Chapter 171 Grandmother's Love
Mother Moonstone's POV
My countdown read: 14 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes.
Fourteen days until the Void claimed me. Until I died or became something worse.
But I refused to spend those days in fear.
"Come here, little Aurora," I called to my granddaughter. "Grandma has stories to tell."
Aurora shifted from dragon to human and ran to me. "Stories about Mama?"
"The best stories. About when she was young like you." I pulled out fabric I'd been sewing. A dress for Aurora. Delicate. Beautiful. "Did you know your mama used to sew clothes with me?"
"Really?"
"Really. She was terrible at first." I laughed, remembering. "Pricked her fingers constantly. But she never gave up. Kept trying until she was the best seamstress in our village."
"Mama never gives up," Aurora said proudly.
"Just like you won't." I touched the countdown on her forehead. "We're Moonstone women. We're strong."
But even as I said it, I felt my own countdown pulling. Draining. Weakening.
I had maybe hours before I'd be too sick to hide it from Aurora.
"Tell me more stories," Aurora begged.
So I did. Told her about Elara's childhood. About poverty. About hunger. About a little girl who protected her sister and mother despite having nothing.
"Mama was a hero even then," Aurora breathed.
"The greatest hero. Because she chose love over fear. Every single time."
Aurora climbed into my lap. "You're a hero too, Grandma. Mama says you sacrificed everything to keep her safe."
Tears filled my eyes. "I'd do it again. A thousand times."
"Even though it hurt?"
"Especially because it hurt. Love means protecting people even when it's hard."
Aurora hugged me tight. "I love you, Grandma."
"I love you too, little star."
I sewed while she watched. Creating beautiful dresses. Matching outfits for her three forms—human, dragon, and hybrid.
"These are amazing!" Aurora tried on the human dress. It shimmered with magic. "How did you make them change sizes?"
"Old Moonstone magic. Passed down through generations." I tied the final stitch. "Now they're yours. Part of our family legacy."
"Four generations," Aurora said softly. "Great-grandma. You. Mama. Me."
"Four generations of strong women," I corrected. "Who fought for what they believed in. Who protected their families. Who never gave up."
But my countdown accelerated suddenly.
13 days, 22 hours.
I gasped. Pain shot through my chest.
"Grandma?" Aurora's eyes widened. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sweetie. Just tired." I forced a smile. "Old age."
"You're not old. You're perfect."
If only that were true.
Over the next days, I spent every moment with Aurora. Telling stories. Sewing. Creating memories.
Because I had less than two weeks. And I wanted her to remember me.
To know she came from a line of strong women. Women who faced impossible odds and won.
But the countdown curse weakened me daily. I could barely stand by day ten.
"We need to tell Aurora," Elara said quietly. "She deserves to know."
"No. Let her be happy a little longer."
"She's not stupid. She knows something's wrong."
Elara was right. Aurora watched me constantly now. Worried. Scared.
That night, I finally told her the truth.
"The countdown on my forehead. It means I'm dying."
"No!" Aurora threw herself at me. "We'll find a cure! Like we always do!"
"Maybe. Maybe not." I held her close. "But either way, I need you to promise me something."
"Anything."
"Promise you'll remember our stories. Remember that Moonstone women are strong. That we fight. That we love." I kissed her forehead. "Promise you'll take care of your mama. And Aunt Lily. They'll need you."
"I promise," Aurora sobbed.
I held my granddaughter while she cried. Wishing I could protect her from this pain. From death. From loss.
But death comes for everyone eventually.
Some just sooner than others.
My countdown hit: 7 days, 0 hours, 1 minute.
The same as Lily's now.
We'd both die together. In one week.
Unless a miracle happened.
But I'd stopped believing in miracles long ago.
Then a messenger arrived. Urgent. Panicked.
"Your Majesties! The Western Coalition has sent an ultimatum!"
Elara took the letter. Read it. Her face went white.
"What?" I asked.
"They're threatening war. Demanding we dissolve our unity government. Control or eliminate all magical creatures." Her hands shook. "And they specifically mention Aurora. Say she's proof of why magical-human mixing must end. That she's an abomination who threatens pure humanity."
"They're calling my granddaughter an abomination?" Rage filled me despite my weakness.
"They're demanding we hand her over for 'study and containment.'" Elara crushed the letter. "Or they attack in thirty days."
Thirty days. Right when Aurora's power would manifest.
The Western Coalition had planned this perfectly. Attack when Aurora was most vulnerable. Most dangerous. Most valuable.
"We fight," Drakon said, appearing in the doorway. Eyes glowing gold with fury. "They want our daughter? They'll have to kill us first."
"They're bringing fifty thousand soldiers," the messenger added. "Plus siege weapons. Dark mages. Void-touched mercenaries they hired."
"How many do we have?" I asked.
"Twenty thousand. Maybe twenty-five with all our allies."
We were outnumbered two-to-one. With cursed Moonstone women losing strength daily. With Aurora's power about to manifest unpredictably. With enemies on all sides.
"We'll still win," Elara said fiercely. "Because they're fighting for hate. We're fighting for love. And love is always stronger."
I wanted to believe her. Wanted to think we'd survive this.
But my countdown read: 6 days, 23 hours, 47 minutes.
And I realized the horrible truth.
The Western Coalition's attack. The Void Empress's curse. Aurora's power manifestation.
They were all connected. All timed perfectly.
Someone had planned this. Coordinated everything to happen simultaneously.
Destroy the Moonstone bloodline. Capture Aurora. Eliminate unity forever.
"Who?" I whispered. "Who's behind all this?"
Then I saw her. In the window. Watching. Smiling.
Queen Morgana. Alive. Free. Powerful.
And beside her stood someone I recognized. Someone impossible.
My sister. The one who died thirty years ago. The one I thought Morgana's family had killed.
But she was alive. Void-corrupted. Working with Morgana.
"Helena?" I gasped. "You're alive?"
"Not alive, sister." Her voice echoed with void. "Reborn. Void-touched. And very, very angry you left me to die."
She raised her hand. All three countdowns accelerated.
Aurora: 14 days became 7 days.
Lily: 7 days became 3 days.
Me: 6 days became 1 day.
"You have twenty-four hours, sister," my corrupted twin said. "Then I claim your body. Use it to destroy everything you love. Starting with that precious granddaughter."
She vanished.
Leaving me with one day to live.
One day to stop my evil twin.
One day to save my family.
And absolutely no idea how.