Chapter 4
Lost
My stomach tenses as I walk through the gates of the Light Council's chambers. No one has told me much about my mother's state, but then again, they're not usually the most helpful creatures.
Thanks to Gage constantly pointing out their flaws, I'm starting to grow weary of all their foolish rules and hypocrisy. Everything we stand for seems to be a joke when it's all on the line.
It took us hours to get here, and now the sunlight has returned. I'm exhausted, so tired my eyes keep trying to close, but I refuse to sleep before I see my mother. I have to see her. I have to know she's really safe again. I should have come sooner despite the protests of the council and Frankie.
I push through the healing room to find my mother's supposed bed empty, crisp, and perfectly made. There's no sign of anyone being in here for a while.
I glance around to find nothing to prove she has ever been here. With a growl in my throat, I get ready to start shaking some answers out of people when I suddenly slam into a body.
"Lyss?" Frankie asks in disbelief as I stagger backwards. "What are you doing here?"
"You knew I would be coming. Where's Mom?"
I'm not backing down. She's my mother, and I should be here for her the way she's always been there for me.
"She's in the courtyard. She's healed now. Hasn't she called you?"
Since when doesn't Mom tell Frankie every detail of her daily activities. He's like her personalventfriend.
"I haven't heard from her at all. That's why I'm here."
He frowns, seeming disappointed by that. He nods and then moves out of my way as I head to the courtyard. Suspense builds in my stomach as the tears ready themselves to flow. When I reach the courtyard, they drop like a monsoon.
My mother's blond hair whips in the wind as she works on the rose garden in front of her.
"Mom," my hoarse voices releases in a near whisper.
She turns around swiftly, and a soft smile graces her lips as she opens her arms for me to run to. I dart across the yard to close the distance between us, and she curls me to her as I dive into her arms.
"Why the hell haven't you called?" I sob out, sniffling between breaths as I hold her tighter.
"Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. It's been a hell of a few weeks. I didn't know what to say to you. I was trying to wait until I could hold it together."
I just cry that much harder as her firmer than usual lips stroke my forehead.
"What happened?"
She shakes her head, pulling back and wiping her eyes before the tears even start to fall.
"I really don't want to talk about it. I've been grilled by the council for weeks. I've recounted every detail I can, but I have no idea who they were, what they were, or even what they needed me for."
My lips tighten as I stare at the woman I thought to be unbreakable. Throughout her many centuries, she's dealt with more than any other being I know. She's had her share of heartache, pain, and unspeakable torture, but I've never seen her fragile... until now. Ordinarily, she'd be ready to go after these sons of bitches.
"Let's talk about you instead. Frankie told me you had a boyfriend who turned out to be an immortal playing a trick on you."
She says it so coldly, nothing like the ginger steps she would normally take around such a sore subject. I suppose it's selfish of me to even expect her to make room for my petty problems, given the magnitude of what she's just endured.
I'm glad Frankie apparently omitted the part about Kane being a night stalker. Mom has enough on her.
"Yeah. I felt like an idiot, but I'm okay," I lie, making light of the heavy situation.
She smiles, though it's not the warm, make-me-feel-all-better smile she usually bears.
"Sweetie, you will get over him. I swear."
