Fated

Chapter 20

Alashia was on her own again, facing the man that kept trying to kill her. She stared at him, her hatred coming off of her in waves. Why could she never remember until it was too late?

He removed her protective covering, throwing her from behind the curtain, claiming in front of her people that she had killed the Queen, his Beloved, in front of him. She was the Queen! But his ability kept her voice quiet. He could make anyone believe him, and her ability was unknown to show them otherwise.

She stared at her people, wishing they would see him for the monster he was. How many lives had he taken from her? As a human and as a vampire.

She looked at the crowd, forgiving them. They were, after all, her children. Her blood was the root of over half of the vampire race. There was only one other line, and it had been hidden and diluted over the centuries. Her Beloved was supposed to be from that line.

He must be close, she reasoned, thinking of the fact that every time the king claimed her, her heart did indeed beat. She knew he was here now, and looking at the crowd, she saw only one familiar face, Asher.

In this memory, she didn’t know him, but in the part of her mind that was the current Alashia, she recognized him. His face was one of sheer horror. She wanted to smile at him. However, as was the case with these new dreams, she couldn’t control her body. She just looked at him as the now-proclaimed king took her head from her body.

She floated in the darkness for an eternity, and then she realized she was floating in dark waters. Above her, was a small light, calling to her. She started moving towards that light, faster and faster, the light growing brighter and brighter.

When she emerged, she was in a room, with easily two dozen versions of her staring back. All of them were at least young adults, but it seemed she was the only mother.

They stared at her, wordlessly, and the one dressed in the oldest garb, the one from her first nightmare, approached her.

“Alashia,” she greeted.

“Who are you?”

“I am the first version of you, the original Queen Mother.”

“What the heck are you talking about?” Alashia was bewildered. This didn’t seem real.

“You are, in a word, the strongest version of us,” The Queen Mother stated, motioning to the room full of women who all nodded at her in agreement.

“I don’t understand. I’m a mother, that’s it. I’m married with beautiful children, I have a simple life.”

The Queen Mother smiled softly, and cupped her cheek, “You are much, much more than that. We all share the soul that is in your body. Some of us are humans, and some of us are vampires. We all died at the hands of the false King. You will die, but your soul will transition to what it is meant to be; a vampire. The Vampires’ Queen Mother. Our soul is getting angry, agitated, and turning cruel. It was never intended to die so brutally. But finally, you will have Asher. You will prevail, and we can all finally rest, calming our soul. You will lead our people into a new era and bring peace to all the different species.”

Alashia laughed, she laughed so hard until she cried. She was absolutely losing her ever-loving mind. Vampires? Queens? Shared Souls? She must have been electrocuted when the light bulbs exploded. They saw her with Asher, and are now ridiculing her. What else could it possibly be?

“This isn’t an elaborate prank, Alashia. Dry your tears. You have to protect Chase and your children. You have to succeed. If you don’t, things will become very dark.”

“Leave my children alone!” Alashia screamed, lunging at the woman. She expected to meet flesh, but she went through her.

The Queen Mother smiled sadly. “You saw how I died, Alashia. I am just a part of the soul you carry now.”

“What does he want? Why me?” Alashia accepted that the unbelievable was happening to her. She was communicating with past versions of herself.

“He doesn’t want the change you believe in, and he will go for your children, Alashia. You can protect them, you are powerful enough.”

“How? How do I protect them?” her voice whispered.

“With your ability.” The Alashia from the most recent dream stepped up and took her hand. “You can manifest anything, as long as there is something to build off of. You saw one of us turn beagles into hellhounds, you manifested your children from the egg and sperm in your body, despite being sterile. You made sparks appear when you felt them with Asher.”

Alashia frowned. “What is Asher to me? And Chase?”

“Chase is your human soul bond, Asher is your Beloved, your vampiric version of a soul bond.”

“Will Chase become a vampire too?” Alashia asked.

“It is not advised,” The Queen Mother answered quietly.

“Why?”

“Your soul bond will not survive his transition. And he will not be granted another. He would descend into madness without the bond.” The answer from the Queen Mother was so certain. Tears formed in Alashia’s eyes. She’d lose Chase, forever?

“What makes up a soul bond?” Alashia asked.

“No one is entirely certain, it isn’t something we’ve discovered in the supernatural world.” The Queen Mother cupped her cheek. “We’ve kept you long enough, go to your boys.”

*****

“Mommy, wake up!” Danny was climbing all over her, trying to wake her from her deep slumber. Chase was in the shower, and Lance and Ricky were watching a morning cartoon, chowing down on their pop tart breakfast.

Alashia pulled Danny close, holding him and cuddling him. “Eskimo kisses?” She whispered, and he smiled, making his blue eyes shine. They rubbed their noses together, completing the Eskimo kisses.

Lance went to Alashia, “Mommy swim?” She ruffled his hair and gave him a hug. “Sorry buddy, no. We are going home.

The dream flashed in her eyes. Should she tell Chase about it? Would he think she was crazy? Don’t. Keep him safe. The words flashed through her mind. It sounded like the Queen Mother speaking to her.

Was she crazy, listening to a dream version of herself? Was this what people with multiple personalities felt like? Should she see a doctor? You are questioning your sanity. An insane person wouldn’t. The voice flitted through her head again.

“Oh good, your up! Get the sweet ass in the shower so we can leave.” Alashia saw Chase, and she really looking at him. She walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him with all she had. It quickly went from a need to a passionate mess, with him pushing her up against the wall.

So lost in each other that it took a moment to process Ricky, “Ewww daddy kissing mommy!” Alashia and Chase pulled apart, panting a bit. Chase chuckled, smacked her ass, and half-heartedly pushed her towards the shower. She couldn’t shake the worry, terrified to know when her last moment would be with him. Two years, your 33rd birthday will be the last time you see him.

She paused, turning on the showerhead, waiting for the temperature to increase. Two years left with Chase and her boys. Her heart actually hurt knowing she’d be leaving them. Lance would be nine, Ricky seven, and Danny five. What could she do to make sure they could still be guided by her?

As she showered, a thought occurred to her. She could record videos. A video a year for their birthday, plus a video for special occassions. High school graduation, college graduation, their first jobs, their marriages, children. She’d never meet her grandchildren. The life she had envisioned for herself was gone.

How would Chase manage? He wasn't good at financial planning and had a tendency not to follow directions unless explicitly mapped out. She had two years to prepare. She could pay off and close all unnecessary accounts, move everything into solely his name, and leave him a document on the computer with guidance on how to plan and prepare. Spell everything out so he never had to worry about what his next steps were.

It wasn’t a perfect solution, but she could ensure that the people she loved would be okay. She had to. It was her job to be there for her children, and if the dream was true, she wouldn’t have long. But she would do everything in her power to provide for her family. If the dream was just that, a dream, at least she would be prepared. It was a decision she could live with, and one that gave everyone their best chance.

Nodding to herself, she was grateful to have this potential insight into her future. She could make sure her children would be provided for, that Chase would be okay, and as for her? It didn’t really matter. Asher would be by her side, and he seemed to love her family as if they were his own. They are an extension of you. He could not help himself. It is the same as loving you. The Queen Mother whispered into her mind. Alashia nodded. If she truly was this Mother Queen, her supporters would protect her family. Those who harm them will have to face her.

She would obliterate anything that harmed the people she loved.