Magic Vs Science

Sixteen

Aalto was harder to raise than I had originally thought. He required pure mountain water. Only way to get that, was to slowly melt the ice from up there. I let out a sigh as I slowly melted the ice over the stove. Looking at the clock, it was three am. Aalto would be up in an half an hour for his fresh water feeding. It had only been a week, but he still hasn't grown at all with how much he has eaten. I felt arms slip around me. I wasn't fearful, I knew who it was. "Why didn't you wake me up? I could have done that for you." Ursis said, rubbing his nose on my neck.

"You were sleeping too peacefully, I just couldn't wake you." I smiled up at him. He responded with his own, but then pushed me aside to take over melting the ice.

"You have too much to do as it is. I'll take care of Aalto." He paused and looked me right in the eyes. "Now go get some sleep."

I was about to refuse, but Aalto woke up and began his tiny screeching. It was a terrible sound, but it worked. It woke us up and got him what he needed or wanted. I sighed once again. "This little boy is worse than a baby." I went upstairs to get Aalto, but he wasn't in the nest I had made with the kids. I could feel panic rising up inside me. I looked everywhere I could think of that he could fit into, even the ones he couldn't reach. "Oh no. Aalto, where are you?"

"Mom!" I heard Ellie scream. I bolted to her room, throwing the door open. "M-Mom. Help me." I saw a huge green bird hovering over her.

"Get away from her!" I ran across the room and threw myself into the bird. It was soft like grass and smelled like a forest. It looked right at me, straight into my eyes. I felt like I was frozen in place.

"Where is the third?" He spoke inside my head. I blinked, finally feeling like I could move again. When I refused to speak, he yelled. "Where is the third! You will tell me now!"

I felt my head throb and I growled at him. "That is no way to speak to a Queen, birdbrain!" I folded my arms over my chest. "Also, for your information, I don't know what you are talking about."

"Birdbrain?! How dare you speak to the King of the Birds in such a manor! I'll have you know that I know that you have the third water chick! Nothing is ever hidden from me!" He glared at me. "The rule of three is bad for us. The chick has to die before it starts to grow."

"Oh hell no! You are not touching Aalto! He was given to me and I intend to raise him. You are forbidden from touching him!" I used all the force I could in my words.

"That monster is our undoing! It cannot be allowed to live! It will kill everything and anything in its way! I am here to--"

"NO! HE IS MINE!" I let my K9's elongate, showing him that I was not afraid to hurt him if needed. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"If you do not hand over that monster, I will tell Helena where you are and what your weaknesses are." He paused. "They are your children, and your mate."

"I have a plan, Ixora. Give him Aalto." Onyx whispered.

Gritting my teeth, I followed Onyx's lead. "Fine. If you can find him, you can take him." Just as those words left my lips, he took off toward Ben's room. Onyx urged me to follow him, so I did. I followed closely behind.

"When that fool brings Aalto out, let me free. I'll defeat him and reclaim what is ours." Onyx growled.

I watched closely as this stupid bird pulled my screeching Aalto out of his newfound hiding place. Ben was already awake and watching. I had no choice but to let him and Ellie think that I was handing Aalto over to be killed. "Mom! What are you doing!? Why are you letting this bird take our baby brother?!" I remained quiet, letting them yell and curse at me. "How dare you let him take our brother?! Maybe we shouldn't have picked you to be our Mom!"

I swear my heart was heard as it broke. I sure felt it break into thousands of pieces. "Don't let go yet!" I heard Onyx yell, but it sounded distant. I was losing control. I could take any amount of beating in school, but I couldn't handle my children yelling at me that I was a terrible Mom and person.

The moment I let go, I felt myself change. After that, I couldn't tell what was happening. I could just feel myself sinking into the darkness. I didn't want to wake up. I had no reason to. I fell deeper and deeper into my own mind, closing everything off.

"Am I that horrible for letting this happen?" I thought. "I am. I'm a horrible person, a horrible Mother." I curled up in the darkness. "How could I do that to Aalto? Why would I do that to him? I'm such a stupid, horrible monster."

As I sunk deeper into my mind, I could feel my bonds with my family getting weaker. This is what happened to a Beast who closed themselves off. Being withdrawn from people is fine, but going into the darkest parts in your mind, was something much worse. I would be stuck here forever, or until someone killed me, but I didn't care anymore. I wanted to be gone. Someone could kill me right now, and I wouldn't care. This is my punishment for being so cruel to my own family.

"This is what I am. I am horrible and selfish. This is my punishment."