The Lost World Of Victa

Chapter 22: Her Identity

I stare directly into Mo--Beth's eyes. Gosh, that's so hard to say. She's not my mom.

"Lily, let me explain," she says as she walks over to me, and reaches out to hug me.

I stumble into the counter. "Where is your child," I speak.

"I don't know. Things changed when your brother died. It's complicated," she sighs.

Kyler speaks up, "What are you talking about?" He looks so confused.

Beth gestures for the four of us to sit in the living room. I sit next to Kyler and Trace on the couch, and Beth sits in the armchair.

She closes her eyes, and I can feel the pain emanating from her.

"Let me start from the beginning," she speaks. "D.J. and I aren't from Warcaster. We are from two settlements up North. I'm from Cedargrave, and D.J. is from Ravenville. We were taken to the capital for training before we turned 17, and studied magic as wishcasters. It was at the capital where we met, and where we joined the rebellion. The rebellion was started by Skecelia, though she says that she took it on from someone whose identity must remain secret, even to its members. Skecelia, or Sketch, as we called her, was against the way her mother and aunt ruled, and she sought to bring it down. We did many things, and were a great force who had influence in almost every Victan province."

Beth continued explaining, "However, things changed. Sketch fell in love with Laverna's son, Hyrum, and her cousin. This would be the ultimate downfall of the rebellion as it once was. Many members left her side, and we became weakened. The rebellion still existed, but it wasn't as mighty as it once was. Then, at the same time, Sketch and I became pregnant. She was concerned that the baby would not survive, and so she met with the Prophet of Irenus, a seer who could predict the future. He was very cryptic, but recited The Prophecy. If I remember correctly, it was..."

"A child with purple magic shall defeat the queen turned dark.
The nations of old will be returned to their glory, and the destroyer will be destroyed.
Those who are lost shall be found and returned home.
All hail the child of the stars," I recited, recalling what Leta had told me.

Beth blinks, "How do you know it?"

I avert my eyes, "I have to know it. It's my destiny."

She sighs, then nods. "You're right. Anyway, the Prophet of Irenus revealed that Sketch's child would be the child of the prophecy. Sketch, Hyrum, D.J., and I knew that her child wouldn't be safe, and so we decided to switch our children. My child would grow up as a royal in the capital, as Sketch's child, and D.J. and I would raise her child as someone normal, in Warcaster, to keep them safe until they could fulfill the prophecy. But, as you can guess, things didn't exactly work out."

Beth pauses for a second. I can tell this is hard for her, and Trace and Kyler haven't said anything yet.

"I had my child first. It was a boy. I didn't want to name him, because I knew I wouldn't get to raise him, and I didn't want to suffer any more than I would from losing him, though since Sketch wouldn't give birth until a few days later, and D.J. and I couldn't just calling him 'the baby,' we named him Jackson. When Sketch gave birth, she had Ladislas, and I took him away from the delivery room to clean him up. I ran into Laverna, and she murdered him. It was horrendous, and I had to return to Sketch, letting her know what had happened. But, in my absence, she had given birth to you Lilliana, and D.J. had walked in, ready to switch the babies. Sketch and I knew then, that if Laverna knew there was another child, she wouldn't rest until you were dead, and she would probably kill my son too. Skecelia still offered my son protection, but she sent him away to a random noble family. I have no idea where he is, or if he even knows his real name or identity. I suppose it doesn't matter, as long as he got to live happy and loved. Plus, I have loved raising you, even if you aren't my daughter by blood," Be--Mom finishes, tears slowly crawling down her cheeks.