CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Thirty-two

"Your mother is alive, Aadya" I finally revealed with my gaze not leaving hers. Overwhelmed, she grew unnaturally still as though she had stopped breathing. The ray that traversed her eyes as those utterances escaped my lips caused me to swallow silently. Her face had grown ashen, brows rose in a confused arc, and eyes stood unblinking as they gawk at me trying to process what has been told. I could tell she was submerged in a silent shock as she fixed on me, uncertain whether to breathe or scream. Lips parted in silent surprise before they clamped and rapidly turned into confusion. Confusion about how possible this has come to be.

I had desired her to kick back for a few days before I bring up the news about my shocking vision of her mother's existence. It did surprise me, to say the least, though not as intense as it may to her of course, conceivably that might be the reason I resolved to hold it off to myself since the vision began, although it's been over two weeks.

And then she slowly blinked, her surprise given away by a brief gasp.

"How... How did you reach such knowledge?" She emitted calmly moreover I could hear them shake, her voice. I could glimpse the sorrow that burned in those set of eyes staring right back at me.

"I saw her" I swallowed "In my vision" I ended. She stared at me straining to learn if I was indeed telling the truth before moving to look through the open window, her arms clutched to her chest. It was impossible to not feel the pain she was going through. "Aad-"

"You don't have to, Alisdair" She cut me off. I wasn't certain if I regrets revealing it to her but I was quite convinced she ought to know about what was taking place. "How long?" She whispered, "How long have you known this?" She veered around, gaze intense.

"About sixteen days" Plainly I responded, "I had longed to..."

"It doesn't make a difference anymore" She slightly hissed moving from her region.

My body moved toward her on its own "No you understand not, Aadya. I only wanted to be more certain before revealing it to you, that was the sole motive why I had to wait this long, not that I presumably did not want to" I try to hold her gaze "It just wasn't clear" I whispered hoping she do understand.

Deeply she breathed out, her eyes straining to remain sane. "I require to be alone" She sighed before her eyes lifted to my saddened ones, silently they begged to stay but she forbade.

I swallowed acknowledging her demand before I began to retreat, I ceased near the door to say a word but decided against it, shutting the door behind me. Through the corridor I came forth before my brother and his wife "Ali" She called, coming off too delighted for my fondness, except I blame her not. "Is she all settled?"

Narrowly I nod "Yes. Yes, she is" She was pleased "I should get some air," I told her dismissively stepping away before she could think of conjuring another utterance.

The night breeze felt peaceful as I seated near the ranch. Barely I had settled before Callen's voice hummed from behind. "Are you all right, Ali?" I just stayed silent allowing him to occupy the space next to me. "Darkness seems peaceful" He mumbled gazing out to the open.

"Hmm," I agreed.

"It must have been tough for you, brother. Though you made it back, I'm proud" He uttered sincerely, I could only glimpse the side of his face yet I could manage to catch the solemnity in them as he continued to utter. "I'm not much close to you like before and I miss it... I miss it more than you believe. It was always me, not father not mother. I loved you through everything, all I ever wanted was for you to be safe, brother, though somehow everything managed to... All I want to say is that I'm here brother, always have been" His slight grievous voice came to a stop and I dart at him and he narrowly turned giving me a faint sincere nod which tugged a quiet-feeble smile onto my face.

I surged my way through the cottage to the door of the chamber she had been, there I stood only to detect how calm her aura flows from the room, odd it is. Extending the door, my eyes came to behold her laying so delicately on the bed. Even though she seems to have fallen asleep while sitting, her head rests on the headrest as though it was her safe place while her both arms cradling to her chest.

Gently I laid her properly before grabbing the large fur by the edge of the bed to cover her. Her rose lips stood plump than usual, there is something eternal about them that the whole of me desired to know the feeling of them on mine. The thoughts set my sanity into a sensual state of drunkenness. I reached toward her face and touch them slightly, the pull I felt was fresh and intense that I immediately rose to my feet, taking a step back.

A few calming breaths before I turned to look in the direction of the window, the hallowing of the wind seeping through.

AADYA

I was told many things about Irpinia but not the weather that shrouded the town. The coldness was the type that reaches into my bones, as if my heart were a door left wide open to the icy wind, slamming only to open again. I rose to the sound of children giggling. On barefoot I reached the window ledge, the peace was shattered by children running and screaming with delight and then my eyes glimpsed Alisdair clasping the little boy I have come to believe is a son of Callen, Alisdair's elder brother.

The little one giggled as he tries to escape from the young fella’s grip. Asking the boy to sit is like trying to tell a fire not to burn, which I came to learn the previous day. Finally, Alisdair let him go and he instantly whoops into the frigid air, then the wolf blood held up his face in my direction, he just stared at me and for some reason, I wasn't able to look away, it was so refreshing that I felt warm and alive, and suddenly the noise from the door behind caused me to veer around.

"Morning, Aadya" Callen's wife greeted as she made her way into the chamber. A contagious smile jerked onto her lips as I returned the greeting. Quickly she dropped the small soup plate she carried onto the desk by the wall and motioned for me to move forward "I know it's colder on this side of the world, but this will warm you up" She tells, urging me to sip from it "You did love it the earlier night" I nodded, sipping directly from the plate.

"Your hands are a bit pale" She singled out and my eyes instantly flew to them "Drink up so you can get warm" She advised "I will get you a cover for them" She informed and I hummed in response before the door shut behind her and reopened as if it was never closed.

I could feel my body slightly tremble as I again laid eyes on him, though it was neither not because of frostiness. He stood by the door not certain whether or not to reach forward. "You may enter" I whispered lowering the soup plate back on the desk I stood next to.

His clay blouse hung loosely over his body with its neck a bit explosive and its tie loosed. His hair was quite messy like he has been on hard labour, but in a way, it was attractive to wonder at. I only notice the smile that was narrowly blooming on my face when he was before me, or perhaps I might have imagined them as his face stood no different, except there was something in them, a mixture of admiration I suppose.

"May I?" The word lowly vibrate, puffing off a visible misty cloud. I wasn't certain what he was asking for until I glimpsed his hands reaching out to hold mine. I nod allowing him to take them into his. "It's cold here" He whispered staring at them as he gently squeezes them. If any moment in time anchored my soul, creating a tether to this plane of reality, it was this moment as his palms gave me warmth.

His gaze rose to mine, with their need to care for me and listen to my soul deeply. How rude of me to have driven him away the previous night. I felt guilt building up in my heart. "About last night..." Softly the words pass through my lips.

"Aadya" His accent was foreign and alluring, "It's all right. You need not worry" He smiled softly, though it wasn't much apparent. A little pull and I was leaning into his broad chest. In this embrace, the world stood still on its axis. There was no duration, no wind, and no cold. My mind was at peace. How could it be that I hadn't felt like this before? Pure. Protected. Safe. Accepted. I felt his body press in, hard and warm, and a cold spark travelled down to my knees.

Gradually, I pried away and my breath seized the moment I regained my eyes on his. They were... Glowing... A different sort. My body shuddered as my eyes travelled to his slightly parted lips. Unconsciously, I leaned into his touch as his warm palm reached for my face, in that split second before the warmth of his touch reached me, every nerve in my body and brain arouse. Slowly he traces across my cheek, and at this moment, feeling his touch was much the same as being handed the holy grail, like my heart is mended even though I never knew it was broken. It was as though my whole body was bewitched by that gaze. Through my lashes, I stare up at him, and may the gods absolve me for what I wish for.