A LIFE UNSEEN

A PIERCE THROUGH THE HEART

“ This is not just a cave Amira, it is a portal and that's why it is called the Great Hole.” Amira's grandmother said, as she noticed Amira was disgusted by the environment.

Amira was still angry with her mother, Gracie, for keeping her origin a secret. She sat quietly, as the witch commanded a fireplace in front of her to prevent cold.

“ Amira, I know you're angry with me, but please I want you to know I was doing it for you. When I met your father, he was rich and every woman's dream. My mother here helped me and I succeeded in getting married to him, having you was one of the greatest gifts I had. I didn't want you to leave the life of gold and come here. I'm sorry.” Gracie said, filled with guilt and remorse.

Amira was cold towards her and pleaded she didn't want to have a conversation with her.

Gracie sat beside her and promised she wouldn't stop until Amira forgave her.

The atmosphere was quiet and Amira's grandmother advised her to forgive her mother because she was trying to give her a normal life.

“ Amira, you don't have to stay angry at your mother, she will always be your mother.” The witch said, as she got up from where she sat and approached a particular part of the cave wall.

“ This cave is a passage to many dimensions of the earth.

It takes you to where your heart desires. There are more of us.” The witch said, she smiled and walked back to where she sat.

Amira, filled with curiosity and a mind of seeing more witches, asked further questions about Healior. “ What happens there? Does this explain the strange figure I saw the day Annabelle escaped. Was it a witch?”

The witch's eyes sparkled, she assured if Amira had seen what she asked, it meant death was near. Amira, shocked and filled with fear, asked if it were to be her but her grandmother confessed she wasn't sure of an answer.

“ Maybe I'm the one because I can't live and know my only daughter is angry with me.” Amira immediately interrupted and rebuked her mother's words.

“ Healior, is known as the place of answers and healing.

There are powerful witches there and I believe they are the ones to teach you everything you need to know.” Amira's grandmother said.

They continued enjoying the warmth from the fireplace as she shared more knowledge with Amira.

Unexpectedly, the ground trembled. The witch and Gracie gave each other immediate glances.

They rushed outside and Amira followed behind, her heartbeat faster than normal.

They met Annabelle outside, dark smoke whirled around her and a sly smile on her face.

Gracie and Amira were startled.

“ Annabelle, what have you become? This is not who you are.” Gracie in a rather soft manner spoke to Annabelle. But she laughed sarcastically and told them it was so easy to find them as they'll pay for the pain they caused her.

The witch stood firm, with her staff at hand and announced to Annabelle she wouldn't let her hurt her family.

Annabelle, astonished to hear her, clapped her hands and laughed.

“ Wow! This is good news, I get to destroy the whole family. I never knew your mother was a witch. Ohh! I see how you charmed my father.” Annabelle said coldly.

The witch tried creating a barrier to protect them. Annabelle mocked her, her powers rising and the witch stumbled which broke the barrier. She fell on the ground and urged Amira and Gracie, “ Amira take my staff, you two will have to run. Find Healior Amira, the cave will lead you. Your heart makes the destination.” The witch finally gave out her last breath and died.

Annabelle, who watched with joy, remained calm. “Are you done with the drama, it's your turn Gracie, my lovely stepmother.” Annabelle said.

Gracie confirmed to Amira urging her to run, as Annabelle was focused on her. “ Run Amira, I have to pay for my sins. I want to know I love you and I'm really sorry.”

Amira hesitated, “ let's go together mother, please! I can't lose you.”

Annabelle mocked, “ wow! You can never understand the pain Amira. You two think you can run away from me but I'm only giving you a piece of what I felt.”

Gracie thought of distracting her by taunting her emotions and pleaded Amira used that time to run.

“ Your father has always been a coward, did he tell you how your mother died due to his foolishness? And guess who ended his miserable life, your lover!” Gracie said and burst into laughter.

Annabelle's face wrenched, she fumed in anger and rage.

With a gripe, she crushed Gracie with an unseen force and she fell and died. Amira, who was already in the cave by the wall, had hoped her mother would still have the chance to join her screamed in pain but was swallowed by the portal immediately as she touched the wall.

