Meeting Egypt: The Echidna Trilogy

CHAPTER 6: I KNOW...

I was falling, trying to land in the darkness but my feet could never grasp the ground. My hair was floating above me, and I was sinking into oblivion. What was going on? I opened my eyes wider and focused on the white light. This seemed like the right thing to go because I soon started walking, and before I knew it I was face to face with her; my mom. Mom? She was alive and standing in front of me, I felt tears sprout from my eyes and I ran toward her, but I couldn't touch her. Backing away and surveying the scene I realized this was some form of vision. Soon she began talking and I listened, maybe this would give me some form of clarity.

"What if I am the one?" she asked, rubbing her swollen stomach. "I have to be, it has to stop before she is born," she looked around. "I cannot have Camille born into this, you have to fix it, please," she begged a stranger. "I am sorry, I am unsure if you are the one or not, a sacrifice is still needed," a young woman walked in and pulled her into a hug. Who was this woman? Her hair pale and her eyes looked full of wisdom, was this an ally? "I can't die, she will need me," my mom panicked, looking sad. "This is my curse, Vincent and Camille need me now more than ever. Please just can you help me end this? There has to be another way than this, please can you tell me what I must do to save them?"

The strange woman shook her head and I watched my mom's heart break, the pain visible in her eyes. "But you need to, just like your father did for you, you must for her. This is your family curse. I cannot do anything. She will come to you at the time of your death to claim you, but you are no longer a virgin so she may dispose of you easily," she placed a white hand on my mother's shoulder. "Bare the child and come to me, I will make sure your death is quiet and painless," she promised. "I need time to be with her, can you promise that she will be alright?" my mom asked, tears falling down her face. "I know she will be, she will follow in your footsteps, but she will not be promised a full life, if she is the one she will be taken her before her virtue is in danger," she looked at my mom. "This isn't fair, but if my sacrifice can spare my daughter a few more years than so be it," she looked at the woman. "Drink this, and come back after she is born, and you will know what to do," she kneeled in front of my mom and kissed her cheek. My mom looked up and drunk the vile liquid and began crying.

"My blood I will give to you before Echidna comes to me, please help my daughter." The woman kissed my mom's cheek and I saw her red tears, "I promise my life that I will protect your family, Zana. I will die protecting them and then I will return. I will always return. My love for life will always ruin me, but I am chained to my curse as well. My love for human kind will always be my demise."

Turning away from my sobbing mom, the woman turned and stared at me. I grew nervous, hoping she couldn't see me but she scared me when she placed her finger over her mouth, signaling me to be quiet. "Your daughter will live a life, but I will not save her in time." Was this my future? I had to change this no matter the cost. I had to find answers and end this damn curse before I was next.

I couldn't believe it, this wasn't real. I couldn't be sold off to someone, magic wasn't real. And yet here I was floating in darkness watching my mother sell her soul for my life. "Camille," I heard a soft whisper and turned anxiously. "Mother?" I asked and when the voice didn't respond I knew it was her. "What's happening to me?" I asked and there was a sigh. "I didn't want this for you," it sounded sad, hurt and lost. "I don't want to die mom," I looked around, searching for her, but it was so dark. "I know, I'm sorry, I thought if I would die then you would be spared, I wouldn't have returned to Egypt, I wouldn't have told your father to finish the trip. I should have been honest and truthful with you two." "He doesn't know the truth?" I asked and there was again silence.

"What do I do?" I asked, hugging my waist. I needed comfort. "I don't know, I can't be here for you and I am so sorry honey," I heard the sadness in her voice. "But now it is time you wake up, please choose wisely." "I have no choice, I wish I can stay with you," I said and she laughed. "Go, be with your father, and we all have choices honey," she said and I awoke.