FD: Birth of a Wishing Heart

24. Transformation

"Nicholas! Nicki!" Grizelda exclaimed when he was in sight. She vaguely remembered this place. It was as if a memory was banging at the doors ready to get out. Heavy smoke rose from the top of the house as things slowly transformed into wood and iron. She held her son close. "Nicki! I'm so happy you're okay! Oh dei! I was so worried!

Nicholas held his mother close, burying himself in her arms as he cried. His mother was here, it would be okay. Everything would be okay. After a short while of being held Nicholas squirmed free. "Mamma, Do I have an aunt?"

Grizelda looked up, the smoke was heavy. It was almost going straight to them. The barrier inside her weakened and memories flooded through revealing her last encounter with Adiscordia. "You do.." she muttered. Her sister had become a monster, kidnapping and eating children and yet, she had saved her. She sent her past the trees and falling just before Cecco. It was Grizelda's fault she had become this way. Adiscordia did it for her. "Let's go see her." Grizelda rose, protectively carrying Nicholas in her arms. He was an innocent child, and if Adiscordia could barely keep from killing her own- Sobs filled the air as Nicholas held closer to his mother's shoulders. He shook his head repeatedly.

"No! No! I don't want to go inside! Don't take me inside!" Nicholas begged. Had they met already? What had Adiscordia done to him? Nicholas pointed at the smoke and before they both knew what was happening Grizelda was racing inside to rescue whatever poor child had shown up on Adiscordia's doorstep. She coughed, it was difficult to breathe. There was so much smoke, she could hardly see.

"Addy? She called out. " A raspy voice responded, calling Grizelda by name and provoking her to come closer. Nicholas shook his head. The furniture was changing right in front of him. His aunt was magic! He watched his mother cough and struggle to continue. In front of them was nothing but the hall to the kitchen. What was he missing? He felt Grizelda drop him gently on the ground. "Stay here and close the door, hide." Nicholas nodded and obeyed as she disappeared into the kitchen.

There was something in the oven. She pulled the lever and with the loud clicking of chains pulling the door was open. Inside was Adiscordia. Grizelda's eyes widened without a voice to clear her thoughts as she fell to her knees. Not much was left, the fire was too strong but she knew it was her. The unshakable bond between them that had survived the unthinkable remained. Grizelda slowly reached out to her sister. "I'm so sorry..." she whispered before crying. Her tears sizzled on the ground from the heat. Her hand slowly retreated from reaching towards her sister's remains before it was grabbed unexpectedly. Grizelda looked forward, Adiscordia was dead, but something inside her was alive. It was black, a shadow was all she could see. It had many faces, voices, and races. In her grief and pain, it grabbed her and took her. It consumed her, right through her lips and tears.

"I've been waiting for you too long." The voice echoed.

Nicholas heard a loud wail and scream come from the kitchen. Despite his mother's command, he knew the voice was hers and he raced to the kitchen. Something was different. His mother was kneeling against the oven shaking. She seemed to be mumbling something but he couldn't tell what. The most startling change was her hair. It was usually a black and white curly mess, but now only the color of darkness remained. "Mamma?"

There was a noise. No, it was another voice. Her senses roared, it was her, it was him. It was in both of them. It was weakness, it brought grief and pain. It brought feeling. It needed to be removed. Her mind had been tampered with so quickly. The voice rang with a familiar tone that she loved. It was her son. She remembered him quickly trying to focus on that. What was happening? "Go back to hiding." She told him simply. There was a pain in her chest, she groaned grabbing at it. It was getting worse and he remained. "I said Hide!" She yelled as she watched him. Her stomach hurt, she gripped at it. The famine was back again.