Annabelle wiped the tears that trickled down her cheeks after she heard about her parents with a cold smile.

“ Run Amira! I didn't intend to kill you, I want you to suffer this pain.” Annabelle said as she departed.

**********†*********†***********†

“My queen, how are you feeling today?” Redo asked his mother, standing by her bedside and trying to help her with her medication, but she refused.

“I can’t take herbs from a son like you,” the queen said weakly.

Redo gave a sigh of relief and promised, “I know Rad is your favourite, Mother, and believe me, you’re going to die without seeing him. I am only trying to be here for you, at least you won’t die lonely."

The queen smiled, trying to move her hands, but failed.

“You have joined your father’s deadly ambitions, and I would never accept you. I would rather die, Redo,” the queen said, struggling to breathe.

Her body was slowly fading away.

Redo’s eyes pierced as his mother’s words cut deep.

He had already expected her words, but the pain remained.

“Mother! It’s because you have never understood me. You and Father made Rad seem like the best because he was smarter. I only yearned for your love, but you were busy trying to train Rad always. But now Rad is Father’s worst, all thanks to his ambitions, and I have earned a place in his heart.I thought you’d be kind to me these last few days, but it’s obvious you have never loved me. I didn’t want to lose you without a little bit of love,” Redo expressed, his voice breaking.

The queen’s feeble hands trembled; she tried to touch Redo.

“The only joy of a mother is to see her children united. Since you were born, you have always made your relationship with Rad a competition. I know you’re the one who betrayed him in the course of trying to please your father… You are not the son I gave birth to; Rad will always be my favourite… I’m sorry… I will die knowing that one day he will come and clean up you and your father’s mess.”

Redo’s face contorted in anger; he felt the weight of her disapproval established on him, and he walked out of the room.

A servant, who waited outside the queen’s chambers, bowed respectfully and informed him the king requested his presence.

Redo agreed and followed the servant to the throne room.

His father, the alpha, stood beside a platform, which had a glittering crystal on it.

“Redo, my only son and next alpha to the Nine clans, come over here,” he commanded, his voice low and full of mischief.

As Redo approached him, he began, his voice calm and entranced.

“In a forgotten era, humans, werewolves, and witches coexisted. But humans, weak and fragile, shrunk under our dominance."

The Alpha’s eyes sparkled with hunger for power.

He paced to the throne and settled on it.

“The humans sought independence, as they believed the powerful took advantage of their weakness. The world turned into chaos as the werewolves and witches clashed to have dominion… But a werewolf stood firm and fought for humanity’s sake, with the help of a white unicorn named Miral, who led the other Unicorns."

Redo listened attentively, fascinated by the story.

“Some humans fled eastward and found refuge in a barrier created by Miral; unfortunately, the war ended.

The Alpha, with the help of Miral, was able to subside the war and bring peace to the earth. The witches created a capital kingdom north, although there are some of them who found refuge in caves in other regions of the earth. The werewolves created their kingdom West, which is the Nine clans; some humans sought refuge with them in the lower citadel.

And the humans found refuge in the east, and it is believed that Unicorns dwell in the south. The humans believe in the Unicorns and worship them as their gods and goddesses,”

The Alpha’s expression contorted in disgust.

“But I crave true power, and that is by having dominion over it all. I shall rule over the world as a whole and extend our kingdom."

The alpha leaned forward, in a conspiratorial tone.

“My late brother and his counsel opposed this vision of mine, but I’m glad, as I took over, I have achieved a lot, which makes me close to my glory."

The alpha shared with Redo his plans to discover the other seven crystals, as they contained great power and would make him stronger to achieve his ambitions.

“I can’t achieve this on my own, Redo; that is why I have you as my heir. Together we will rule the world. I have discovered the third crystal is in Healior, a place of answers. The witches there possess it, and I want you to retrieve it for me. Do not fail me.”

Redo, excited to be acknowledged and trusted on such a mission, knelt and thanked his father for finding him worthy and promised not to disappoint him.