Part LXXIV

A mixture of both clarity and collision courses through my brain as I take in and break down the terrifying story Sean just told. That lady who abducted and tortured me is his mother?! I thought she was dead already? She said she didn't want anything from me, it's probably Sean she wants something from. But what could that possibly be? She thinks he killed her husband, his father.

Thankfully, she didn't defame him.

I'm suddenly reminded of the things she told me previously, about her toy killing her love and even when I tried to slander the toy, she flared up and said he was the sweetest thing that ever happened to her. Her husband is her love and Sean is her toy.

Oh no, this is bad. Why is she back? Why now? I'm so fucking scared and I'm a hundred percent sure she'd be back again. I suddenly feel like she used me as a herald to announce her arrival and the kidnap a sort of fanfare hence, the incisions in my legs. Now I understand his trauma and fear that I start to feel a little guilty for getting mad initially.

"We'll be fine". I say and engulf him in an embrace, sucking up my fear and trying to stay strong for him. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that".

*SEAN'S POV*

After few seconds of defeaning silence in which her face changes from shock to fear, she pulls me in for a warm embrace and my eyes widen in surprise as our hearts beat rhythmically against each other.

"We'll be fine." She says in her angelic calm voice, not the angry and loud one she uses in yelling at me. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that."

A sudden relief washes over me as I pull her closer into my body, her bare chest over mine. I'm surprised she didn't scoot away from me in fear of the beast I actually am and request for me to take her back to earth because she doesn't want to be entangled in whatever escapade we're about to venture into.

My heart feels light and the surreal feeling of relief still lingers as our bodies stay touching. Crystal, the only person I'm able to open up to and tell this dirty secret. Funny thing is she actually believes in me, completely.

My mother, the thought of her return scares me out of my wits and that scar is a constant reminder of the vile and horrid past I tried for years to not remember. I've successfully come to terms with it that even the nightmares seem natural now and because of that, I haven't slept in the same room with her.

There's still a lot she doesn't know, a lot and I can only hide things from her for a while. Eventually, everything would come to light and I hate to imagine what she'd do then.

Tomorrow morning, there'll be a meeting with the council, we should get some sleep.

"Hey." I whisper into her strawberry scented hair but she doesn't respond.

"Crystal?" I say a little louder and pull away from her embrace only to realise she's fast asleep already.

"That's exactly what Crystal would do in the face of trouble, sleep." Chuckling, I lay her gently on the bed, cover her up with the blankets and put off the lights and switch on the dim table lamp beside her.

She looks so peaceful when she's asleep, so guilt and fear free without anger and anxiety. This hair suits her, perfectly. It shows how pure and harmless her heart truly is. Everytime, I feel guilty for making her go through everything she did and even now, she's suffering because of me.

The scars, memories, pain all started with me and I wish I did things differently but then, I was short on choices. This was the best way to solve things.

"Please." Crystal whispers in her sleep and I frown, "no more. I don't wanna play anymore." My heart palpitates painfully when I realise she's having a dream about my mom. She's really suffered a lot, I barely recognised her when I found her in that room, the same room I stayed in for years. I don't know what drew me there, but I'm glad it did.

So many haunting memories keep me awake for fear of what these memories would turn to if I give in to sleep. Holding her closely to me, I induce more sleep into her so she can sleep too deep to even dream about anything.

Slowly, she relaxes and her disturbed face returns to it's previous calmness, making me smile a little. I'm going to help her in whatever way I can even if I know I can't possibly make up for the hurt I've put her through.

Sleep tries to creep up on me but I quickly wave it off, blinking rapidly to rid my eyes of any sleep.

Normally, I don't battle with sleep this way since my body has already mastered the art of not sleeping but the ritual really took it's toll on me.

Trying to test out the fortification, I raise my left palm and transfer little power to it from within me and in that moment, my palm becomes really hot but it doesn't hurt me. It becomes even hotter and redder and before I know it, fire sparks from the middle of my palm and I close it immediately.

Wow. This is just like I read about my grandfather, he could control fire. I can't wait to train and discover my new abilities. Crystal made the entire place freezing cold and even created ice but no one has ever bore such powers before. It has always been fire, air, telekinesis, teleportation, telepathy and many other powers but there was never a record of ice as well as white hair.

No one has ever been born with white hair nor did anyone's hair colour ever change to white. She wouldn't believe, but I'm just as clueless as she is.

A chuckle brings me from my thoughts and I frown, looking at Crystal but see she's sound asleep. Just when I start to think I misheard, the chuckle comes again even louder this time and I immediately sit up, ready to fight and protect Crystal.

"Who's there?" I say and scan the dark room quickly with my eyes but see no one even though I can feel a strange presence. Balling my fists ready for a fight, the light clicks on and my heart skips a beat but I conceal my fear perfectly, taking a rigid stance on the bed. Even with the lights on, the room is still empty and just then, I hear a giggle behind me making me jump on the bed and turn around but find no one still.

"Show your face!". I growl in anger, ready to kill whoever is messing with me. No one should be able to come in here without mine or Crystal's permission due to the strong protection I put around the room unless that person is really strong.

The giggling gets louder and the light goes off and comes back on immediately and that's when I see a figure beside me. Turning around swiftly, I look and see no one and the laughter ceases but a sound comes from the dresser. My eyes immediately catch the image in the mirror and they widen in recognition as fear and dread takes over my entire being.

The image smiles, then giggles lowly and begins to laugh loudly before disappearing completely along with the strange presence that dominated the room. My body weakens from fear as tear falls from my eyes. She's still so young and beautiful.

Mother.