Page 81 of When Day Breaks

My mother.

I don't want to believe what I'm seeing. I thought Rivian told me they'd found a death certificate stating she'd been dead for at least ten years. But then how could she be standing in front of me now? How was I able to teeter with her heart in my hands the night I tried to kill her?

"I was told you've been dead," I state, taking a step back, cautious not to leave Travois out of my sight but not wanting to breathe the same air of this woman.

"Do I look dead to you, Lucy?" Her voice is maniacal almost, and a sadness layers her tone.

Her eyes pierce through the darkness, the exact same color as mine. Her long black hair is a blunt contrast to her dress and falls effortlessly behind her back as she takes a few more small steps toward me, causing me to stumble over my brother's torpid body.

"What do you want?" I regain composure and face her, feeling haunted by her eyes. But I'm entranced. This is my mother, and I can't help but feel the flood of emotions that overcome me as I realize just how close we finally are.

I could ask her the questions that I've been stuck with remedying on my own. I could get closure. But by the look on her face. That's not what she wants.

"You tried to rip my heart out from my chest, sweet girl. I didn't appreciate that." Her timbre is broken, like she's disappointed in me for the things I've done.

My head spins. I can't be sure of what to listen to. Everything feels light and dizzy right now, and I wish more than ever that my curse had an on or off switch that I could trigger. But it's gone and I have to muster the strength to handle this without hiding behind my twisted shadow.

I think, closing my eyes for a brief moment to think of anything that could bide my time.

Say my name.

My husband's instructions were clear. Call him if I were in danger.

"Rivian!" I shout, not caring about the consequences of my actions. "Rivian!" I chant his name just like I did that night I had called him to my old family home. He came within only a few seconds but now . . . he's nowhere to be found.

A chuckle from my mom reaches my ears and I glare at her in fury.

"Your king can't hear you from here," another voice says. This time, I recognize it as whoever snapped my neck.

I look behind me to face a man. A little shorter than Rivian, but I can't make out who he is. I don't recall ever seeing him before and if I have, I don't remember him. He steps out from the entry that rounds the corner and shoves his hands in his pocket.

"But I do expect he is on his way." The man steps closer to the center where I stand next to Trav, and a sinister smirk caresses his face.

I know this man. I know I've seen him before, but I just can't place where.

A moment of silence passes between the three of us. Ameliana's arms are straight at her side and seems to be focused on the body at my feet more than anything.

"Who are you?" I decide to ask, making eye contact with the man in front of me. I'm not hopeful that he'll answer me but I wait anyway.

He pulls out a small paper out of his back pocket and flicks it to me. It lands at Trav's feet so I reach down to get it.

I pull it into my line of sight and study it. It's a faded, discolored image of two men standing side by side. But I don't recognize either of them. I huff a frustrated sigh and look back up at the man.

"Is this supposed to mean something to me?" I ask with sarcasm laced in my tone.

He scoffs. "I suppose not," is all he says, and I toss the picture back onto the floor.

"What the fuck do you want?" I challenge.

"I want what's mine," he fires back quickly.

"I don't have anything that belongs to you," I assure him, trying to scour my brain for any memory of this man but I fall short.

A deadly glare falls from his beady eyes as he takes a step forward, threatening to enter my space. I step back in response, starting to feel hopeless and helpless to the scenario that plays before me.

"You won't find any recollection of me in that little mind of yours." He steps over Trav's body. "Here's the thing. Growing up, I never knew who my mother was. My father never spoke about her and I was forced to pretend like she never existed."

He still inches his way toward me. I look down, hoping that Travois will wake up soon. He's my only hope right now. I'm out numbered, and I don't know what will happen if I try and make a move, so I slowly walk backward trying my best to avoid both Ameliana and whoever this man is that stands in front of me.

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