AllFreeNovel
Share Us
14
“This is weird,” Thomas remarked as he drank his milo with a peculiar look on his face.
“Well, I settled in Australia with Lily, so it was normal for us. I guess it’s an acquired taste,” my mother said as she set a plate of fresh hot brownies on the counter.
I watched as the younger version of myself came running in and grabbed one before heading to the living room to watch a movie.
“She can’t see us, can she?” I asked as my little-self settled on the beanbag.
“No, nor does she even realize I’m talking to you,” my mother said with a sigh as she stared at her.
“I have a question actually,” Thomas mused once he’d swallowed the bite of brownie. “These are great, by the way,” he added.
“What’s the question?” my mother chuckled as I enjoyed one of her brownies too. It tasted just like home, reminding me of the weekends when she’d teach me to bake and cook.
“Lily went and lived with an aunt after you passed on. How does she even have relatives on earth?” Thomas asked, and I blinked stupidly. I’d never even given it a thought, and now it was hitting me.
“Like demons, we need vessels. Nadine here was a devout Christian, and when she was on her deathbed after a tragic car accident, I asked if she’d allow me to walk the earth with her body,” my mother said carefully, and I frowned.
“Wait, what?” I just stared at her, unable to understand. This woman before me was not really my mother?
I knew all about possession, but I’d just assumed angels didn’t need vessels. I’d not really reached that point in my studies.
“Not all angels need a vessel. I’m sure you’ve run into many. We only need vessels when we wish to remain… unseen by our brothers and sisters. Hidden in plain sight, so to speak,” she said as she kept her gaze steady on me.
“What do you really look like then?” I asked, hating how my voice came out so confused and low.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. We change over the centuries to blend in better when we do come to earth, but Nadine became my new life, my new face. It’s the face I had when I bore you, so it’s one I’m most attached to,” she explained as her gaze finally dropped to the plate before her.
It took me a moment to realize that she was feeling guilty, and my heart sank.
No, I couldn’t let this bother me. My mother had chosen the woman on her deathbed.
“What happened to the real Nadine?” I asked as I rested my hand on hers to show her it didn’t truly bother me. It was something I had to look past for the sake of being with my mother right now. I’d come to terms with it at a later date.
“She went to Heaven, I guaranteed that. I’m just saddened that her family was not as good to you as I’d hoped. I saw what happened to you, but I could do nothing from Heaven here, only watch. I’m just grateful the hellhounds were there to protect you,” she said as she held my hand tight.
“Why didn’t they protect you? Isn’t that why my father gave you the pendant?” I asked softly.
“Because I gave it to you. When I passed, they were activated by your pain and loss. I wanted to protect you. I’ve lived a long life, and you still had yours ahead of you, your whole future.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about them? About you, about my dad?” I asked as I swirled the remnants of my milo, hating how I wanted to get these answers rather than just enjoy the time with her. It was the only time I could find this all out.
“I honestly thought I had more time, and I wanted to let you live a normal life as long as possible. I didn’t expect…” Her voice trailed off as she shook her head. “You got to meet your father though, didn’t you?”
I nodded, not even sure what to say. I was upset by it all, but I could see why she’d done a lot of the things she did. And being angry and upset with her was pointless.
“What did you think of him?” she asked hesitantly, and I let out a shaky breath.
“He saved me, came and rescued me, then gave his life for me.” I watched as her jaw tightened at that, her brows knitting together as she nodded.
“I knew he was likely to pass to protect you. He understood how important you were… but not just that. He stayed in contact with me over the years, checking in on you via demonic channels. He finally stopped when it became too risky.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about him?” I chewed my cheek as I waited for her answer. I’d thought he was just a deadbeat sperm donor.
“Honestly, it wasn’t until you were in your teens that I foresaw you’d meet him eventually, and by then, I wasn’t sure what to say to you. I couldn’t tell you the truth, and I never thought you’d see him. He’s a Prince of Hell, something demonic. I didn’t want to scare you, and I wanted to keep you from that world for as long as I could. I regret a lot, I wish I told you things, gave you more of a chance to understand and know what was coming. I planned to tell you everything before you turned eighteen, to warn you. But that chance was taken from me,” she said quickly as she looked to my small self in the living room, as if she was a means to patch the pain and heartache she felt.
“Did you foresee him coming for you?” Thomas spoke up, having been quiet the entire time.
