Chapter 179 - Kiema

I pushed back the power that writhed and seethed to obliterate my mother. Taking a couple deep breaths to calm the raging storm inside me, I counted to ten to get myself - and my newly acquired power - under control.

"Don't just stand there, Kiema. We have much to do," Heppni said as she threaded her arm through my own. She tried to pull me from Nix's grasp.

Nix kept her arm steady.

I felt like the rope in a game of tug of war.

"What are you doing here, Herpes?" I asked her.

My mother's beautiful face pinched and twisted at the nickname. "Stop calling me that."

Nix muffled a laugh on my other side.

"My question still stands," I said. I tried to pull my arm free of Herpes'.

She wrapped her fist around my arm, anchoring me to her side. "Because you've finally done something worthy of my attention."