The Twelfth Generation

I choke and cough, breathing through my arm. I throw my blankets off my legs and run to my door. I open it and find a fire raging outside my mother's door.

All I can think about is the fire getting to her. I back up and brace myself for what I had to do.

I run straight into the fire and crash onto her bedroom door. I fall to the floor and stagger to my feet.

I see a still figure lying on the bed, I limp over to the bed, cradling my arm. "Mom?!"

Her hand was ice cold.

"I can hear you, but I'm running out of time. I need you to listen." She said looking remarkably calm. "I know I've never told you anything about your heritage, but we fight thee night. Now you must inherit my powers and add them to your own." She said and started to speak rapidly.

"I never wanted you to discover it this way, but what's done is done." She closed her eyes and opened them slowly. "When something traumatizing happens to one of US we gain certain..." She struggled for the words. " abilities. You can have one or you could have vast powers, but the key is to keep them hidden from mortals. This is NOT your fault. You were always so talented, even when you were young."

She squeezes my hand with her frozen one and releases it. I look at her face and see a smile on her unmoving face.

I pick up her body and slung it over my shoulder, but not without letting out a cry and limped over to our two foot high window.

I opened the window and climbed out. I easily over came the height and laid my mother on the soft grass beside her favorite tree.

I glance up and note that it's almost dawn. I look back at her and find the smile still on her face.

As I sit beside my dead mother I watch the sun rise, but as soon as the first rays hit my face, I feel a change.