CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO
I've always been a shy person but when push comes to shove, I kind of navigate around it.

Right now? I wasn't navigating.

I was standing like a deer caught in headlights while Alaric introduced me to his mother.

I smiled at the endearing words he used to describe me but inside me, I was so terrified.

The woman lived at a time when women were burned at stakes for being able to knit properly, there's no way she's going to like someone like me.

I was butchering myself in my head when she suddenly grabbed me in a tight hug, her tears pouring down my shoulders.

“Thank you so much,” she cooed, “you've saved me and my son and I can never be grateful enough,” she added.

I noticed that her English, although with an Albanian accent was modern.

Maybe he kept her busy with TV or something.

“I am so happy you're out of there in one piece, I can't imagine what you must have been through in there,” I told her, moving back to really look at her.

She's definitely better than every beauty standard out there right now, and with a few wardrobe changes, she'll be just like us; no one would know she'd been traumatized by the devil himself.

“My daughter, we're not going to remember the past,” she replied with a smile, yet a lone tear sprang free. I took her back in a hug, holding back tears myself.

I've experienced being held hostage by men at different times and I know how terrible it is. She's definitely a strong woman for sure.

“We'll do just that, I'll get your room set up, and let me know if you need anything, okay?”

“You don't have to stress yourself, baby; Kora's going to get that fixed up,” Alaric interrupted a proud smile on his face.

“Oh no, don't disturb her, they're going out to celebrate the victory. I'll do it; it's no big deal; all the rooms are already cleaned up. I'm just getting her food and some clothes from my wardrobe. Ma, are you comfortable sleeping alone?”

“Yes, please,” she chuckled at that, “I haven't slept by myself in years. But you have to put a different type of protection here; he is always walking into places he's not welcomed,” she replied.

At that moment, I realized she didn't really hate him.

She was just tired.

If he wasn't such a controlling asshole, they would have been in love; they were soulmates, after all.

I could imagine how everything he did to her hurt so much more than normal because this is someone who's supposed to love you right regardless. They have a child together and instead of basking in the peace and glow that a baby brings, he cuts her off from her and imprisons her basically.

“Alright dear, I'll be back,” I told them and stood up.

Alaric dragged me back to him and kissed me on the cheek, that was my doing because of how shy I was, he was going for my lips and I shifted it so quickly my eyes bulged

He chuckled as I ran off to get the room ready.

I was walking out of the room when I ran into Kora and some of my demons.

Yeah, they're mine now, and it feels so wholesome having people who care about you without any reason.

“You're really not interested in hanging out with us?” She asked, already tipsy from what I could see.

“Naa,” I shook my head, “I'm feeling tired. Max, please get me one guy and one Fallen who can stay back to guard this room for the night, okay?” I told one of them and I walked away.

I got back to them and they were still talking, probably catching up on all the years they'd missed. I'm sure they'll have stories to tell for the next decade even though Alaric lived quite a boring life.

It made me wonder what I was going to do with all the time I suddenly had now.

I realized how the gift of immortality has started affecting me. I walked slower now, with no more sense of urgency to achieve much; I was no longer obsessed with schooling as much because, hey, I have so much time in my hands, too much if you ask me. Somehow, I feel like I'm going to get bored.

But I would rather focus on now, at the beautiful view before me where a mother and son were reunited because of me, the love of my life smiling so deeply it warmed me from the inside.

He stood up as I walked into the room and helped his mother up.

I'd placed food in her bedroom and gotten a bath ready.

“Is she injured?” I asked, wondering why she wasn't walking by herself.

“It's nothing,” she waved it off and made great efforts to not rely on her son.

Alaric gave me a look that said to not press further and I nodded.

I shot a quick text to Kiara, though; some of her healing water would come in handy.

I waited for her to come to meet me while Alaric helped her walk inside.

“Hey, I got your text,” Kiara said quickly, panting from the race she took to get here. Her sudden switch in personality still has me in stitches, “what's wrong? Are you alright?”

“Yeah, it's not for me. It's Alaric's mom,” I replied, taking the balm from her hand. “Thanks by the way,” I said, giving her a smile before leaving.

It took me a while to discover it wasn't the water that was the healing quality but something they added into it.

It disappeared into the water, leaving no trace, and seeped into your body, repairing everything that needed repairs.

I took it with me and followed after them, smiling as he helped her sit down at the table in the room so she could eat.

I went ahead and added the balm to the water and came back out.

“I'll never forgive Lucifer for denying me this privilege of watching my child take care of me,” she sobbed and I quickly rushed to hug her.

I wasn't good at comforting people so all I could do was hold her as she cried, cleaning her eyes and totally unable to say anything.

Afterwards, I cleaned up where she ate and we left her to bathe and go to bed.

“Call us if you need anything okay? Even if you just want to talk or… not talk,” I rattled off nervously.

“Thank you so much, Aria. You're worth it all,” she murmured with a deep look in her eyes.

We headed back to our own room after I dropped off the plates in the kitchen while Alaric loaded them in the dishwasher.

Things might not be perfect yet, but there was a bright feeling in the air that I was happy about.

We'll get there someday.