ONE—The Prophecy.

“Runnnn,” my mother screams, throwing a look over her shoulder.

 I remain crouched, frozen in fear, as it dawns on me that she can not win. Not this fight.  

The wolves have closed in on her.

Though I’m just a child, I can tell they’re now toying with her. One of them lunges forward and swipes at her with sharp claws. 

My mother staggers backward as dark blood leaks from the fresh wound. She’s injured and covered in cuts all over. 

“Heal yourself,” I want to scream, but I know she can’t. She’s weakened from fighting these monsters for over an hour, she’s not even using her regenerative abilities.

I glance toward my father, searching for some form of sympathy, but I’m met with the cold, unforgiving gaze of a giant wolf. It snarls in anger as it slowly joins its brethren in circling us.  

For some reason I can’t quite understand, they are hell-bent on killing me. But my mother wouldn’t allow it. Five of the strongest Alphas from different packs trying  to kill a six-year-old child…this is so unfair. I never did anything to them.

I return my gaze to my mother who is no longer fighting, just panting for breath. The dark, warm liquid leaking out of her seems to be spreading even more.  

My father transforms into his human form.  

“Hand her over, Evelyn, let’s end it here.” His voice is soft, pleading. 

“Please, love. You don’t have to die for that thing.” His voice cracks, and his eyes brim with emotions, emotions I have never received from him.

 I hurriedly move to my mother, and grab her hand, I can smell the blood lust from my father. That man would tear me to pieces if he could.

My mother looks down at me with a smile. Despite being cut up and bleeding from so many gaping wounds, despite knowing we are both about  to die, she smiles. And her smile…it’s so beautiful that I forget my fears and stare in awe.  

“I would die a thousand times if it would mean her survival,” my mother’s melodious voice rings out. One of her fingers brushes away the tears I didn’t realize were running down my cheeks.

Without taking her eyes off me, she continues speaking to my father, “I love you, Horace, truly…I do. If I were to be reborn in another life, I would pick you over and over again.” At this, her eyes brim with tears, but she doesn’t look away from me.

 I sense that she hasn’t finished speaking to my father. Not yet. She straightens, and I feel a shift in the atmosphere. The other wolves prowl uneasily, seeming tense.  

“But for this child, Horace, I would rip the Heavens apart to protect her.”

“Evelyn, nooooo” my father bellows in alarm.

Fast as lightning, my mother makes a cut in her chest and slams her left hand against it.

“I, Evelyn Demetrius, invokes the final rite of mother’s blood”

“What have you done?” My father gasps in horror.

“Evelyn, what have you done?” He transforms into a giant wolf once more and lunges at her.

Everything seems to happen in slow motion afterwards. I see my mother’s posture change, and she flashes her most dazzling smile.

“I love you Yasmine” she whispers.

I sense movement around us, as the surrounding sounds grow louder, but I don’t look away from her face. I have a feeling it’s the last time I’ll be seeing that smile. In this moment, only my mother and I exist. All I can see is her face, her smile, and the tears that won’t stop running down her cheeks.  

“For you Yasmine, I would kill.” My mother whispers and I feel a weird sensation around me, like a mounting pressure.

“For you child, I would destroy even those dearest to me.” Her voice breaks on a sob. 

 I hear a wounded howl, as if from a distance. Still, I don’t take my eyes off my mother.

Without warning, her eyes turn black, like midnight. I feel a chill as a dark aura emits from her. Goosebumps cover my skin and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

For the first time in my life, I am suddenly afraid of my mother. Absolutely terrified of her. My instincts scream for me to run, to pull away and sprint for my life. But for some reason, I can’t. No matter how much I try, my body won’t move. I can only keep staring at her.  

Her eyes begin to glow, and my own widens in horror. I never thought it possible that darkness could shine, but it is no trick of the mind. My mother’s eyes are glowing and the pressure around us increases in intensity. 

I know the wolves are still around us, but I cannot see them; I cannot see anything but the horror unfolding before me.

“Alas,” my mother cries, and the sound of her voice chills me to the bone. It sounds nothing like mother. This voice belongs to something ancient and terribly evil. I try to pull away again but I cannot. I am glued to her, stuck.

“For this is the child who has been spoken of for generations before her. She has my blood running through her veins, and the blood of my other traitorous children.” The ancient voice laughs coldly.

“She would bring honor to her family and avenge me.” The ancient voice grows in intensity. “Until the moon of her eighteenth birthday, she would not be harmed by any of your kind. To attempt to harm her would bring instant calamity upon the perpetrator.”  

As the sinister voice continues to speak through my mother, I sense a wolf lunge for me. The tip of its claws rakes over my dress, tearing it and ripping through my skin from shoulder to my lower back. I feel my blood seeping out, but I do not feel pain.

I concentrate on my mother again. “For this, I must sacrifice my beloved child.” The pressure around us reaches a breaking point, and my mother’s head snaps as if an invincible hand has pulled back her head. A mysterious wind begins to blow around her, whipping her hair back, but I don’t take my eyes off her. Her feet leave the ground as she slowly rises into the air.

I watch in awe, wondering if she’s going to leave me, but she holds on to my little hand tighter, and then, she stops ascending. Golden liquid spills out of her eyes. It hits the ground with a hiss and evaporates. From her eyes and mouth, the golden liquid continues to pour out. Through it all, her hand does not release mine. It goes on for a while, and all I can do is watch.

 Suddenly, the pressure lifts, and the light under her skin dies. Slowly, I watch as my mother descends. Her feet touch the ground gracefully, and she collapses on her side, her hair spilling across the ground.

I fall to my knees beside her to look at her face. Her mouth is open, revealing blackened gums without teeth. In place of her eyes, empty sockets stare back at me.

I recoil at the sight and remove my tiny hand from hers.  

Whatever this thing on the floor is, it is no longer my mother.