Jaguar Moon ; Redemption

Mother

Layla was nervous. As she and Axel dressed for the day, in clothing borrowed from Madden and Aeobheann, her hands trembled. 

This afternoon, she would spend time with her mother for the first time in her life, or beyond any memory she had. The only mother she had ever known had treated her as nothing more than a nuisance, how would her own flesh and blood treat her?

Axel came up behind her, wrapping her in his arms.

“I know you’re nervous, kitten,” he whispered in her ear, “But everything will be fine, I promise you.”

She didn’t answer, instead she leaned back into his powerful body, heaving a long sigh.

Axel had lost his mother at an early age, but he could still remember her. At least he had that going for him.

“I don’t know what to do,” she finally said, turning into his embrace.

“Just be yourself, and get as much information as you can.”

“Ok,” she looked up at him and gave him a weak smile.

Dressed in a low cut lavender gown with matching flats, Layla had never felt more out of place than she did at this moment. Aeobheann had to get a seamstress to pin and sew the gown so it wouldn’t drag the floor, due to the height difference.

Axel looked as handsome as ever in a black t-shirt and red and black tartan kilt with black boots that came up to his knees. In fact, he looked so good, Layla thought about throwing him back down on the bed and ripping the kilt off him, but now was not the time.

She pulled away from him, and crossed the room to look at herself in one of the many mirrors in the room. Even now, she could feel the magic of the Highlander Kingdom swirling everywhere.

A knock at the door pulled her out of her daydream.

Madden stood outside, with Aeobheann on his arm. He was dressed in black, with a dark cloak covering his jet black hair. The ancient wolf king looked ageless, his handsome features etched with a kind smile, his gray eyes beaming with kindness. Aeobheann looked beautiful as ever,

with her short red hair and fae-like features, standing there like a goddess from a time long ago.

“Are you ready?” Aeobheann extended a hand to Layla, who tentatively took it.

The plan was for Madden and Axel to call a meeting with the City wolves, while Aeobheann and Layla visited her mother.

“As ready as we'll ever be,” Axel answered. They stepped out of the room and started down the long hall of the castle tower they were staying in.

Outside, Madden’s purple dragon lay sleeping, her tail curled around her enormous body. Puffs of smoke filled the air as she snored.

“This is where we leave you, lass,” Madden said, turning to Axel.

“Goodbye for now.” Aeobheann kissed him on the cheek.

“Be safe, kitten, I love you,” Axel bent down and kissed her on the lips, then turned to walk away.

Aeobheann opened her arms wide and chanted in ancient Gaelic, and a portal appeared. She and Layla stepped in, and came out in front of the hospital. What took them seconds by portal would have taken at least ten minutes by car, or thirty by walking.

A middle aged receptionist looked up from her desk as they entered.

“Oh, Queen Aeobheann, you are here to see Briley.”

“Yes we are.”

Briley, her mother’s name was Briley. What a beautiful name, Layla thought to herself as Aeobheann led her down the hall to the hospital room.

Memories flooded Layla's mind, of the last time she had been here. She had been injured battling Nix’s guards, and had to have her shoulder repaired. Everyone in the whole hospital had bowed to her when she had walked down the hall to leave. She remembered the unworthiness she felt at such a gesture, nearly the same as she felt, going down the hall to see her mother for only the second time in her adult life.

Two guards, dressed in leather kilts, stood in front of the door, their long brown hair tied back with leather straps. Brothers, Layla thought, twins. They bowed to Aeobheann, then stepped out of the way to let them in.

When the door opened, Layla gasped. Nothing in the world could have prepared her for this moment.

In the bed lay a woman, with white-blonde hair. She was sleeping, her beautiful face etched with worry, perhaps having a bad dream of some sort. All around her, machines beeped, as doctors and nurses worked to make her better.

IV’s were hooked to both her arms, and bags of red and clear fluid dripped through them.

“My queen,” one of the doctors stepped forward, bowing.

“How is she doing today?”

“She is stable,” the doctor answered, ”Better than when you brought her to us. She has suffered years of malnourishment, but she has fae blood in her, she will survive.”

Fae blood… Layla bit her lip. Her mother was a fae. So that’s where her Celtic powers came from, her mischievous, temperamental side that she had to take care not to unleash. No wonder Nix was so powerful and commanded such an imposing presence. 

She looked down at the woman who had given birth to her, noticing her pointed ears and ageless skin. Layla’s mother was truly a beautiful woman, and she could see why Nix was so damned handsome.

The ageless woman opened her eyes, they were a forest green ,just like Nix’s. She looked up at Layla ,and a smile crossed her face.

“Layla,” she said with a hoarse voice, ”My beautiful golden eyed daughter.”

She grabbed Layla’s hand pulling her toward the bed. ”What a gorgeous young woman you have grown into.”

“Mother?” Layla said, with tears welling up in her eyes.

“Yes, child, I am your mother, and I would recognize you anywhere. My beautiful baby,” she said, her voice cracking, “I have missed your whole life! I am sorry, so sorry!”

“Don’t cry,” Layla said, patting her mother’s hand, “You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”

“I knew you were going to be special,” her mother continued, ”So did your father. I see he hid you well after the Council staged my death.”

“I guess he did.”

Layla pulled up a chair and sat down with her mother, still holding her hand. She marveled at the strength this woman must have, to have survived the way she did all these years.

“You look just like your handsome father,” Briley’s eyes filled with tears,” Miguel was his name. I don’t suppose you ever met him?”

“No, mother,” the name sounded so foreign coming from her own lips. She actually had a mother, one who seemed to genuinely love her.

“Tell me what happened, dear daughter, tell me how you lived.”

Layla looked to Aeobheann, who nodded her head approval. For the next thirty minutes, she told her mother everything Papa Bear and Miyo had told her, how she was raised by bikers, had almost been sold into slavery, her adventures as the kitten, meeting Axel and his pack, and becoming the Jaguar Princess. She even summoned Chalci to come in and meet her mother.

“Oh, Layla, you are such a brave young woman,” her mother gushed, ”Look at you now, with a beautiful jaguar to guard you at all times.”

“She can be a pain in the ass,” Layla chuckled as Chalci looked on, laying on the floor grooming herself. Layla couldn’t help but notice the faraway look in her mother’s eyes, remembrance of something bad apparently creeping up on her.

“Mother,” Layla sighed, “We need you to tell us what happened to you.”

“Ok, but it will be a long tale, and you won’t like it. I shudder to think what would have happened if you hadn’t saved Nix and I.”

Briley closed her eyes, and Layla sat there holding her hand. Her mother had fallen asleep, a smile plastered across her face. 

“Well, I guess that’s about it for now,” one of the doctors stepped in, checking Layla’s mother’s pulse. ”You can stay here with her, but no more questions until she has had some rest.

“Fine by me,” Layla said. Her mother would awaken again soon, and regain some of her strength. For now, she was content sitting her with her, holding her hand.