Epilogue

Sweat beads appeared on her forehead. She didn’t know why but she knew she couldn’t stop, couldn’t look back. She had come too far. If she turned now all he had done to protect her, his death would have been in vain. Her lungs were killing her. She could run no longer. She heard a blood curdling scream that could raise the dead, belated realising somewhere inside her that the scream had escaped her lips. The pain was excruciating.

She clutched her baby bump. She had to remain strong for him and for the baby. She saw smoke rising at a distance and she knew someone resided close by. She began the torturous walk again but, after a few yards she collapsed.

Myra was going in and out of consciousness and she could only feel pain, raw pain. She yelled and saw faces as she zoned in and out. She couldn’t remember a thing. All she wanted was the pain to stop. But she knew it was over it was almost over. Darkness began to take her in, the darkness could make it stop once and for all and Myra knew that. She just had to give in and it felt really good, this darkness. Then Myra didn’t know why but she had to hold on and so she did.

Her eyes fluttered open and the sun’s rays that streamed in through the window lit the entire room. The window itself had a pattern on the glass pane. It looked so familiar and yet very strange. Three circles fading away like teardrops that held beautiful and delicate curves at their fading ends. She

was mesmerised and she yet couldn’t place it. Then her gaze shifted to the sole humming bird so exotically placed in the middle of it all. It was beautiful, the bird. It looked like it would come alive and fly away. It looked strong and mighty despite the delicateness. The whole design was surreal. Slowly she took in the enite room. Oak doors and framed windows, there was a portrait of a woman with a baby girl smiling and for some reason that touched the deepest corner of Myra’s heart. The bed was soft and she felt comfortable blankets surround her. She felt the dread set in. This couldn’t be right.

Her hands flew to her abdomen and came empty. Now she knew she had to run, find her baby and flee. She was ready to take off when she felt more than heard something soft move beside her. She had never been so thankful in her entire life. She lifted the bundle up and looked at the face of her baby. It was her boy, their child and she would kill to keep him safe, hell she would die to protect him.

A woman walked through the door and recognition hit. She looked like an older version of the woman in the portrait. The woman carried herself with grace.

“How do you feel child?” she enquired.

Myra had no idea as to how, but she completely trusted this fragile looking woman.

“Thank you for saving my child and the hospitality you have shown” was all she could say.

An old man walked in right after. Myra couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips. This man looked like an older version of him , her husband Ian. Except, the eyes were emerald which was all wrong. She looked back at the lady and into her eyes. She gasped. Her eyes were the same colour as Ian’s had been. The deep blue colour from the periphery merged in with the light blue colour. The blend was so perfect. She had never seen eyes like his. And now she was very confused.

She held her baby closer and looking into his boring deep eyes she saw the same blue colour. The pieces fell into place but yet made no sense. Her baby had flecks of green blending in with his blue and Myra knew she could weep. Her boy had taking the green flecks after her green flecks splattered in her amethyst coloured eyes, eyes that looked almost black blue.

“Did you know a boy named Ian?” Myra couldn’t stop herself from asking.

Shock registered on the old couples faces but there was also the serene look that told her they knew this was coming and they seemed happy.

“He was our son who left home a long time ago for the greater good he wanted to bring to this world.” The old lady smiled but there was a sadness so deep in her eyes, it made Myra’s heart ache.

With tears streaming down her face she told the woman, “Your son was the only man I ever loved and..” she broke down.

The way the lady put an arm around her told her that the lady knew.

A sudden pain clutched at Myra’s abdomen again and she knew this pain was going to be the end.

She hugged her baby and kissed his forehead with tears glistening in her eyes.

“You shall be called Ian and you will be as brave an gallant as your father.”

She handed the bundle to his grandmother and hugged her and she knew she had to take off.

“I have to go and I know I will not be-

The hug she got in return took her by surprise. This woman had yet again surprised her and understood without a word.

Myra ran out the door and she kept going. He was going to be safe and that is all that mattered. She ran as fast as the wind using everything inside her and as soon as she crossed the forest she collapsed. And this time she let the darkness take her for good. The last thing she saw before she saw nothing at all were a pair of blue deep blue eyes.

Chapter 1

Andromeda had no idea why she even put up with the boy’s request to go study. She worried too much but it was only fair. She had lost a lot of loved ones and couldn’t stand to lose him. And now she wasn’t there to watch over him. Yes he knew all he needed to know that would keep him safe. She had told him everything and had left out nothing.

Ignorance maybe was bliss but, he needed to protect him and knowledge was power. If he didn’t know he would.. she didn’t even want to imagine it.

She called the boy for the tenth time in two days. Ian answered at the first ring.

“Hey ma!” Excitement laced his voice. It was his last day of senior year.

“Oh baby, how is my all grown young man?”

“Ma, I am going to be home in a week!”

Her heart rejoiced. She would bake his favourite cookies and surprise him. She talked for some time and when she was content he was all ok she hung up. Oh she couldn’t wait to see him.

Ian knew it was time to go home but he hated leaving. He loved his home but he knew he had a lot more to do which

could only be accomplished if he got to college and studied and found ways to restore peace.

He was all packed up and ready to leave. Just as he was about to lift his bag he felt this growing sensation, this burning humming sensation he had been feeling all week begin to buzz again. Ian did not know how but he knew this was stronger than the previous time. He would go home and talk to gramps about it.

He boarded the flight that connected to the city closest to his home. His home was situated in the plains of Cassiopeia, however odd the name sounded, the place was beautiful and filled with magic or so Ian liked to imagine. It brought a smile to his face. Cassiopeia was surrounded by forests. It had a tiny place hillock beyond which you could see, if the anlge the sun made with the horizon was correct while it drizzled, one could see five rainbows. All neatly placed and looked like a picture out of a fairy tale.

He landed and headed straight home with his gramps.

“Hey gramps, there has been this humming burning sensation in my left wrist that radiates through my palm” he said.

He heard James gasp. He patiently waited for his gramps to digest it. The entire ride home gramps didn’t say a word. Once home Ian ran inside and lifted his frail looking grandma and hugged her. Ian knew that his frail looking grandma had

immense strength. He smiled and smelled cookies. He absolutely loved his grandma.