Shadows

Chapter Eight - Minerva's Point of View

"What I am going to say leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. He's your fated mate." Mom says softly.

My jaw drops in shock. I am the fated mate of Gregori? I pull myself together to ask mom a question. "How long have you known this?"

"Your grandmother told me when you were four. I knew about the mating bond, just not whom. I figured it last night. Gregori is your fated mate." mom tells me.

"Mother, I am twenty. I am supposed to be in college, and going to fraternity parties in another city. I am supposed to be making bad choices in life. I am not supposed to be in the hospital with my mother telling me a practical stranger is my fated mate!" I complain.

"Minerva, I understand your upset. Your grandmother saw this with her foresight. Gregori has been watching over you for years. He's the reason behind the dinosaurs. Apparently he has a thing for Jurassic Park." mom explains.

I think back to part of my grandmother's letter.

Little shadow, I leave you with these words of encouragement. You are loved, and my love will surround you. You will find your beloved one day. When all you see is darkness, remember that night eventually ends.

"Grandma left me a letter. She said I would find my beloved one day. Do you think it was her way of telling me about Gregori?" I ask.

"Yes, I do. Mom was cryptic about her visions. Just be careful with Gregori. OK?" mom says.

"OK." I agree.

We fall into silence as breakfast is brought to us. I look at the plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. I open the apple juice, and eat the hospital food.

I hear the sounds of Worm Talk. We are not starting this at eight in the morning. "Mother, there are much better shows than your soap operas. Its eight in the morning find something else, or so help me we are going to watch a Waverly Hills marathon. You have to live with me remember?"

"Minerva, you wouldn't. You know how I feel about Haunted Places." mom says going white.

"You know how I feel about soap operas. Neutral ground mother." mom quickly changes the channel to the History Channel.

I lean back in my hospital gown and stare at the ceiling.

I start physical therapy today, but all I want to do is go home. I miss my comfortable bed, my comfy sofas, and my streaming services. Clothes that don't itch or bunch up in all the wrong places.

I listen to Pawn Stars and think about many things. Mostly how my life is changing too quickly for me to understand. I have a mate, I saved my mother, mother is going to come live with me. I'm in my own head when a knock sounds on the door.

I lift my head and see people in therapy outfits. Must be time for therapy. I go through what they want me to do, then sit in a chair for a while. I like sitting in the chair, sorta. The therapists take mom, and I snatch the TV remote. I turn the channel to something but Pawn Stars. Mom comes back as my aunt and uncles are coming in for another day of visiting.

We turn the TV over to something mindless, and play the game of Trivial Pursuit that auntie bought. She also brought sweat pants, sweat shirts, and under garments

for mom and I. I hobble to the bathroom to change, and feel better for the new clothes. She even made sure to bring me black.

Mom hobbles into the bathroom next and changes into the pastel pink auntie brought her. It clashes horribly with mom's hair, but she's glad to have it. We laugh as one uncle completely misses a sports question. Its a good day. I don't mention Gregori to my aunt or uncles and mom stays quiet as well.

My aunt and uncles leave as night falls. Auntie leaves Trivial Pursuit for another game tomorrow. Mom and I laugh at Uncle Henry as they leave. A half hour later Gregori steps into the room. Mom's expression darkens a little, but she says nothing as he takes up the chair Harry was in all day.

"Good evening ladies. How are you this evening?" Gregori asks smoothly.

"I am doing well. Thank you for asking." mom says civilly.

"I am doing well. The healers got us up for therapy today. We might be going home soon." I say.

"Excellent. I know that both of you would enjoy that. Hospital food isn't the best." Gregori beams.

I feel a stirring in my chest that I have never felt before. A flutter that passes in a moment, but leaves unexpected warmth behind. His smile is amazing, and I can't help smiling back.

"We have other matters to discuss first, Gregori. Firstly your intentions with my daughter." mom demands.

"My intentions with your daughter? Currently, my intentions are to date her for the time being. Long term, I would like to make her my bride. She is my fated mate." Gregori tells mom.

"So no hanky panky?" mom quieres.

"Not until marriage." Gregori says.

"I will hold you to that, Gregori. You too, Minerva." mom growls.

"I agreed to dating. I don't know where your getting the idea I am going that far." I tell mom a little offended.

"I just want you to know how I feel." mom says.

"Fair Enough." I respond.

Gregori's eyes fall on the Trivial Pursuit box. "I see someone brought you a game."

"Yeah, Aunti bought it from the Big Box Store. She thought it would entertain us." I tell him.

"Ah, I am partial to dominos or card games myself. Perhaps when you are out of the hospital we can play a game together." Gregori says.

"Sure. Its been a while since I played dominos, and I know solitaire so you'll have to teach me how to play maybe." I tell him.

"I can do that." Gregori says. "However, I have something else I would like to discuss. Minerva, how do you feel power wise?"

"It seems to have grown since I saved mom." I say sheepishly.

"I am not surprised. The ritual closed the gap in your mana. You threw a surprisingly powerful shield from what I understand." Gregori says. "It was the roof collapsing that you couldn't expect. How did neither one of you suffer head trauma?"

"I heard the roof collapsing and threw a shield over our heads. She saved me from the blast, and I could save her from the roof." Mom says. "The competing magicks and the weight of the roof is what knocked us out."

"Mom, I haven't wanted to talk about that night. We need to though. I didn't come over just because I wanted to see you. Officer Bob suggested I stay with you that night. Jonathan was on my porch with a gun. Bob called the police when I didn't pull into the garage." I admit softly.

"Minerva Vanessa Nightshade, why didn't you tell me when you saw me on the driveway?" mom demands.

"I didn't want you to think badly of me? I was too scared and was hoping for a cup of tea first? You opened the door and ice exploded? Pick your excuse." I say tears sliding down my cheek.

"Ms. Brightside, may I ask a question?" Gregori asks.

"Sure." mom says glaring at me.

"If someone was on your porch with a gun would you be anxious to admit it?" Gregori asks.

"Well...no. I'd want a cup of tea first. If I admitted it at all." mom says. "Minerva, I am sorry. I can see why you didn't tell me. The ice blast made it worse. My house is probably destroyed, and I nearly lost you to a mana bleed. How did you save us?"

"I wove shadows into a shield around us both when I pushed you to the floor. I didn't know you had created a light shield for the roof. The competing magicks probably did the rest...I used every shadow in a mile around us for the shield. I've never tried anything like that before. I kept it up as long as I could. Sorry mom." I say still crying.

"Don't be sorry for saving our lives, Minerva. You should be proud, but you increased your mana doing so. Gregori the ritual was to repair the leak I assume." mom says apologetically.

"Yes, I had to give a portion of my mana and magic to repair the leak. I was actually a long tear. My magic will always be a small part of her." Gregori replies.

"Thank you for saving me, Gregori." I say quietly.