Page 86 of Lucifer's Redemption

"Yeah, those plants stunted my growth. For flower's sake, I couldn't even get something as normal as a period!" Mom sat back down, her hand coming to her mouth.

"How do you know this?"

"Athena went to our home and saw the plants! She's pretty smart, you know? Oh wait, I guess you do know because you know everything and kept it hidden from me!" I hissed.

There were scratching sounds at the door. More than likely, it was Cerberus. I could hear his grunts and growls from the other side.

"I didn't know about the plants," she whispered. "They stunted your growth?" Mom's voice whispered. My chest didn't feel the pain.

Did she not know?

"How can you be blind to that? I didn't grow normally, I didn't get as tall as you and Dad, and I never came to you when I started bleeding?" Mom shook her head, her hand over her forehead.

"I thought it was your innocence, Uriel. I swear it. I wasn't even sure you would get a mate…" she paused, covering her mouth.

"Oh, I know everything, Mom." I narrowed my eyes at her. "I've learned more in the past two days than in the twenty-five years I've been with you!" Mom had her hand to her heart.

"What do you mean, you know?" She growled out. "Who told you these things? I'm gone for a few days, and you come back with an attitude, thinking you know it all?" Mom's teeth ground into each other. She tried to pick up a book to throw, but it only slipped through her fingers.

"Someone who cares about me deeply enough not to hide things from me." I stood on my own two feet, my wings sprouting from my body. They didn't tremble like they usually did. They were displayed outward in a defensive position, ready to charge whatever offense may ensue.

"Who told you?" Her fists balled at her sides, and her tiny vein that liked to poke out when she was angry pulsated.

"Luci," I whispered. Mom lost all control, growling until she buried her face in a pillow she had on the other side of the apparition. Once she finished, her eyes were red with anger as she lunged toward me. Her hands tried to grip my shoulders to shake me.

"Did he taint you? Say that he loves you? Uriel, you can’t be that naïve? He is the God of Destruction! It is his job to destroy things! He will use you and throw you away!" My breath hitched in my throat, and the pain could be felt throughout my chest and body.

Lies.

"Luci loves me, and I love him! He would never!" I growled back. The golden tips of my wing’s feathers glowed around me, brightening the room until it burned.

Mom scoffed, "what do you know of ‘love’?"

My eyes burned, feeling it deep within my heart. I could see their reflective glow on my mom's face. Her mouth dropped, watching the majestic glow of my body come to light.

"More than you! I would have at least told my child the prophecy and let them decide what to do once they were old enough! You kept me from all the gods who could have helped me from the beginning! You hid me in shame, expecting that your daughter would bring destruction to the humans and the gods. You dared not ask for help because your pride made you think you would do a better job," I hissed. "It wasn't about protecting me; it was about protecting yourself because if it all failed, you would have been the goddess who produced the destruction of all the realms."

Mother sat back on the bed, her mouth agape. Her face reddened and sweat started beading on her brows.

It was all true, every bit. Did she even love me, or did she love her reputation? Surely the gods thought highly of her since she helped Zeus rule?

"My, you've grown," she chuckled, hiding her bewilderment. "Honestly, I didn't know the plants would stunt your growth," she uttered. "I just thought they would hide your aura and your powers, not do anything to harm you. I never wanted to hurt you." She shook her head, her hands cradling each side.

"Uriel, I'm sorry," she heaved a breath. Silent tears ran down her face. I couldn't remember the last time I saw my mom cry. I don't think I’d ever seen it. She was always the strong, regal one in the family.

I could detect lies, but that doesn't mean I would forgive her so easily. What if I never came to the baby announcement? I would still be sitting in her home living in ignorance. Even if she did it to protect me, she poisoned me and she hid things from me.

She thought I was nothing but a child; in her eyes, I was. If there was anything that I learned in the past few days, it was that I am not a child. I am a woman, and Luci helped me realize that fact. I am stronger now.

"I did it to protect you!" Mom stated louder. "I would do it again to keep you safe because I love you; we love you!" Her hands went to mine but fell right through, the apparition unable to hold on to objects.

"Dad was in on this too, then?" I questioned. Mom's face fell.

"He didn't want to do it. He spoke against it." I hummed, anger boiling inside.

At least she wasn't lying. Not this time.

"You've lied to me all my life." I turned my back to her. Not one word left her lips as a sniff reached my ears. "Do you know how hard that will be to rectify? You've ruined our relationship!"

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