew your father would make you into a war machine, I didn't want that for you Phoebe, so i brought you here, to Gaia when you were about 2 years old, and I had your powers spellbound too, and I know that it sounds absurd and cowardly, but that was what I could think about, that would keep you safe for a long time.
I stood up with a start, my mind was whirling and I could not even make up a reasonable thought." what do you mean mom, I can't seem to understand what you're saying." I looked at her with a shocked and confused expression.
"Sit down Phoebe, I have to tell you everything. I'm sorry, I had no right to deprive you of your powers, I made you go through the shame and bullying at the pack, I made you feel inferior even when you had alpha blood in you, but listen Phoebe, that was the only way to keep you safe. I know that what I'm saying right now might not sit well with you, but left to me I prefer that you remain spell bound forever, if that means you would be safe. well that's what I thought, I thought that I would always be here to protect you, but I can't. I have failed you Phoebe, I'm sorry." she said all these with most of her strength.
l looked at my mom and I just didn't know what to feel, I loved her, but the fact that all I went through at the pack, was as a result of her actions didn't sit well with me. " why would you do that mom, I.....I... don't seem to understand, with my powers I could have been able to protect you, you would have not killed your mate and you would not be leaving me like this." At this point I had already begun to raise my voice at her, I was filled with both anger and confusion, but she was my mom and that was the main reason why I was hurt.
"lis..listen to me Phoebe please".. she begged. "I still ha....ha...have to tell you how to get ri...rid of the spell bind." she started hyperventilating, she could not even make out a full sentence. Then I paused, filled again with worry and said "calm down mom , you have to take it easy. look!, I'm not angry anymore, I'll ...I'll listen..", but it was to late, she was getting worse and I couldn't stop it. " mom...mom!...mom!! take a breath"..I shout out.
Aunt Gaia rushed back into the room now, saying " what's going on?" looking at my mom, she understood "...calm down Clarie, don't try to say anything", but my mom didn't stop, it was like she was trying to force out a word with her last breath, " bl.....blo....blood....coven blood, you have to dri... drink it", and with that she stopped breathing. She was gone.