Chapter 66 Chapter 66
Repentance and regret
Edina shepherd's POV.
"These people are so evil," I whispered to Katana, who was also paralyzed with fear from the stranger calling herself Queen Zita who had confidently strolled into Jacob's territory without an invite.
The protection spell I cast did not work because my grandson lay on the floor wounded. My intuition told me to cast a powerful protection spell on the park and Jacob as soon as I returned from the great Oracle.
Pythia had told me not to intrude but who am I not to protect my only remaining bloodline… I glanced around the room while a cold sweat trickled from the tempo of my skull.
The first instinct in my mind is that I'm slowly forfeiting my ability to perform any sustainable spell to ward off evil beings such as Queen Zita.
The peculiar hag just flickered her fingers toward my Jacob and he carelessly tumbled to the floor… The aura she possessed was the strongest I had ever encountered, second to pythias' and it felt like what Bella exhibited when I first met her.
I sighed heavily while I stumbled dangerously backward. katana my assistant, halted me from impairing my back against the hard surfaced wall.
"Mistress, careful… what do we do next?" She asked in the banquet hall with hundreds of wolves who snarled loudly.
The mood in the room was getting uneasy and one wrong move from either Jacob or queen Zita would erupt great doom for all of us.
"Katana, let's get out of this place." I stretched out my hand to her so she could assist me in swiftly walking out of there unnoticed. The room was too dreadful for an old-timer like me. I would rather die a natural death than at the hands of this mysterious woman whose powers I had no idea of.
My feet swiftly sauntered as fast as possible. Katana held up the hum of the red shroud I wore as we ascended upstairs to my room and locked the door as soon as we entered it.
"Katana, pack everything. I do not ever want to return to this godforsaken cursed land. Jacob needs to be strong on the problems he brought himself upon." I realized for the first time that sometimes one needed to back off from another's fight in order to gain peace.
"Yes, mistress." katana immediately did as told. She was a brilliant person when it came to heeding my orders without question.
I scampered into the bathroom and stripped off the red ceremonial cloak used when performing the futile spell and turned on the shower faucets, in readiness for a bath.
Thank you diviner for today's divulgence. I heaved a sigh before stepping into the shower for an overdue cleanup.
Hours later after things had quieted down, I was still pacing back and forth in my room while katana sat quietly on a chair in my room.
How was I going to make amendments with Jacob? My heart felt torn between my voracious desires and Jacob with his new influential mate, who had somehow managed to summon to her long-lost mighty mother.
"Mistress, do we just give up on Jacob and the pack?" Her face was pale as though she had seen a ghost.
I stopped and peeked at her with my heart racing wildly. I sighed heavily.
"Katana, this place is doomed... Our presence here will only make things worse for everyone." I lied to her because I felt embarrassed to admit my wickedness in this crisis.
I split up my family for ludicrous reasons and now I sorrowed the consequences. I bowed my head in defeat...
Queen Zita came back for her daughter even after so many years of absence, a thing I could never bring myself to do.
"I don't understand mistress." katana's words brought me back to reality and then I peeked at her. She unraveled her favorite all-black outfit from neck to toe. I chortled.
"With Jacob housing such people in the pack, this can only mean his downfall," I responded while butterflies flustered my stomach.
My grandson's choice of mate was going to be the end of him along with his pack if he inclined towards a war Queen zita…
"So do we just leave without saying anything?" She raised an important question about me finally saying my last farewells.
"In as much as that idea sounds great, saying my goodbyes will be best for me because knowing Jacob, he will worry until he finds out I'm safe and sound."
"Your right mistress. I remember that time when he was still mated to that Avery girl you hated so much and just left quietly…he came looking for you in your shrine with his shoes on his feet." Katana chuckled with pleasure.
I choked off a laugh and then sighed softly. Katana was right, the boy came running into my shrine with his shoes, even though he knew that my spirits did not entertain such demeanor and interrupted my somber moment trance… My spirits were furious for days because of his rude interruption, and I had to appease them with a blood sacrifice.
"Fine, but take all the bags to the car as I say my goodbye." I got hold of my walking stick I used most of the time when my legs would not cooperate with my body at times. I'm old and age was slowly catching up with me.
"Right away mistress." Katana toiled to carry the biggest bag I possessed.
