Sore Subject

Miranda stepped back and watched me closely, her eyes taking in every detail. The old hag looked to be in her late thirties, with dirty blonde hair and a few mean grey hairs. Yet I knew better. She was well over 400 years old. Sanity still in check. Late afternoon sun washed in from my open curtains, warming my back as Miranda prodded and poked my sides. She was looking for something she wouldn't find. There was never a physical sign that I was going over the edge. Everything was in my mind and it fucking sucked.

Although Miranda's magic was more nature based than my own, I had no other choice but to accept her tutelage. The elements and plants were her domain, even brewing shoddy potions with whatever herbs were on hand. But all the knowledge she had gathered over the last four-hundred year could be applied to all types of magic. Mine included. My powers surpassed hers by far, yet my parents insisted on her training me, mainly due to a limited amount of witches to be found within the world.

"You saw the figure again, didn't you?" Her voice was soft. Soothing. Another trick up her sleeve. It's a spell meant to calm. The little trick didn't have an effect on me, but I made her believe otherwise. To deflate her ego would just cause more concern. Miranda reported back to my parents about everything and if I told her the spell didn't work, it would cause for alarm. It meant my mind was quickly growing to a more dangerous level.

"It's more prominent lately. Everywhere I look. This time it spoke to me," I confessed and leaned forward, hugging my legs to my chest.

"Remember that it is but in your mind. A figment of your imagination. Don't let it rule you," she scolded and stood from her position behind me. "Other than you nearly killing your mother, something else I should know?" She asked curiously. There was nothing of importance that had happened in my life recently. I shook my head.

"Just the dread that I might one day succeed in killing my mother," I joked and looked over my shoulder at the woman. There was a frown on her face as her eyes dug into my own. "Come on! It is a little bit funny! The killer Queen's daughter kills her own mother, very poetic." I joked again and Miranda tsked in response. This wasn't a laughing matter to her, nor should it be to me, either.

"When you need something, just let me know. I will try and brew another sleeping potion for you. Your mom says you have trouble sleeping as of late."

"I will and I do. Thank you for suggesting it." Miranda nodded and left the room.

I hated authority more than anything, especially after years of being schooled and drilled and trained, but Miranda made the process of confiding in her a whole lot easier than with other people. Unlike my parents, excluding Luciana, she knew where I came from. Knew that our powers took a toll on us mentally. Whilst Luciana wasn't driven mad by her powers, she was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Bi-Polar Disorder only a few years ago. We were two sides of the same coin, but my other parents often forgot that she was much more fragile mentally than she appeared. That's why I could speak to her and Miranda more freely than others.

My door creaked open and I looked up to see my mother entering the room. The sheepish smile on her face told me that Julian had berated her again for pushing me. I hated that he thought of me as weak. Although he was right in some way. I could have ended my mother's life and while I may joke about it, I had fucked up royally. I smiled in return and tugged my shirt over my head. Miranda always insisted she inspect my entire body, unclothed, so that I couldn't hide anything. Sometimes I suspected she wanted to make sure I wasn't harming myself.

"I need to apologize," I started and scooted over to make place for my mother. She sat down and clasped my hands in hers. The warmth was welcomed, but her touching me meant that she was ridden with guilt that she couldn't fully let go of.

"I'm the one who needs to apologize, I took it too far. Pushed you too far." She looked down at our clasped hands and frowned. Her skin was so much whiter than my own. Usually wolves had such beautiful complexions. The spell I had cast all those years ago was fading and I was petrified to find out what lay for my mother at the end of this road.

"You don't need to say sorry. You are just trying to bring out the best in me. To have more control over what is inside of me. If anything, I should be grateful to you. You are trying to prepare me for the unthinkable and I know one day I will use all you have taught me." I replied and squeezed her hands. The smile I got made me happy beyond comparison.

"My worst fear is you drowning with all your demons, but know this, I am here for you whenever you need to speak about it. Even Miranda can help you. I know our support won't always be enough, but know that you have it."

"I know. You will always be here for me and I will always be here for you. That is who we are at essence. But your condition is worsening." I noted and ran a thumb over my mother's paper thing skin. Luciana blanched, but raised her chin, as if in defiance of what might become of her. Of what we thought might be her end.

