Ocean's Secret |on hold|

14 | A Heart That Breaks

Hey Dear Readers :) Sorry for the long wait until this chapter. I hope you can remember what's been happening, with Meredee confronting her mother about why she changed her into a dragon. Even I need to re-read a chapter or two before continuing writing xD Anyway, here's the next chapter, and it's pretty long :) Enjoy reading,

~Emmy

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"You should be thanking me for unbinding your wings and uncovering the anger and resentment you've harboured all this time. Surely you feel the relief it brings," Silvana's words made some sort of sense, a fraction of truth pricking at Meredee's conscience. It frightened her.   

"But...but I don't want to hurt people," Meredee's voice came out weaker than she wanted. But, there was no way it could be true! Why would she be angry and want revenge? For what? "Change me back," she demanded. "Get rid of this curse!" she glared at Silvana.

"I have not cursed you, Ka'leisha. It is a blessing. It is power," Silvana reached out her hand to brush Meredee's cheek, but Meredee grabbed her wrist before it could touch her.

"A blessing!" she exclaimed and took a large step back. This was ridiculous! She held her head as it pounded and ached, her eyes squeezing shut against the unfolding nonsense around her. The outburst left her feeling weak and she sank to a stone bench on the edge of the courtyard. Looking up at the sky that seemed so far away, her eyes roamed to the angry gargoyles that stared down at her from the corners of the sharp castle masonry. This courtyard was so shadowed, ugly, and different from Cyrus'; his with the sunshine filtering down through lush vines, and sweet scented floral blooms surrounding and brightening the lattices and golden sandstone architecture. This was a whole different world, a dark world, and Meredee shivered involuntarily.

"Ka'leisha," Silvana said gently as she sat beside her, her long dress brushing against Meredee's, "I don't want you to be sad. We can learn to get along, if you give me a chance. You will soon see why I have done this, and how it will be of benefit to both of us."

Meredee didn't say anything, just tried to make sense of the words that kept spinning around in her mind. Then a new thought struck her, so suddenly it left her trembling and almost faint. "Silvana," she turned to the woman beside her. "If....if you are my ...mother, then... Then who is my f- father?" She said that last word in a whisper. It was painful to say it any louder.

Silvana's face clouded over with a dark frown. "Your father," she practically spat the word on the ground, "is not even worthy of his name passing my lips." She stared off into the distance as if she didn't care to offer more.

"What do you mean?" Meredee had to know.

"It wasn't even meant to happen," Silvana replied with flippancy edging the old bitterness. "When I told him, the wretched knave flew into a rage and destroyed my home, taking anything of value. He took everything from me....and left me with you," Silvana said with renewed hatred and disgust dripping from every word.

Meredee let this sink in for a few seconds. "You...you didn't even want me?" she eventually whispered. She hadn't thought her heart could break any more.
But apparently, it could.

The implication of Silvana's words pierced the tender fragments that struggled to beat in her chest. Her breathing became shallow and the edge of her vision faded. How much more could she take? Not only was her mother some mysterious woman bent on revenge and destruction, but she had never wanted Meredee in the first place. And her father was just some complete stranger who deserted her mother, detesting her very existence.

"Now, darling, I wouldn't say that," Silvana's voice was soothing once again, and her hand clasped Meredee's tightly. "You have become precious to me, and I wouldn't trade you for anything." There was something off about her words, but Meredee couldn't figure them out.