Clementine Book 2

Last Minute Decision

CLEMENTINE

I never thought that one day my father would call me because no one from Big Bear Lake has called me since I left. Not even my brother Alex. I occasionally spoke to my mother, Kalisto. I have kept this phone just in case something terrible happens.

“Clementine,” my father says, “You have to come back.”

That is the only sentence my father told me over the phone. Apparently, he couldn't talk longer because he didn't want anyone to hear him talking to me. He did not tell me exactly that, but I just assumed. Otherwise, why would he just tell me to come back and hang up?

The next morning, I did the usual thing—make breakfast for my baby. It is actually really weird because I always thought I would have kids with Ivan, my ex-mate. But even when I was with him, a voice inside me told me that that would never happen. I do not know if it was the fact that Helia already told me that phoenixes can only be mated to other phoenixes or that the Moon Goddess had made a mistake. But a goddess cannot make a mistake, and I am certain of that.

It was a lesson. A lesson for me to learn from. A lesson not to trust even your mate. A message that I would never have a mate because if I did, I would have met him by now. Well, I kind of did… but he rejected me for being a witch.

“Maman!” Bella calls, pulling me away from my mind. I am grateful for her because I tend to go very deep into my thoughts that it would be hard for me to come back to reality.

“Yes?”

“J'ai rêvé d'une fille! I dreamed of a girl!” she replies, making me huff.

“English, Bella!”.

I hear her footsteps coming to the kitchen. “I dreamed of a girl,” she says fluently, pronouncing the R in a French accent.

“A girl? What girl?” I ask, kneeling in front of her.

“Je ne sais pas…,” she starts, but immediately shifts to English, “I don't know.”

“Did she tell you something?” I ask. Normally, humans would disregard those things, but supernatural beings do not.

“Non. She just looks at moi,” she replies, looking sad.

“Why are you sad, baby?” I ask, caressing her cheek.

“Je veux la voir, I want to see her,” she mumbles, sadly.

“Helia, could it be her biological mother?”

“I hope not, or else I'll kill her.”

“Don't worry, Bella. I am sure we will see her soon,” I smile, making her nod and smile. She is such a good kid.

After she ate her breakfast, Bella and I went to the local garden. I gave permission for Helia to roam the lonely sky, as we went to have some fun at the garden. She would meet us there.

“Maman?” Bella starts, and I nod for her to continue. “Why don't we have a family like Sandra and Mathew?”

Sandra and Mathew are two siblings in our building. They have a very big family, and Bella always spends time with them whenever their mother allows them.

“We do, Bella. But they do not live in France.”

“Where do they…l-live?” She struggles to say the word live, but nevertheless, nails it.

“In the United States,” I simply say.

“When je…I see them?” she asks.

“I don't know. Maybe soon,” I smile, playing with a strand of her hair.

***

We go back home, and Helia is nowhere to be seen. I have a feeling in my stomach that is not going away. Bad feeling. I just hope that she is okay because I do not feel a strong connection with her.

I put Bella to bed after eating her dinner. It is late, and Helia is still not here.

“Helia, where are you?”

No response.

“Helia?”

Still, no response.

I start to get more worried for some reason because I have never felt this way before. She seems so far away.

All of a sudden, I heard her squeak. I looked behind me only to find her standing on my dresser. “Where the hell have you been?” I say out loud.

“Calm down. I am okay.”

“Where were you?” I decided to speak from within because I do not want Bella to wake up.

“Home.”

“Home?!” I exclaim.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Clem, we need to go back like your father said.”

“Tell me! What the fuck is happening?”

“The werewolves are not the strongest anymore. The vampires have risen up, establishing an empire, and the witches as well. Your mother is their leader”

“What about the vampires?”

“They are called the Acherons. Very powerful vampires.”

“So, what does that have to do with me?” I ask, pacing around my room.

“Your brother Alex is going to war with the witches, meaning your mother. I assume he still doesn't know that she is your mother. They are all going to war with one another. You have to stop them.”

“How can I stop them, Helia?”

“You can make the werewolves and witches unite like you were asked to do a long time ago and attack the vampires.”

“I would never willingly attack the vampires; Helia, and you know why!”

“I understand that Bella is part-vampire, but you should do something. You have to go back. If you didn't do anything, everyone is going to die. Your family is going to die!”

Fuck.

I am fucked.

But how can I go home, knowing that I am not welcome? I can always stay with my mother, which I will do, but I have to visit the pack house. I have to see my father and brother. But I know I will not be welcomed. Ivan could still be there.

“Did you see Ivan?” I asked Helia, hoping she would say no.

“I did. He looks different, almost too aggressive.”

“Nothing new.”

“But that shouldn't stop you from going back.”

“I cannot take Bella when she’s defenseless. I have to activate one of her powers.”

“You are not suggesting to?…”

“I am. Since I cannot let her kill someone to activate her werewolf side, I will have to kill her myself to activate her vampire side,” I reply.

Clementine Book 2

Last Minute Decision

CLEMENTINE

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