34 Cerin arrives just on time

Serana stood in front of the rundown shack she had used to call a home and stared it down, like a hero glaring down the demon lord before the final battle.

From her past knowledge her mother should not be home right now and would have gone out with her other crackhead friends to get high together. Now would be the perfect time to quickly go in and grab the box.

With one more deep breath for confidence Serana stormed up to the front door and slammed it open. The sound of the door slamming against the walls of the small house startled Serana into a jump and brought up memories of thugs that had done the same thing previously.

Quiet as a mouse Serana scuttered into the house and grabbed a cardboard box off the filthy floor and taped it back together the best she could then went around and began packing all of their redeemable clothing into it as well as a few of Ryella's old toys and baby things. Anything else that couldn't fit went into large bags that she could sling onto her upper arms. She then frantically upended the bed and began to lift up the tiles on the floor, looking more like an inexperienced robber than a woman who came back to reclaim what was hers.

She finally grasped the old box and pulled it out of the hard dust under the tiles of the old house. Just as she had shoved it into the large cardboard box and had started to lift it out of the house an awful chuckle came from the door frame and a chill went down Serana's back.

"So you finally came back huh? Looks like that young chit couldn't stand you and kicked you out? I always knew you were worthless and it wouldn't last long, it's not even like you could use your body to convince her of otherwise and that is about the only thing you can do anyways. What happened to the little brat? Did you finally cave and sell her?"

Each awful word flew towards Serana and stabbed to her back like a deadly knife. For a moment all the resolve she had managed to build up collapsed and she was about to start grovelling like she usually did but her hands tightened around the small but so important box and her arms couldn't help but bump against her now swollen stomach as she stood still.

Feeling those two things that she possessed as well as thinking of Ryella who would have come back from tutoring by now made her strength return to her like a flood and she was able to straighten her back that she had subconsciously hunched at the awful sound of her mother's voice and turned to face her.

Upon laying eyes on her, she was shocked and her back straightened even more. Last time Serana had seen her she had been in general decent health considering her drug habits and drinking problem because Serana had made sure to take care of her as best as she could. But in her absence of three months the old woman had shriveled from malnutrition to half of her already short height and her skin had taken on an unhealthy pallor that made her look like she was about two pills from deaths doors.

At this sight Serana was torn. On one hand the old woman had tormented her for so long and had made her life a living hell but at the same time she was still her mother and had sheltered her during the most difficult time of her life

The old woman took note of the pity in her daughters gaze that the pride in her stance and was suddenly filled with rage.

She struggled to stand straight and pointed at her with a threatening finger and began to scream.

" Put those eyes of yours away! you dare pity me?! Remember that you! At the age of 28 already have a 12 year old child and one on the way! And it's not even like you have a father anywhere in sight or any qualifications of your own! Right now you're depending on a 19 year old girl that could abandon you at any moment so don't you dare pity me!"

As she ranted she got more and more aggravated as she realized that not only did Serana not begi so shrink into herself out of fear as she usually did but only continued to look down at her.

Honestly, her mother slinging such abuse at her happened so often that she barely registered it anymore. Especially after living somewhere else and discovering that she wa more than just a punching bag.

In the past this woman had been the only means of survival for both her and her children but now, the main factor of her nightmares and self hatred only looked pathetic in her eyes.

" Mother. For the past twelve years. You've given me a house and you even helped me get my daughter into school for this i can't thank shoved it into the large cardboard box you enough."

Her mother's stance softened as she thought that Serana was flattering her to get into her good graces once again but the building smile fell off her face like a waterfall as Serana continued.

" But as well, for the past twelve years i've slaved on your behalf and have been subjected to things I don't care to ever verbalize and risk acknowledging as a part of my life experiences. I think...I've more than paid you back mother. I just came back to take back my things and then I'm going to leave this place and never return.

Serana slowly picked up the large box into her arms and balanced the bags around her then began to walk away with confidence in her steps as she realized that no matter what the old hag had to say had nothing to do with her or her children any more. Not only had she moved away from such a bad influence she was going to get an education soon and would be able to properly start up her life, even if it was a bit late.

But how could her own mother be okay with this?

At seeing her usually reverential daughter so totally dismiss her and even turn her back on her the old woman's pride that had been so painstakingly built by suppressing that of Serana's broke and so did the last of her self control.

She picked up the first item off the floor that she could find, a heavy beer bottle that had its bottom broken off and stretched her thin malnourished arm back, ready to launch it at the unsuspecting pregnant woman's back.

The old lady propelled her arm forwards with a rage fueled strength and hurled it at her….or she tried.

Right before she could release the bottle from her closed hands a swift sparrow like figure all but flew into the room and launched a sharp kick into her ribs. Sending the unlaunched bottle as well as herself sprawling to the side of the room.