NEL:

The ground was covered in frost.

It crunched with every step I took - and I could already feel my feet starting to turn blue. It was freezing - there were no birds, or any sign of life for that matter.

Which - for a graveyard - was normal, but I honestly expected some kind of crow or something to appear and sit on a branch of a tree, but nothing did. No life form dared to show its face. Something was off.

I shook my head. I didn't want to deal with this right now - whatever this was.

After making sure there was no one around, I undid the invisibility spell. My wings would now be visible to the world. When the spell is in place - I can't use my wings. It seems to have a 'disabling' affect... or... something...

I don't know - I didn't study the reasons and stuff of magic, I just use it. That's all.

I wrapped my wings around myself. Hell, it was so cold. I just prayed that the feathers would warm me up - I didn't want to freeze to death because of some stupid metaphor of 'facing your demons' or some shit.

I entered the mausoleum. My mother had been buried here rather than with the rest because of her 'status'. She was a Spell Seeker. In more modern terms - a Kingdom's most esteemed 'angelica maleficus'.

Or, eh, witch.

They'd placed the graves in hierarchical order.

Kings, Queens and Sorcerers. Other Nobility. Merchants, Warriors and Scholars. Skilled folk.

Unskilled folk, peasants, slaves and serfs were never buried. They were burned in a huge ceremony after the war.

The war.

God, I shouldn't have come here. All these memories are coming back - everything is coming back.

I held back tears. I can't stay here for long. I would loose all my composure that way. I would loose what little strength I had left.

I stepped out. The wind bit at my face and clawed at my wings. I shouldn't have come here.

I should've stayed in bed. I shouldn't have come here - I should have-

"Stayed at home?" A voice whispered.

I spun around in fright.

Oh Lord. Please.

*****

NATHAN:

After all these years - she comes here now?

"What the hell are you doing here?"

I shrugged. Could have asked you the same thing.

"Just chilling, I guess. What about you? Muttering to yourself in a desert graveyard? Sounds pretty shady if you ask me. Not that you ever do."

"That was one time. Ok? One time - it didn't even have anything to do with you, it was my own business. You didn't have to get involved-"

"Oh really! Was I supposed to just watch you mess up your life? Make so many mistakes that you wouldn't be able to fix them? Let you continue lying - to our elders of all people. If they'd caught you-" my voice caught. If they'd caught her.

There was a silence.

"Look, I'm sorry-" I began, but she interrupted me.

"No Nathan, I'm sorry. I'm the reason you're - you're... Different. It's all my fault! If I'd just got the balls to own up then maybe this -" she gestured to the graveyard "- all of this would never have happened."

She whispered "Maybe mom..."

She broke down. She was sobbing - tears running down her face, but I knew there was nothing I could do to stop this. To stop her tears.

But I wish there was.

****

Hi.

Hope this isn't too bad. Hope it's better.

This didn't confuse anyone - right? I'm so sorry guys, I feel like my writing can be really confusing at times and I just want to make sure. 💚

I hope ya'll enjoyed. All will be revealed... Soon...

Please vote, comment - feedback is really appreciated. ☺️

Stay safe.

~ K 🍫