Only Human: Hide and Seek

Chapter 186: June Jackson

Back to Original POV

I held tight to Cenderion's arms while I studied everyone staring at me. I could feel myself trembling trying to piece together what had happened. Eros was not as keen on helping me as the Angel's Heart had implied, and it was as if my worst fears were becoming real. My only saving grace was that I had Cenderion beside me, and that it was only one angel rather than a whole group. I could tell that the poor angel was grieving. Philomena was important to him, and he believed that I had taken her away. Hoen's accusations and complaints flared and pricked at my confidence. Was I really the bad guy here? If I were gone, would everything be better like Hoen believed? Philomena would return as a regular angel, Lannister wouldn't be held down by this craziness, and Geralt could stop obsessing over me... I shook my head. I still had value, and deserved to live my life to its natural end. Besides I was thwarting the demons' plans, and bringing the dryads back into the world. I wasn't all bad.

Yet, when Eros flung himself at me, I doubted myself once again. His white hand grabbed my wrist with such strength that my heart ached for his loss, but then everything went white. I went to that place again where I felt no pain, hunger, or worry. Everything was calm and as it should be.

"...don't let my sacrifice be in vain. I love you, Eros."

I blinked, and I was back in the clearing with Cenderion supporting me. Eros had golden tears running down his face and his hand on his temple pensively. Hildegard kept her eyes on me as if I were going to do something unpredictable. Something had happened. I could see it on their faces. Even Cenderion seemed concerned, but all I could gather was the echo of a voice I didn't recognize. Someone who made a sacrifice and loved Eros.

"What happened?" I asked. I looked to each person present, including my ladies-in-waiting and Birch, but no one dared to speak. I turned to my husband praying he wouldn't leave me in the dark any longer.

Cenderion smiled which eased my mounting panic. "It appears that you were not an accident, Lily. You were intentionally created. Philomena made a noble sacrifice to bring you into this world." He explained.

"How could you know that?" I asked. I wanted it to be true. Philomena wanting me to exist and willingly giving up her physical form to create me meant that I had a purpose. I didn't steal her magic or trap her in my body. She wanted this. She wanted me.

This was where Cenderion seemed lost for words, but then Eros spoke. "Philomena left a message for me in her very soul." He said. "The only thing left of her. When I touched you, it must have triggered the dormant memory."

"And this message told you that she... intended for me to exist? I wasn't a mistake or an experiment gone wrong?" I asked hopefully.

"More like showed." Hildegard said.

"And the experiment did go wrong." Eros pointed out frustrated. "The baby shouldn't have died! Philomena shouldn't have sacrificed herself to bring her back!"

"But she did." I said.

He released a shuddering breath and collected himself. "She did. I can't say that I'm surprised. It was something that only Philomena would have done." He laughed weakly and pulled his light pink hair from his face. "And she would leave it to me to clean up her mess, wouldn't she?"

I nervously pulled at a long strand of my hair. "I wouldn't say that I'm a mess... I've done pretty well, considering..."

"Like marrying the dryad king?" Hildegard asked. Eros walked closer to me again and leaned forward to study me closer. My grip on Cenderion's arm tightened in uncertainty.