Lucifer's Keys

Gran

After leaving Mason Nyah jogged the 15 minutes to her neighborhood.  Had she actually been in a hurry she could have covered the distance in half the time.  Running helped her think rationally.  Nothing mattered but the thoughts that swirled in her mind, her body would move on auto-pilot.  She had run the neighborhood more times than she could count and by now, could get wherever she needed to be with her eyes closed.  She had lived in Sea Crest for most of her life, and the part of it that she hadn't, she couldn't remember anyway.  She approached her apartment building and felt a sense of relief.  She had been feeling especially heavy and drained lately, and despite her attempts to stay fit and healthy, had felt heavy and tired for weeks.  She felt like something was pulling her down, or as if gravity had increased and she was being forced to adjust to her new weight.  She had even weighed herself to see if she had been slipping, but her weight remained relatively the same.  

She slowed to a walk and ascended the front stairs.  Her building was in need of repair, to say the least.  She had enough to feed herself and her grandmother, to pay the bills, buy required clothing and make sure any medical costs were covered for her grandmother.  Her building was relatively small and hosted only 4 stories.  She had worked for the owner on previous occasions and was able to rent out the entire fourth floor, which was supposed to be a condo back when the owner thought he would have the money to renovate...he never did.  The fourth floor was now an open concept, 3 bedroom apartment.  She had added handicap accessories to it when she got old enough to begin working.  Her grandmother had raised her, taking her from where, she would not say, and coming to Sea Crest City when Nyah was very young.  Nyah had no memory of her parents, or of any siblings if she had any at all.  It was always only her and Gran.  

Nyah chose the stairs over the elevator, it was always faster and didn't get stuck.  She'd once gotten stuck in the only elevator the building had for over an hour.  The power had gone out and she had to wait for it to come back on.  Since then, unless she was taking Gran up or down, she never used it.  She ascended the four stories quickly and opened the door to the fourth floor.  There was a very small reception area in front of the elevator door and the stairway.  The floor was carpeted in an unpleasant dark green that always reminded her of seedy hotels where murders were likely but unproven and where updates were severely needed.  She crossed the small, uninviting area and approached her door, pulling the key from her jacket pocket.  She quickly turned the lock and gently pushed the door open so as not to wake her grandmother.

The moment she opened the door, the most amazing smell wafted from the kitchen and her stomach rumbled.  She hadn't realized how hungry she was.  Gran was in the kitchen already and it wasn't even 0530 yet.  She had made coffee already and from the smell of the apartment, was currently working on french toast,  turkey sausage, and home fries.  Nyah's mouth watered and she stared at her grandmother in awe.  

"Don't just stand there, come make us some coffee."

Nyah smiled, "Yes ma'am."  

She walked into the kitchen and gave her grandmother a big hug and a kiss on the forehead before moving to the cupboard to get their favorite mugs and setting to work.  The two of them liked coffee with their cream and sugar.  Gran continued to toss the pan of potatoes.  She was about 4'10 and was probably a sturdy 110 pounds.  She had chocolate brown skin that seemed flawless even with the crepes and wrinkles.  Nyah was never exactly sure how old her Gran was, but she did not believe that she was actually her Mother's Mother.  In fact, her exact relation to Nyah was unknown, but she could see slight physical similarities between them.  She wouldn't have been surprised if she was actually her Great Grandmother.   She didn't want to believe that Great Great relation was possible, but wolves generally age very slowly and it was obvious to anyone who saw her that Gran was well past 150 years old.  Hell, she could have been twice that for all Nyah knew.  None of that mattered to her though.  Gran had treated her with nothing but love and care for as long as Nyah could remember.  She had worked demeaning jobs, long hours, and for questionable employees just to make sure that the two of them lived comfortably.  Since she was able, Nyah had been working to provide so Gran could retire, and except for her very select few clients, she had.  Medical expenses were rarely needed but on occasion, the local physician who understood supernatural ailments had to be consulted.  He too seemed genuinely surprised at her age and her relative health.  

"So," Gran finally said, "Tell me."

Nyah finished the coffees, topped them with Ready-whip, and brought them to the small table in their kitchen, sitting down with hers.

