Chapter Fifteen

"I'll come back, but I don't know how long I'll be gone for maybe two or three weeks?" Rina whispered into her mothers hair as they hugged.

After many more tears, hugs and kisses Rina finally found the courage to get in their car and head to the same portal she went through so long ago. The view of her family in the rearview mirror faded, it was just her and Nathaniel.

Soon she reached their destination and parked in her reserved area. Stepping out of the car Rina sighed and bent down on one knee to face her son. He eyed her innocently in question.

"Nathaniel whatever happens on the other side of the well, know that I love you no matter what…okay?" Rina whispered. A dark blue glow wrapped around her hand, Rina combed through her son's shoulder length hair. The human disguise he normally wore in public disappeared.

Nathaniel's little clawed hand reached up and gently cupped her hand. "Why are you sad mom? Wont your friends be happy that you came back?"

"Because…I left without telling them." Rina said guilt was eating at her thoughts

Standing up she held her camp bag on one shoulder and picked her son up with her other arm.

"Hold on tight."

Nathaniel quickly wrapped his little arms around his mother's slender neck as Rina towards the postal. The familiar blue flashed embraced them as if welcoming them back from their long awaited arrival. Rina stumbled across the other side.

Looking up Rina saw a clear blue sky and smiled breathing the fresh cleansing air once again. Everything was untouched and left to grow and it would hundreds of years ago.

'God I missed this a lot.'

"Nathaniel you can open your eyes now." Rina whispered in to her son's sensitive ears

Nathaniel picked up his head and blinked a few times, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he looked around the luscious green forest. Their home held a few acres of untouched land as well but nothing compared to the glory forest. Pungent gases and undesirable fumes did not pollute the airs. It felt like he was truly breathing for the first time.

Nathaniel, still holding on to his mother, smiled. Rina set Nathaniel on his feet, he quickly jumped on the closest tree branch.

"If only I could do that…" Rina mumbled to herself.

Rina walked down the familiar dirt path.

"Wow I forgot how refreshing it was here…and how heavy this bag was." Rina said leaning against the closest tree and dumped the bag next to her and sat down. she ran her fingers across the long blades of grass.

"Sweetie come here for a second." Rina called. Nathaniel leaped out of a tree and headed towards his mother.

"You used to come here every year? It smells so nice here, none of that funky stuff from the city!" he wrapped his arms around her neck and giggled.

'He really does belong here.' She loved him so much no matter who his father was, Nathaniel was her heart and her child.

Nathaniel sat down on her lap waiting for his mother to speak.

"That's why mommy and her friends came here, there's where else like here. So...when you see a half demon with silver hair and gold eyes …well that's your uncle. But he doesn't know that so whatever he says don't say anything back okay? Mmm…he's a bit stubborn"

Nathaniel turned away from his mother and stared at the hills across the open field. He pointed a finger towards a running red clad figure and asked. "You mean him?" his little nose twitched as he continued to stare.

Rina gasped and stood up quickly standing before Nathaniel protectively. Rina knew she would be seeing everyone soon but she didn't expect it to be right after they came back. Tristen skidded to a stop and stared wide eyed at her.

"Rina…" Tristen barely whispered, but Rina heard him.

"Hey Tristen," a sad smile crossed her face.