With hesitant steps, I walked into the quiet hallway to Jacob's bedroom. When I got to the door, I could hear Jacob and Bella's faint voices… I took a long deep breath in and exhaled silently. I hope he permits me to have an audience with him one last time. I coiled my hand and very gingerly knocked on their door, expecting the worst treatment from both of them because of the little mishap I attempted to perform in the banquet hall earlier.
As soon as I knocked, the voices ceased talking while I dreaded the dead response. Did this mean my presence was no longer needed??? my knees trembled with thoughts of rejection.
You deserve it, Edina. You brought this upon yourself...
Seconds later, just as I was about to give up on my wait, Jacob finally broke the silence and responded to my knock.
"Who is there?" His deep authoritative voice projected.
"It is I, your grandma." My eyes widened with excitement. I beamed because deep down I knew that my Jacob would never disappoint me, the only blood family left. I sighed softly then placed my hand on the doorknob while waiting on his response… seconds passed again while I waited for a go-ahead to enter his room, but the dead silence lingered in my ears.
What is going on? Does he not want to speak to me? I furrowed my brows.
More seconds went by without a response and I knew if I don't state my purpose for the visit he would not allow me entry.
"Jacob, I want to say my goodbyes before I leave." I knew if he heard of my departure, he would run to the door and open it for me.
But he did not… this was very old and I did not expect this from him.
Could it be that Bella was talking him out of seeing me? My heart sank into my guts while I bowed my head in defeat… this little girl had managed to entice my Jacob to go against me. Tears prickled in the corner of my eyes as I contemplated walking away without saying my goodbyes.
Bella had won the silent battle in Jacob's heart. I swallowed hard then turned to walk away.
"Nana, come in. " Jacob eventually called out to me and my heart raced wildly with excitement while a smile radiated on my face.
My grandson did not hate me. I hurriedly open twisted the doorknob and walked into the room.
Jacob was seated on the bed with an emotionless face while Bella positioned herself by a doorframe, entry into their bathroom.
"Nana, please take a seat." Jacob pointed out to the dark wooden bedroom chair next to the bed he sat on.
I toiled with my walking stick because of a sudden sharp pain my hip bone was experiencing.
"Thank you, but I won't stay long because katana must be waiting for me… let me just state the purpose of my visit and take my leave."
Just by peeking at their faces, I knew I was a bother at that moment, hence the best way to rip off the badge and say my goodbye.
"What do you mean, Nana?"
"Well my boy, this is the last you will see of me."
"Why Nana?" his face indicated slight signs of gloom.
"Because my presence here is no longer needed."
I caught a sneak glimpse of Bella nodding her head in agreement with my departure. I hooded my eyes with remorse... This was all my doing because I pushed too hard.
"Okay. I will not stop you. Thank you for your visit." He responded so coldly as though he was waiting for this news.
The least he would have done was pretend to still want me around. I sighed softly.
"Okay, and Bella." I turned my attention to her emotionless face. " I'm sorry for everything I have done to you intentionally." My apologies were genuine because she was a creature not to get in bad books with.
Bella gave me a single cold nod of her head then excused herself into the bathroom without saying a word to me.
"Her aura is very powerful. Keep her calm at all times." I whispered to Jacob who responded with a frown.
"Nana, thank you for your unannounced visit but I think it's time for you to leave." He swiftly got up from the bed and sauntered closer to me then gave me a warm reassuring embrace.
"I love you Nana, but I suggest you let me be with whom the goddess has chosen for me." He broke off the hug, then turned his head to my face and very lightly grazed his lips on my forehead.
"I love you too my boy." I looked up at him and then lovingly placed my palm on his cheek… at least he still loved me with all my imperfect flaws.
"Take care of each other," I said.
He beamed with a twinkle in his eyes.
I smiled too and hesitantly walked away from their room into the hallway. With reluctant steps, I walked downstairs and my eyes came to a stop when I saw my son's portrait hanging above my head... I had not paid attention to it when I visited.
I sighed heavily with droopy shoulders.
I'm sorry my boy. I quickly looked away and a pang of guilt swelled in my heart.
My son was Jacob's father. I denied motherly love because of my then selfish sentiments of being a powerful witch, which had not gone as planned for me in the past wasted years.
How was I to redeem myself? I got to the car and then glanced at the mansion one last time before I left for a pathetic life of sorcery.
How did I let go of my once-perfect life in exchange for a miserable life of loneliness? A tear trickled down my cheek, which I immediately rubbed off and got into the car.
"Driver takes us back home," I uttered the most dreadful words at that moment because given a second chance, I would choose family over power any day.