Chapter 402: Reunion
"Here goes nothing," Nedra whispered to herself and glanced sideways at August as the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing the hall that led along the backside of the glass rooms of inner containment.
"How many rooms are there?" August asked, eyes going wide as she beheld the transparent rooms that wrapped around an ancient-looking tree. There was obviously no privacy here. It was heartbreaking.
"Most of the rooms are empty, but I think there must be two dozen alyko here," Nedra answered in a hushed voice.
"So we have to circle around and stare at each one of them? That seems intrusive," she muttered, though there was no way around it. August was worried to see the state that these captives were in, as they were apparently shuttered away here, despite access to the sky, and left to their own devices.
They followed the glass hallway, glancing in to the rooms where each alyko stared out, curious as to why they were there. They were all aware of who Nedra was, but this young blonde female with the gold eyes next to her was new. August was increasingly uncomfortable about how much this seemed like a zoo, and she was one of the visitors observing creatures who were kept safely contained behind glass.
"Can’t we just... free them all? What would the lycans really do, Nedra? You are you, and I am... well, I don’t know what I am, but I’m sure I could back you up somehow," she said.
"No, it’s out of the question," she hissed, but then her steps froze as they came upon the next room.
A young boy with raven hair and bright green eyes was sitting cross-legged on the floor next to the glass of his neighbor’s room. He turned to look at who was walking by, and then he quickly got to his feet.
"Sage?" August gasped and ran to press her hands against the glass. "Nedra, let him out," she said, turning to find Nedra still frozen in place and pale staring at the small boy.
Sage’s face brightened at the familiar face of his Luna who was safe and out freely walking around. That could only be a good sign. Once he caught sight of the female behind her, his smile fell and he walked forward to get a closer look. This face was so familiar as well, but he had no memory of ever actually seeing her.
"Sage," Nedra whispered and walked forward, fumbling to open the door to his room that required only a flourish of her hand. She had created these cages, so she could open them without a key.
Once the glass door slid open, she sunk to her knees on the floor in front of him, reaching up to touch his face—his precious face that she had not seen since he was a newborn.
"Oh beautiful boy, look at you. You have grown," she said, choking on her words as sobs wanted to overwhelm them. This was her son. This was her precious son who she had sacrificed—sent out into the world with his sister in order to keep him safe. And yet he had ended up back here.
"Mother?" he said softly, afraid that if he said the sacred word aloud she might vanish like she did from his dreams. That is the same reason why he didn’t reach up to touch her—only let himself be explored and caressed by her hands—his mother’s hands. His mother’s face. His mother’s smile that was slowly blooming on her face and winning over the stunned expression.
Nedra ran her hands over his silky hair that had grown so long and thick. It was still black—he had so much of it when he was born, just a mess of black hair resting atop the blanket he was bundled in when she passed him to Selah that final time. But she had never seen his green eyes. They were a deep blue when he was born.
"You are too skinny," she chuckled, wrapping her arms around his waist and drawing him into her at last.
Once she felt his small body against her own where their hearts were able to speak to each other like they had not been able to for such a long time, Nedra’s sobs finally won—finally broke free and spilled out onto her son’s shirt, but she clutched him tighter when finally his hands wrapped around her and she felt him clinging onto her like he was afraid she would disappear.
August stood in the doorway, hand pressed against her lips as she watched this precious scene unfold. Sage had been deprived of a relationship with his mother because of the vampire and this insane portal world. It wasn’t fair—her sweet Sage. She couldn’t understand how Nedra would have sent him away and kept her distance all of these years. Did she truly believe her work for Zagan was that important? Was she that terrified of what the vampire would do to those she loved? August wouldn’t have been able to stay away from her child. There was no doubt in her mind that she would have lost that battle with herself.
"Oh, my sweet boy. Are you okay? Did they do anything to you?" Nedra asked, running her hands along him again as if she were checking for wounds or injuries of any kind. "Did they test you?"
"No, I am fine. I have not been here long," he said, a small smile on his face as his eyes stayed glued to her, taking in every detail of her appearance. She looked like an older version of Selah with longer hair. There were two small lines between her eyebrows and small lines next to her eyes. When she wasn’t smiling, her lips curved down into a natural frown.
"Thank the Goddess," she sobbed. "He has not tested you?"
Sage shook his head silently, an unmistakable hint of sadness making its way back to his features.
"What it is? Are you not well? Don’t worry, I am going to find a way to get you out of here," she rushed the words, wishing to reassure him as quickly as she could. She would not let anything happen to him. He was too precious, and he was too important.
"You are unhappy here," he said in a small voice, one hand rising to touch her cheek. "You should not be here either, mother."
Nedra’s forehead cleaved and her eyes squeezed shut to push back the tears and the truth that he was seeing so clearly on her face. She didn’t want to admit it to him, because such a young person should not worry about things like that.
"I do what I must, Sage. I’m sorry it has kept me away from you," she shook her head free from the abyss of sadness that would pull her down if she let it.
