Helpless mother
As soon as Iris walked inside her study room, she reached into her drawer and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper that was tied with a ribbon. She delicately unrolled the paper and untied the ribbon. There was a sketch of her own, sketched by her late husband. Seeing it, emotions flooded, washing over her.
Head tilted back, smile on her face, looking freer and happier than she can ever recall feeling. Even the tiny mole under her right eye, the swoop of her lips, and the glimmer in her eyes. This is unlike any other time she has ever remembered.
Iris thought she was the most beautiful lady in the world when she saw herself through his eyes because he had meticulously and painstakingly caught every tiny detail.
Elliot had keen interest in sketching. The finest gift she has ever received was the sketch he gave her on her birthday.
"It's beautiful. I will treasure this forever." These were the first words which escaped her mouth when Iris had received the present, although she never thought she would live to see this day. Her days passing in daze, without him.
Iris clutched the drawing to her chest. "I miss you, Elliott. It's already 7,670 days without you."
Iris gently rolled the sketch up and tucked it into a safe corner of her drawer. Then, she reached out for a pen and paper, before perching down to sit at the chair.
After sighing a sharp breath, Iris started to fill the blank paper with the tip of her pen.
"Elliott, I wish you could watch our daughter growing and becoming into the brave woman she is now. How I wish we could raise and nurture her together. Since you left me, nothing has gone right. My hopes, courage threaten to give up, but then I remember our daughter, Ilene. A beautiful symbol of our love. She is alive and healthy. Our love breathing inside her.
Today, she won the horse-back riding tournament, making me the proudest mother. I let her do what she wishes for because in one way it is distracting her from something that should never surface in the reality. I am afraid with what the future has stored for her——" The tip of her pen halted. Spasm of fear crossed her face.
She took long slow lingering breaths before continuing her words in the paper. "I only pray the Azure Lord of a happy, prosperous and blessed mortal life for my daughter. Elliott, if our daughter is anything other than a mortal——" Her eyes widened with the thought of it, that's when her pen stopped.
Iris cocked her head to her right. Moonlight filtering through the window, falling on where she sat.
She marched towards the window and pushed it open, welcoming the light and gentle wind in. Iris stared at the crescent moon that had adorned the starry sky with it's ethereal warm glow. The cool chilly air licked her skin.
In the meantime, a white dove came inside flying and settled on the window sill of her room. There was a message wrapped around its leg. Iris pulled the piece of paper out of its leg and began to unfold it.
She discovered a picture of a round blue emblem, bearing a dragon's silhouette. The line between her brows deepened because the symbol seemed very familiar. A trickle of sweat slide down her back. Her hands trembled.
Iris scrunched the paper up, the taste of bile rose to her mouth and she swallowed, the acid rising and burning her throat.
A piercing light suddenly flashed around the room, resembling a bolt of lightning. A blue-eyed man stepped out from the large, oval-shaped light that had taken a shape of a gateway.
"Zale?" Upon seeing him, her eyes grew wider.
"What brought you here?" Her throat dry with thick and unsteady voice, not expecting him here.
Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Pointed ears. He was Zale, Iris's brother. The royal advisor of Azure Clan.
"Time." A devilish smirk etched his lips. "Twenty one year have passed and the time has come." Zale threw his head back, howling with laughter.
"So, let it come." One corner of her lips pulled, determination sparkling on her eyes. "However, what was destined to occur after twenty one years will not happen." Iris claimed, lifting her chin in defiance.
"According to the Azure Clan's tome of fate, your daughter will succeed you in your position. You are a ceremonial monarch in reign, and it has been confirmed that your daughter is not a human, but—-"
"Zale, I respect you a lot, but I won't let my daughter walk my footsteps, nor do I want to return to that world either." Iris exhaled a ragged breath. She shook her head, her chest heaving.
"You will have to…." Zale demanded, his voice calm yet intimidating, which weighed on her.
He pondered for a moment and explicitly stated, "Ilene is already twenty-one years old, and as you are aware, she doesn't have much time in this world. She will have her powers unlocked in one month on the first red moon night and will possess the Azure Pearl along with Lord Azure's blessing. As a result, she will have her powers unsealed. Ilene will then rule over Azure Clan, becoming the Azure Monarch." Zale placed a tentative hand on her arm, staring at her with concern scrawled all over his face.
"This has been the tradition since time immemorial, Iris. The way this crown was passed down to you by your mother, Vincenza. Ilene will carry on your legacy in a similar manner to how you continued, since that is her destiny."
"No, my Ilene will not adhere to this custom." Iris retorted, bursting forth. "She is a human and she will continue living her life as a human. I will create this fate for her." Her throat flexed with a hard swallow. Fury simmering in those blue eyes.
"But eventually, her fate will determine her life." He spoke in an apparent calm tone before dissipating into thin air.
"Where have you disappeared, Zale? She is a human and I will not let her become the Azure monarch. Do you understand?" Tortured by Zale's words and her own emotions, her voice quavered. Tears burned her eyes.
She crumbled down, shrinking into a ball. A tidal wave of despair washed over her.
"Iris, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Iris had plopped on the floor when Agatha opened the door. She dashed towards her, seizing her into a warm embrace.
"Agatha! It was Zale. He was here." Iris said in between her sobs. "Ilene—-She is a human. I won't let her be that and allow her to suffer the same fate as mine." The shadows of sadness, anxiety and terror blossomed in her stomach.
"There must be a way out, Iris. Don't worry. Always keep in mind that if there is a problem, there is a solution too." Agatha lightly rubbed her back, a deep ache pierced her heart witnessing the pain and helplessness of this helpless mother.
Iris blinked the tears, her chest heavy and tight. "I dedicated my entire life protecting and fighting for the pearl at the expense of my own life. In return, I get to live my life like this? My Elliott is sacrificed in this battle too. Now, my daughter too?"