YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

37

The air around Claire's family estate was thick with the weight of loss and quiet sorrow. The once-vibrant land, now in the process of being rebuilt, held a somber atmosphere, and many of the family members still struggled to piece their lives back together after the war. The physical scars of battle were evident, but it was the emotional wounds that cut the deepest.

Today, they were preparing to say goodbye. The funeral for Claire was set to take place, and the grief was suffocating. Cathy sat at the edge of her bed, staring at an old photograph of Claire as a baby. Her thumb brushed over the small face in the picture, her heart breaking all over again. She couldn't stop the tears from falling, her mind replaying the events that led to this day over and over. How had she allowed herself to be so distracted by Alicia? How had she missed the warning signs, the brewing storm?

"I failed you, my sweet girl..." Cathy whispered, her voice barely audible between sobs. She'd been so wrapped up in Alicia's troubles, trying to fix a broken relationship that never should have taken priority over her own daughter. Now, Claire was gone, and Cathy was left with nothing but regret. For the first time in a long while, she even regretted killing Mark. Perhaps if she'd made different choices, focused on Claire more, none of this would have happened.

Sniffling, she wiped her face and tried to compose herself. There was no time for wallowing in grief, not right now. Claire deserved to be honored today, and Cathy needed to hold herself together for the sake of her daughter's memory. But her thoughts drifted to Selene, the one person she wished she could lean on in this moment. Things hadn't been the same between them since Claire's death.

After the funeral arrangements had been made, Selene had lashed out at Cathy in her grief and rage. The words still stung.

"Your daughter is dead because of you!" Selene had screamed, her eyes full of fury and heartbreak.

Cathy had snapped back, her own pain bubbling to the surface. "No, she's dead because you couldn't protect her."

That was the last time they'd spoken. Now, Selene had retreated to her family's house, isolating herself from everyone. The distance between them felt unbearable, but Cathy didn't know how to fix it. She wasn't even sure she wanted to, not after everything that had been said.

Across town, in the depths of her old bedroom, Selene sat by the window, staring blankly at the world outside. Her family had been bustling around her, trying to offer support, but Selene felt nothing but cold indifference toward them. She watched as others went about their day, laughing and living as if nothing had changed. How could they? Selene thought bitterly. How could the world keep turning when hers had stopped?

A soft knock came at the door, but Selene didn't bother to acknowledge it.

"Selene?" her mother's voice called from the other side.

Selene didn't answer, her eyes never leaving the scene outside. Her mother, undeterred, opened the door and stepped into the room. She stood there for a moment, watching her daughter with a pained expression. Selene had always been strong, fierce even. But now, she looked utterly broken. The sight of her daughter like this tore at her heart.

"Selene," her mother said gently, "are you coming to the funeral?"

Selene finally turned to look at her mother, disbelief written all over her face. "Why would I attend a funeral for an empty corpse?" she spat. "Claire's soul is gone. Staring at her body won't bring her back."

Her mother flinched at the harshness in Selene's voice. Anger flared up inside her, but it was fueled by sadness. "You need to get your shit together," she snapped back. "Claire wouldn't want you acting like this."

Selene's eyes darkened, and her voice wavered with both sadness and anger. "Claire is dead, and we don't know what she would've wanted because she's gone. Don't act like you have any idea what she would think or feel now."

Her mother sighed, running a hand over her face in frustration. "I do know one thing," she said firmly. "You're going to that funeral whether you like it or not."

"You can't make me," Selene shot back, her voice cold and defiant.

"Try me," her mother challenged, before turning and leaving the room, slamming the door behind her.

Selene's hands shook with the weight of her anger and grief. She looked down at the small bear Claire had given her, clutching it tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she hugged the bear to her chest, her voice barely a whisper. "Please come back, Claire... please..."

The day of the funeral was overcast, fitting for the solemn occasion. Friends, family, and coven members gathered, sharing stories about Claire's life. Some laughed, remembering her wild, adventurous spirit. One of Claire's friends told a particularly amusing story about how Claire had gone skinny dipping and ended up getting caught by the cops, much to everyone's amusement.

Despite the moments of levity, there was an underlying sadness that no one could escape. Cathy sat among the mourners, her eyes scanning the faces of those who had come to celebrate her daughter's life. As her gaze wandered, her breath caught in her throat when she saw Selene at the back of the room, standing rigidly, her eyes locked on the casket.

Their eyes met for a brief second, but Selene quickly looked away.

The elder of the witches stepped forward, beginning the final rites. She carefully scattered salt over the casket, a traditional practice to grant the departed soul eternal peace. But something was different. As soon as the salt touched the casket, a huge white light exploded from it, filling the room with blinding brightness.

Gasps had filled the room. Cathy jumped to her feet, fear gripping her heart. This wasn't supposed to happen. A witch's burial usually ended with a soft puff of smoke, signifying the soul's departure. But this? This light was something else entirely.

Selene's eyes widened in horror, and without hesitation, she rushed forward. She grabbed the elder by the neck, her voice a low, dangerous growl. "What the fuck did you just do?"

The elder, though surprised by Selene's strength and boldness, remained calm. "Step back," she said softly, "I need to check the body."

Selene's father stepped forward, his voice stern. "Let her go, Selene."

After a moment of hesitation, Selene released her grip, though her eyes remained locked on the elder witch, distrust evident in her gaze. The elder moved toward the casket and slowly lifted the lid.

The room fell silent.

Claire's body was gone.

A collective gasp echoed around the room. Cathy's heart nearly stopped as she rushed forward, her hands trembling. The elder, however, smiled—a serene, knowing smile. She took Cathy's hands in hers, her eyes full of warmth and understanding.

"The prophecy," the elder whispered, "has been fulfilled."

Cathy blinked, confusion clouding her mind. "What prophecy?"

The elder didn't answer. Instead, she turned to the rest of the room, her voice steady but urgent. "Everyone, follow me. We must go to the abandoned river. Now."

Without a second thought, Selene and Cathy, along with the rest of the crowd, rushed to the river. Their hearts pounded with a mixture of fear and anticipation. When they arrived, what they saw left them speechless.

There, standing by the water's edge, was Claire.

Her hair shimmered in the sunlight, and she was playing with the water, humming an ancient tune softly. The sight was so serene, so impossible, that no one dared to speak.

Cathy's breath hitched in her throat, her eyes filling with tears. "Claire..."

Selene's legs nearly gave out beneath her as she took in the sight of her wife—alive, vibrant, and whole.

Claire turned toward them, her eyes twinkling with something ancient, something powerful. A soft smile spread across her face, and in that moment, it was as if the world had stopped turning.