The first thing I was aware of as consciousness returned was the fact I lay in a bed. Crisp sheets rustling against my skin as my breathing had it steadily rising and falling. The second thing was that somewhere close to my head there was a hum of a machine. A soft rhythmic bleeping accompanied it and that alone was almost enough to lull me back to comfortable unconsciousness once more.

Blinking once, I winced at the stark, bright whiteness and lights in the room. "You're awake!" A voice somewhere to my left said as I blinked again and tried to bring the world into focus, "Oh yeah, one second, let me get the lights."

There was movement and the next time I opened my eyes, it wasn't quite so blinding. "How are you feeling?"

My head turned painfully slowly to allow me to take in the slight form waiting patiently at my side and bring them into focus. "Nancy?"

She forced a smile. "The one and only. You had us all worried for a bit there."

I struggled to pull myself into a sitting position, wincing as I put pressure on my cut hand. A cursory glance confirmed it had been bandaged up as Nancy hurried to arrange the pillows comfortably around me.

"How long have I been out?" I asked, my voice an awkward croak from lack of use.

"Four days. We've made sure there was always someone with you the whole time. I didn't want you to wake up alone and freak out." Her voice wobbled at the end and tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. I should have stayed with you."

The tears began to slip unchecked down her cheeks as I watched her with alarm, "It's ok. I'm fine. You were there for me when no one else was and that counts for something." I reassured her.

"So you forgive me?" She asked hopefully.

I shook my head. "There's nothing to forgive."

Her arms wrapped around me in a tight hug that had my aching body protesting, but I didn't fight it. I would never admit it out loud, but I needed that hug more than I realised.

"No, if anyone should be apologising, it's me." A quiet voice said from the door frame.

I looked up at Enzo as he approached. "Hey."

"Hey." His lips turned up into a smile he clearly didn't quite feel. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I found out I'm not human and ate a couple of souls whilst fighting a vampire." I replied dryly.

His laugh was genuine this time. "So, an average day, then?"

"Seems like it around here."

His gaze dropped as he played with some bits of paper in his hands. "I think I need to apologise for how I treated you. I know sorry isn't enough considering the way I behaved, so I decided to do some digging into your past whilst you were out and... I found some things if you're up to hearing about it?"

I opened my mouth. Was I ready? We had just gone from apologising to discussing my genetics in under ten seconds, and my mind was reeling.

"I... well, there's no time like the present, I guess." I gulped back my nerves and sat up a little straighter.

Enzo nodded, a grim expression on his face as though he wasn't exactly relishing sharing the news he was about to. "They had already worked out roughly who your mother might be, but my mother was able to find her and her family using your energy signature. I don't know if you know, but your mother was killed in an attack years ago. They never found you, but they presumed you were dead as well."

My eyes closed for a moment. I had always suspected it. The memories from that time were fuzzy as I had waited for her to come home and eventually accepted she wasn't going to. Even back then, I had known that she would never leave me if she had a choice.

If she could have come back, she would. In fairness, dying was a pretty solid reason for letting me down.

Enzo cleared his throat. "There's something else."

I swallowed hard and opened my eyes to look at him again. "Isn't there always?"

"Your mother has a sister, and she asked me to give you this." He held out an envelope from between the bits of paper he held. "I was just going to leave it here for when you woke up, but you decided to be awake for once." He offered a lopsided smile.

I couldn't force myself to match his smile this time, as I accepted the faded envelope. "What is it?"

"It's a letter your mum left with her in case anything ever happened. She said she was supposed to raise you and give you it when you were old enough, but they never managed to find you."

My fingers played with the weird unfamiliar wax seal on the back as I let that news sink in.

"We will leave you to read it." Nancy said softly, and I looked up to see her tugging Enzo's arm and leading him to the door.

Something about the touch was different to how it had been before, and despite the riot of emotions tearing through me, I raised a brow. Nancy gave a small smile in response and shrugged. Something was going on between them.

I was glad. Relieved that out of all the chaos and near-death experiences, at least someone was getting the happy ever after moment they deserved.

The door shut behind them with a muffled click, and I was able to fully return my attention to the letter. The final words my mother left me, scrawled in a pretty swirling font across the off white paper.

My darling Erica

If you are reading this letter, it means I am no longer here, and it breaks my heart to think of you alone in this world. Though truly, you will never be alone, you just don't know it yet. My sister will take such good care of you. I know she will protect you from those who wish you harm until you are ready to face the world I have spent so long hiding from you.

I suppose you might be wondering why anyone would wish you harm. I've kept a secret from you Erica, a secret which I hoped to keep for as long as possible so you could come into your powers and learn to protect yourself.

We are not human. There are creatures out there. The things I told you only existed in stories are real. We are fae, Erica. I wish you could have known the things I knew growing up. To learn our history and our joy and our magic, as you should.

I made a mistake, my darling. I was working in a fae royal home and got caught up in the glitz and glamour of it all. Your father was a lord who moved in circles with many higher witches, shifters and vampires. It was foolish, but I fell in love and then he cast me aside. I don't think he meant to be cruel, but he was used to a world of people bending to his will.

I heard things, learnt far more than I should have before I discovered I was pregnant with you. I heard the rumours about the soul queen nearing the end of her life and did everything I could to avoid her.

Until one evening she saw me in the hallway and looked at me, and I knew. Every generation three banshees are born, just as the others pass. She grabbed my arm and told me. "Run. Run and protect her. This world will not be kind to her, and you must keep her safe until she can fight back."

I didn't think I just ran. Whether it was an order, she gave me or something else, I couldn't stop. I have done everything I possibly could to shield you from that world.

If you now find yourself in it, or will do in the not too distant future, all I can say is trust your instincts, know your worth and remember, no one out there can break you unless you let them. You're so much stronger than you know, my love, and I only wish I was there to help you through it.

Forgive me for lying, forgive me for making you bind your own powers, and forgive me for leaving you. I never would have if I had a choice.

Always and forever

Your Mother

Ps. I have enclosed your Father's name in case you decide you would like to know him.

I didn't realise I was crying until a hand offered me a tissue at the corner of my vision.

I hadn't heard anyone come in, but I took it gratefully and wiped my eyes before looking at the person who offered it. Nancy gave me a watery smile and with a sob, I let her envelope me in another hug.

My mother had worried about me being alone and helpless in a world I did not understand. And for a time, I was.

But now?

I am not alone, or afraid, or helpless. I may not understand exactly what I am, but I know who I am matters far more than what I can do.

I don't know how long I cried in her arms. I cried until there was nothing left in me and my heart ached for what I had lost.

"What happened to everyone?" I croaked out when I finally calmed.

"Everyone?"

My tear-stained cheeks flush red. "Blake?" I asked.

She gave a knowing smile. "He's fine. His family, however, are less happy. They've been detained pending an investigation and his mother was stripped of her council seat. From what I hear, she has been kicking up quite the fuss too."

He's ok. The relief that rushes through me at that knowledge seems crazy when I think about what he lied about and hid from everyone. Whether he was forced not to tell anyone by his sister, I still can't help the feeling that he could have done something, done more to protect people from her.

"He's outside. He's been here every day you have."

Her quiet words have my eyes drifting to the closed door. Despite my annoyance at him, my heart beats harder knowing he's nearby.

Mind made up, I struggle to get out of the bed. "Help me fix myself up. I want to see him."