"I am terribly sorry to bother you with this but it's time for another feeding. My... My body grows weaker. I don't know what else to do. But if you can notice it, so can everyone else and I don't want to cause hysteria within the palace walls." Her voice was small. She didn't like feeding off of me, but my magic sustained her. Every six months I would feed my mother to nourish her hybrid powers. This was the only way we knew how to combat her condition, although it had never restored her ability to have more children.

It's was only fitting that she needed to feed off of me. I was the product of her divine creation whilst she was the product of my divine magic. Together, no other bond was stronger. Not even glowing necklaces sown together by the muses. Together, we were a force to be reckoned with and I suspected everyone around us feared us for that reason.

"I think it's time we try the bath again. Last time it took you two years before you started fading. Please let's try it," I pleaded and looked her straight into the eyes. They were their normal blue hue, but I could see flecks of white dot them as well. She was fading faster than I could help her.

Luciana shook her head. "I won't risk you losing your control because of such a powerful spell. You are worth more to me than my own life and if this is the beginning of the end for me, I know it is just the start for you. Besides, it was the most painful experience I have ever endured. It feels like a thousand burning stars colliding with my skin all at once. Drowning in my own blood. Besides, we no longer have enemies to use." The last part was simply meant to lighten the mood. That was one thing we rejoiced over. The war was won and there were no more enemies lurking within our city.

I nodded. "But if you ever change your mind, I am here. I will always be here, mommy."

A tear formed in the corner of her eye as I extended my arm to her. There were a few matching little silver scars littered all over my arm. I could get rid of them but they reminded me of how much we needed each other. How much my mother meant to me. Even after all the years she had been away during my childhood, our bond was remarkable. None of my siblings felt so strongly towards Mikaela as I felt towards Luciana.

Just as she sank her fangs in, my door burst open and a fuming Mikaela walked in. Her eyes narrowed us down, glare almost killing us in the process. Luciana ripped her fangs from my arm and quickly wiped blood droplets from her mouth. Feeding was a personal affair and my other parents didn't know how frequently Luciana needed to be sustained.

"What were the two of you thinking? Pushing her that hard? Really Luciana?" Mikaela screamed and we both grimaced in response. This was not the time to do this. Luciana was already in a fragile state.

"Mamma, I-" but she cut me off with a hand. This was not a fight between the two of us, rather between the two of them. This won't end well.

"You know what happens when she gets pushed too far. Know what happens when she loses control. Couldn't you think for once, Luciana?"

"I am sorry that I had pushed her, but it is necessary. She needs to show me that she can handle herself." Luciana argued back, her eyes growing to slits.

"Well clearly she can't and clearly I can't trust you with her! You are reckless beyond belief. How can you run a country if you can't even look after your own daughter!"

That was something she shouldn't have said. Something I couldn't tolerate. She was still the Queen. Still someone the prophecy had chosen above all. Whether Mikaela liked it or not.

"I am doing what I think is best for our daughter!" Luciana screamed back, her back going ramrod straight as she faced off with my mom.

"Then you are obviously deluded if you think that is what is best for her. Do you not remember what your own father had done to you?" Luciana stiffened at Mikaela's words and I could feel dread settling into her bones. Luciana was nothing like Adrian, not even in the slightest. It is because of him that she wants me to train, to get ready for the throne. She had learned the hard way that unexpected things could happen at any moment.

"How dare you even hold that tone," I hissed and let my eyes bleed a radiant green. Witch eyes. My eyes. A sign that I was amongst the most powerful. Or so Miranda had taught me.

"This is no place for a child, Katharine. You do not understand the severity of the situation. If your father hadn't intercepted-"

"I would have killed her. I know. I said sorry. But don't blame that on her. It wasn't her. It was me. Now if you'll please go."

"I'm not done-"

"GO!" I yelled and Mikaela went skidding out into the hallway. The door shut in her face, but not before I saw the fury within her eyes. The betrayal. I would apologize later.

"I see a storm coming between the four mates again," Luciana mumbled, her eyes never leaving the door.

"There is always some tension between you four. Logically. Who in their right mind has three mates as opposed to just a pair?" I asked jokingly, wiggling my eyebrows.

Lucy rolled her eyes and leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Take a nap, you need it. We have much to plan after dinner. After all, your ball is in two days."

"And what of your feeding?"

"It can wait."