"I met my mate."  She stated calmly.

Gran looked at her wide-eyed, a slow smile spreading over her face.

"I knew it!  What is he like?  When do I get to meet him?  Tell me the whole story and don't leave anything out!" She exclaimed.  She removed the potatoes from the hot burner and turned off the stove before shuffling over to take her seat opposite Nyah.

"Gran, it's such a weird story and I have so many questions.  I'm not sure where to start and I hope maybe you can help me figure something out."

"The best place to start," Gran countered, "is at the beginning.  So try that and I'll do what I can.  What is it that makes this weird."  Gran's eyes met Nyah's, searching as though she could read the story in her eyes.  Gran's eyes were the same color as Nyah's, sea blue and grey, but there was something different in them, a hidden power that never failed to garner whatever emotion she was seeking from whomever she was speaking to.  Nyah pulled the mysterious key-puzzle piece hybrid from her pocket and held it in the palm of one hand, turning the other, burned hand, palm up on the table.  She held out her hands to Gran for inspection.  

Gran narrowed her eyes, taking in the key before her and the new scar on Nyah's hand.  She gasped softly and took Nyah's hands in her own, tracing her fingers along the designs in both the key and the burn.  

"No..."  She breathed.  "This can't be right.  They can't..."  She exhaled deeply and released Nyah's hands, shaking her head in sadness before meeting Nyah's gaze again.

"I'm sorry my love."  She said, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Nyah was so confused.  She had never seen her Gran close to tears.  Clearly, she knew what this meant.  She mentally kicked herself for never thinking to ask her Grandmother about any of this in the first place.

"What are you talking about?  What does it mean?"

"You say you met your mate?  Tell me, has he found the other half?"

"Other half?!  How do you know about this? Gran, what is going on here?  I'm losing my mind, I thought I was going crazy until I met Mason last night.  He tried to save me from some guy who was pulling me toward this weird door, but instead ruined my plans to ask him what the hell was going on!  I picked up the key a couple of weeks ago when the same man dropped it.  He was a wolf too, I could smell him, but he wouldn't answer my questions, he just kept trying to take me to....wherever..."  

Nyah was getting animated, her confusion, fatigue and frustrations manifesting in wide hand and arm gestures.  

"Mason smelled me and followed the scent.  He thought I was in danger so Cyrus came charging in and I lost the guy!  Then, as he is coming on strong, I kick another key and he bends down to pick it up.  The one he has burned him just like this one did me and neither of us know what any of this means, crazy wolf guys are trying to shove me through magic brick walls, and I have a mate who I'm terrified to get close to! I HAVE A FREAKING MATE GRAN! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO HANDLE THIS!"  

Gran narrowed her eyes and stood up, she looked almost regal, and then, downright frightening. 

"First of all, panic or not, I don't know who you think you're raising your voice to.  Have you lost your mind?  Secondly, stop panicking, we do NOT panic regardless of the situation.  I will tell you what I know and I will help prepare you for it as best as I can but I will ONLY tell you and your mate, together.  You will need him and he will need you, you can't escape that, especially not in this situation.  No matter how strong you are or what your bloodline is you will do what needs to be done.  Do I make myself clear?!"

Nyah's heart caught in her throat and she swallowed hard.  Gran did not do panic and she did not do disrespect.  If Nyah didn't know better, she would swear that Gran was an Alpha.  But she did know better...didn't she?  She took a deep breath and steadied herself, meeting her Grandmother's fierce gaze again.

"Yes ma'am.  I apologize."

"Good!" Gran seemed to shrink a bit and return to her former, pleasant demeanor.  She shuffled over to the stove, made two plates, and returned to the table.  

"Now, eat your breakfast, drink your coffee, get ready for work, get some sleep and a shower, then call your man to the house so that I can talk to both of you.  The two of you need to hear this, and you need to be ready.  In the meantime, do NOT seal the mate bond.  Do you understand me child?"

Nyah looked down at her plate.  Not that she was planning on mating anytime soon, she had said as much herself.  She stabbed a sausage with her fork.

"Yes ma'am." She replied, before beginning to dig into the food.  It was delicious, and her coffee was perfect.