Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 145

Aph glances at Aaron. She's been trying to figure out how to explain it to Zack and since he doesn't seem to remember any of their earlier conversation she doesn't have to worry about backtracking. "It happened at Starlight, same with Garroth. Aaron and I came back to the house to take a break from everything. We went out on a picnic and while he was setting everything up I decided to go for a walk. I hadn't even left the path when a black wolf crossed in front of me. I remember reaching down for a branch that had been lying next to the path when it lunged at me and bit me. Aaron said he found me unconscious and carried me back to the house. I woke up the next morning and it felt like I was on fire. Twenty-four hours later, I was a werewolf. Garroth ran across the same wolf a few days later but all it did was look at him and he turned. None of it made any sense at first, not until they started talking about the Ultima Werewolf. Knowing about the potion experiments might be why Garroth survived. Aaron remembered hearing about the myth from a class he took in college, about how a bite could turn and not kill but a direct stare could kill. But it was only supposed to be a myth. Michael infested the Guardian Force and started hunting people down. They claimed they knew who the Ultima was, but they were wrong and innocent people lost their lives because of it. Derek and Rachel Lycan were among them. He detained them and then killed them. Michael had named all of us in his search so we went into hiding but we had gotten split up in the confusion. Ein started using Forever potions on the werewolves and I had to confront him, stop him if I could. When Aaron came to help me, Ein killed me and captured Aaron. They found the wolf and chased it through Starlight. It turned or killed dozens of people, including Ein before they caught it"

Zack's fork freezes again and his eyes narrow as he doesn't believe her. "He killed you? But you're here, alive."

Aph briefly closes her eyes as she reaches for the top of her dress and pulls it down just enough so that Zack sees the scar over her heart. When she opens them she sees tears and anger in his eyes and she can tell he's clenching his jaw. "If he wasn't already dead. How? How are you alive?"

Aph takes a deep breath and feels Aaron squeeze her hand, "Ein shot me and it nicked my heart. I bled to death. I remember feeling cold, everything grew dark and then, I was in the house I lived in during high school. That's where I met Irene, she sent me back but she didn't send me back as the same person and a lot of things finally made sense."

Zack slowly places his fork on his plate. "What do you mean not the same person? What all made sense?"

Aph frowns trying to think of a way to explain it all and finally decides there's no easy way. Hopefully, this will be the last time. "I used to write these OC's of goddesses, knights, lords, werewolves, demons, and witches growing up. I thought they had just been stories but I now know they were memories. The first time I met Terry I remember him telling me I reminded him of someone he once knew and the Demon Warlock said he recognized my aura, my presence. The Warlock had laughed after telling me I was actually one of the three pieces of Irene's soul. That might be why I survived the bite. Over the last year, I've been piecing it all together, literally. Irene was the first piece. Lord Aphmau, the original founder of the Guardian Force and the lord of Phoenix Drop was the second, I am the third and a direct descendant of Lord Aphmau but my soul was implanted. Irene died during the events at Starlight and when she sent me back, it was with all three pieces of her healed soul. I have Irene and Lord Aphmau's memories and everything that goes with them."

Zack stills as if he's become a statue. She watches him take slow deep breaths, blink a couple of times, and then laugh. "Aphmau, are you saying you think you're Lady Irene?"

Aph shakes her head, closes her eyes and when she opens them again they are once again pure white flames. "I know I am."