YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

38

The world felt weightless, a dream-like haze wrapped around Claire as she drifted through unconsciousness. She remembered the pain of being shot, the numbing coldness as the Kaden bullet tore through her body. But now, she was somewhere else entirely—a field, vast and endless, stretching far beyond the horizon. The ground beneath her was soft, covered in a sea of red and white roses that moved gently in the breeze. The scent of them was intoxicating, sweet and calming, yet Claire felt anything but peace.

She sat up slowly, blinking against the bright sunlight. The sky was a soft shade of gold, and while the place was beautiful, it was eerily empty. A hollow ache filled her chest, and she felt an overwhelming sense of loss. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she stood and began to wander aimlessly through the field. Where am I? she thought, her voice trembling in her mind. She wiped her face, her fingers brushing against her cheek, and felt how cold she was—how distant she was from everything that mattered to her.

"Why am I here?" Claire whispered to the empty field.

No answer came, and her loneliness deepened. The weight of the war, the fight, Devin's cold smile as he pulled the trigger—it all replayed in her mind like a broken record. Claire sobbed, her hands clutching at the fabric of her shirt. She wanted Selene, her mother, anything familiar. She wanted to go home.

As if summoned by her plea, the air around her shifted. From thin air, a figure appeared—a woman, tall and regal, wearing a gown made of shimmering gold and deep crimson. A crown sat atop her head, glinting in the sunlight, and her presence radiated power and authority. Claire froze, her heart racing with fear. She had seen this woman before, but only in pictures—ancient portraits in the book of spells she had been studying under the guidance of the coven.

It was Lilith.

The ancient witch, the mother of all witches, the legend she had heard of but never imagined meeting. Lilith glided toward her with a grace that made Claire tremble, her entire body frozen in place.

"Stay away from me!" Claire yelled, backing up, her voice filled with panic. "What do you want?"

Lilith didn't respond at first, her expression soft, almost sad. She stopped a few feet in front of Claire and tilted her head, her eyes studying her as though she were something precious.

"That's not the way to speak to your elder, child," Lilith said softly, her voice like silk. Her words, though gentle, held an authority that made Claire's pulse quicken.

Claire blinked, taken aback by Lilith's calm demeanor. She hadn't expected this; she expected power, force, something overwhelming. Instead, she was greeted with sorrow in Lilith's gaze.

Lilith moved forward again, and this time, Claire couldn't bring herself to move. She felt Lilith's fingers brush against her face, a light touch that sent shivers through her.

"I am sorry," Lilith whispered, cupping Claire's face gently in her hands. "I am sorry the prophecy played out this way."

"Prophecy?" Claire's voice was full of confusion, but before she could demand answers, Lilith's hand moved to her stomach, resting there softly.

A smile flickered on Lilith's face, a quiet, bittersweet smile. "Back in my day, if you were with child by a vampire, death would be the only fate."

Claire's blood ran cold. She pushed Lilith away forcefully, stumbling backward, her mind reeling. "What the fuck are you talking about? Tell me what's going on!"

Lilith sighed, her hands dropping to her sides as she stared at Claire with a mix of sadness and pride. She stepped forward again, and before Claire could resist, Lilith grabbed her face once more, her grip firm but not painful.

"You are my daughter," Lilith said, her voice filled with a strange mix of joy and regret. "I have waited for centuries to finally meet you."

Claire's mind swirled with disbelief, her lips parting in shock. "Your daughter? No—no, that's not possible. You're—"

Lilith nodded slowly. "I always desired a child, but my duty to the witches prevented me from being a mother. So I waited. For two thousand years, I waited until I found Cathy, a worthy vessel to carry you. You are mine, Claire, and the prophecy foretold this day—the day you would rise to lead the witches and vampire to unite.  

Claire's heart raced, her hands shaking. "Lead them? Unite them?" Her voice cracked with disbelief.  What do you mean—why? Why didn't anyone tell me this before?"

"I could not interfere until now," Lilith said, her voice tinged with sadness. "Your fate, your death—it was always meant to be. I needed a witch innocent enough yet strong enough to lead both our people into a new era. You were the one Claire. My own daughter. I even chose Selene for you because you lack in strictness and Selene was perfect. Speaking of Selene, did you ever tell her that you were expecting?"

Claire's knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, the weight of Lilith's words crushing her. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her stomach. "I wanted to tell Selene... I wanted to tell her I was pregnant, but everything was falling apart... the war... I need to go back to her."

Lilith knelt beside her, placing a hand on Claire's shoulder. "You will return to her soon. But first, you must learn what you need to know to lead. Only then can I send you back."

The world felt heavier now, more real, but she could still feel Lilith's presence lingering in the air, watching over her. The sound of the rushing water filled the silence as everyone stood frozen, staring in disbelief at Claire's resurrected form.

Cathy was the first to move, her legs shaky as she took a step toward her daughter. "Claire?" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Is it really you?"

Tears welled in Claire's eyes as she looked at her mother, her lips trembling. "It's me, Mama."

The two embraced, Cathy's arms wrapping around Claire as though she were afraid she might disappear again. Cathy sobbed into her daughter's shoulder, her words a broken string of apologies. "I'm so sorry, Claire. I'm so sorry I didn't protect you..."

Claire held her mother tightly, her own tears mixing with hers. "It's not your fault, Mama. Don't ever blame yourself. Devin's actions weren't yours."

Cathy pulled back slightly, wiping her face with trembling hands, but she couldn't help herself. She hugged Claire again, her body shaking with the force of her tears.

As they held each other, Claire's gaze shifted toward the back of the crowd, where Selene stood. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the world stopped. The love, the loss, and the longing all swirled between them, unspoken but deeply felt.

"I miss you," Claire whispered, her voice carrying to Selene despite the distance.

Selene's breath hitched, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Slowly, she moved forward, her feet heavy as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. When she finally reached Claire, she hesitated for just a moment, then lifted her hand to gently touch Claire's face.

"It's really you," Selene's voice was hoarse, thick with emotion.

Claire nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's me."

Without another word, Selene pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. The world around them faded, and for that moment, it was just the two of them—together, against everything. When they finally broke apart, Selene's eyes dropped to Claire's stomach, and her breath caught in her throat.

"You're... pregnant?" Selene asked, her voice full of wonder and panic.

Claire laughed softly, nodding. "Surprise."

Cathy, overhearing the news, fainted on the spot, her body crumpling to the ground as she muttered, "My child is... pregnant..."

The elder witch, watching from the side, only smiled warmly. "Today, we will celebrate," she said, her voice carrying over the crowd. "For the Princess of Lilith has returned to us, and a new era begins."

Cheers erupted, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the air was filled with joy and hope.

The prophecy had been fulfilled. Claire had returned—not just as a daughter, a lover, or a friend—but as a leader, a symbol of unity between the witches and vampires. And in her arms, she carried a future that would change everything.