The Sinister blade

N I N E T E E N : T A L O N

'' Did you find her? '' Mom asks me as I walk inside of the house. She's so curious about what I am going to tell her.

'' Not yet. '' I choose to disappoint my mother & make her think Katarina is still lost rather than giving her the news that she switched to the side of enemies.

'' I was hoping she'll be walking in behind you now. Walking in to her home. '' Mom's voice shakes. Her eyes are full of tears.

'' Her home? '' I ask mom & take a look around me. I remember Katarina's laughter around this house. How she made it full of life, movement, and joy. How she was a listener to everyone. How she loved to prank us all, to make us laugh, to have fun with us and not without us.

'' If this was her home, she would've never left mom. No one leaves home. Nobody can do that. '' I can see how harsh my words are on my mother by I still choose to carry on. '' If Katarina found one person who listens to her in this place, she would've stayed. But instead of holding her we let her go. We encouraged her to leave and start searching for her actual home. ''

'' I did my best for her Talon. At least don't deny that I did my best for both of you. '' Mom cries. '' And I did believe her. I still believe she didn't kill the Demacian commandant but I didn't have courage to say it in front of your father. ''

'' Exactly. The courage which you didn't have to make her stay, it gave Katarina the bravery & the will to leave. '' Each member of Du Couteaux feared the commandant and that's what caused most of our problems. That's what made us all controlled by him. Controlling the tribe wasn't enough for him that he started controlling his home as well.

While mother prepares food in the kitchen as usual, crying, I sit besides her watching her, trying to accompany her enough. I know that I fail to make her forget about Katarina, but I hope that my existence makes her feel better.

'' Where is she? '' Albert slams the door very harshly. He freaks us out.

'' Who? '' I ask him.

'' Did you bring her back? '' He is furious. '' If she is here, I want her to leave right now. '' He insists. Albert is somehow sure Katarina is back with me.

She loves us too much that she keeps hiding behind our powers. My victories and yours built a strong name for this family, and she's just using it. That's what Albert used to think about Katarina Du Couteaux. And he completely forgot that she was recognized for her speed and dagger skills. He forgot how fearless she was & everyone, including me, encouraged her to join the league. But Albert never allowed this.

'' She's not here. '' I wish to see disappointment in his eyes as I speak, but I don't. He doesn't feel guilty at all. He simply doesn't want her anymore & it surprises me so much.

'' That's good. Means god accepted my prayers. '' He smiles. When mom hears him, she starts cutting the vegetables brutally & she accidentally injures her finger as well.

'' Are you okay? '' I rush to her. Mother bursts out crying as I wash her bleeding finger. I hold her hands while we are both shaking.

'' Oh, come on Marie! Just heal yourself! '' Albert shouts at her.

'' You are a healer! '' I exclaim with full surprise. Mother gently moves her hands away from mine. She holds her finger, eyes closed, with tears streaming down her face.

'' Mother! '' I am still shocked. As I see her healing herself, I remember the sleepless nights she had next to my bed. I used to comeback from trainings with multiple injuries around my body, and every single time, I woke up the next morning with full health & no scratch in any part of my body. I stare at my mother & realize she's the reason I recovered too fast. She's a healer.