“Lanias,” she barely managed to squeeze out.
“Lanias,” Anais repeated softly before a motherly smile came to her lips. “I like it.”
Seeing this, Lanias swallowed. “I-I’ve been looking for my past. For why I exist.” She finally regained some composure to meet Anais’ gaze once more. “I’m no longer young, but I always wanted to know why I…” She hesitated. “Lived.”
“Do you know the reason I met Eris?” Anais chuckled, glancing toward the window. Lanias followed her line of sight. “He’s a being who most humans would consider a god, or maybean angel. The Surrem are mysterious creatures who’ve been banished to our plane for millions of years. Some claimed the title of gods; others choose to remain hidden. I’ve seen them come and go, along with the rise and fall of kingdoms. When he came to me, I was searching for my own reason of existence. As the last human of my kind, I wanted an answer as to why I still lived.”
“A human of your kind?”
Anais returned her gaze to hers. “They really haven’t told you anything about your heritage, have they?”
Lanias didn’t know why she felt embarrassed. “I was raised by my grandmother. I thought my mother was someone completely different. It wasn’t until I got my uncle’s journal that I learned the truth. All this time I believed myself to be a Witch, a numb Witch.”
“Hmm, but that made you strong,” Anais concluded; she gave Lanias a once over. “Yes, you, my daughter, are strong,” she repeated.
“How do you know that?”
“Because you are my very own blood, you carry my heritage within you.” Anais explained, her eyes showing not a shred of doubt. “You are the last descendent of the last tribe of Methuselah. The last of my people to carry the blood of the chosen people. We are gifted with longevity, and strong instinct in other fortunes. In truth we are as mysterious as the Surrem. Even I do not know everything about our people.”
Hearing the words was not difficult but taking them in proved a challenge for Lanias. What she had just heard sounded ridiculous. Even though she came from a world of Witches, demons, and ogres. The idea that she had such a heritage didn’t make any sense.
Releasing an exasperated breath, placing her hands on her hips she lowered her head. “Hah, I’m sorry I need a minute.” Sheshook her head before lifting it and staring blankly at Anais. “I’m what.”
“A Blessed One,” her mother repeated. “It sounds inspiring but means as long as you don’t do anything drastic, once your body hits its peak of maturity; it stops aging.”
“Right, so—I won’t age,” Lanias summarized. “Does this come with something like a mission, or task? Because I have become heartedly sick of that trope.”
Her mother laughed. “No, it just means a very long life.” But the darkening of her eyes told Lanias another story.
“Living a long time is a trial just as much as it is to be a Being,” Lanias muttered.
“Yes, that is true. It’s been hard, and sorrow has always followed easily the same as joy.” Once more, Anais placed a hand on her stomach. “Your father stumbled into my healer’s cottage years ago, and then our story spanned months, then years. Only three things have clouded our love.”
“His brother.”
Anais gave a short nod, her expression turning black. “And the continued warnings the True Ones sent to Eris, demanding he return and another?—”
“The fear that they will learn about the child you carry, me.”
She sighed. “Eris warned me continuously that half-breeds weren’t allowed to exist. But I craved a child from our union. I wanted to see our features as a blended expression of life. I’d lived so long, and finally a child was possible.” She reached out and brushed her hand against Lanias’ cheek. “He and I are in you.”
Lanias finally was able to say what had been pressing on her mind. “He said I was gifted with something, something his brother wanted ‘The gift’. I0 used it to put his brother away, but it also brought the Surrem to earth.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “He-he gave you the key?”
“The key?” Lanias repeated, she searched for her memory. “I vaguely remember him mentioning this. What is it?”
“I see, then it’s what I feared.”
“And what was that?” Lanias demanded.
“Eris was the gate keeper between here and the plane of the Surrem, or the True ones. He came here when his brother was banished for his crimes. They didn’t remove that gift from him, he’s the only one who can return the Surrem to the other plane and close the door.”
“And because I opened it, they realized that someone who was not Father on this plane had the same ability.” Lanias concluded understanding and sighed. “Once again, it’s my fault that people are being hurt.”
“How could you know?” Anais said, taking another step toward her.
“You could not have had any idea, if what you tell me is true. You were left with no knowledge of your heritage or information about us, your parents.” She removed her hand from Lanias cheek, and to her hand, “Nothing that’s happened is your fault. Don’t ever think that.”
