They Call Me Mother

By Jade Jackson

Life can be either an adventure or nothing at all.

Since the destruction of Hargraves Academy and a hard reset to everything known and comfortable, Brittyn has been searching. For the past two years, she has hunted those who brought her world down around her. She also yearns to find her greatest love, Markus, and best friend, Aidan, who were lost.

In her all-new adventure, Brittyn and her band of unlikely companions travel to the human realm, where everything is different. Valkyries are more feared than revered. Can Brittyn learn to control the raging chasm of anger, fear, and resentment that grows in her core? Will she finally determine her place when everyone around her wants her to be something she is not?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662450617

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They Call Me Mother

Jade Jackson

Copyright © 2021 Jade Jackson

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-6624-5060-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-5061-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 1

For what is likely the hundredth or maybe even thousandth time, I’m flying around Fairie in search of a sign, any sign, that Markus and Aidan are alive. Ever since I received the letter containing the flower I created for Markus, I have been like a woman possessed—or, well, Valkyrie possessed, if there even is such a thing. I suppose since I am the last, I can be whatever I want to be whenever it suits me and even when it doesn’t because who’s going to check me? Every free moment I get, I am searching. Honestly, I don’t really have all that much free time. Between training and helping lost souls get to their final resting places, I have been more than busy. I never really have any time for myself, so I typically enjoy these few stolen seconds alone. This truly is the best feeling in all the realms. I finally feel like I belong despite such a large piece of myself remaining lost. My own mental dialogue eases me into the eye of the storm, and it’s at these moments I feel the most at peace.

Since the battle at the Academy, all the surviving students have been staying here at the palace and are going about their normal routines. I mean, as normal as possible being as more than 75 percent of their classmates are dead, missing, or have been labeled traitors. Most of the surviving graduating class have decided to stay here and help teach the kids. The new headmistress is Professor Kelp, and honestly, I can’t say I’ve seen a more uncomfortable person. It’s almost comical how she has to stop herself from interfering in combat classes. As much as she fought taking this position, I think deep down she knows she is the right person for the job. She has shown her overall loyalty and commitment to the school and its students during the events two years ago. In her spare time, she hunts for the culprit who demolished the school and murdered not only our friends and family but our way of life. The investigation concluded Malkum wasn’t the perpetrator. He was simply trying to capitalize on the situation, like any good criminal would.

After the dust cleared, there were several kids and some staff arrested and charged with treason. Most are now serving hard labor somewhere in the realm. One of their first jobs was cleaning up the wreckage of the school. Even with the ground mostly cleared, no one wanted to return to that place of death and destruction. The untouched academic buildings are a constant reminder of everything and everyone we lost. Who wants that in their face every day? Those involved seem remorseful, and with that remorse, they opened up and spilled all the beans. We know how they were recruited, why I was targeted, and more importantly, all who were involved. Unfortunately, their knowledge was limited. There are many parts of the plot they simply weren’t privy to. That leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of unfollowed leads.

Markus previously told me how his brother came to be disowned, but he never said what happened to Malkum afterward. I learned his fate from Mindy when I helped her soul find peace. She told me how it was that she and her sister Myra became a part of Malkum’s scheme. They met while she was at home for break. He just accidentally bumped into her at the market. He made nice with her and eventually made her fall in love with him. It didn’t take nearly as long as one would think. He manipulated that love and her gifts to his advantage. She was the one who got him inside Professor Linus’s quarters. She thought he wanted to speak with her about attending school at the Academy, but instead, he murdered her in cold blood. She tried to end their relationship, so he kidnapped her sister; and the rest is history. Myra was never found. Malkum either killed her right away, or she is running. Either way, we haven’t been able to locate her, not for a lack of trying. While she may not be my first priority, she is definitely on my radar.

Mindy also explained that after Malkum was disowned and expelled from the castle, his birth mother found him. She knew who he was all those years and convinced him he was stolen from her at birth. Apparently, King Myselis was her lover for a number of years when she worked in the palace, and he was conceived through their union. Malkum was, in fact, the bastard son of the king. This enraged Malkum, but instead of targeting his father for retribution, she set his sights on me. She told him if he captured me, he could breed his own army and crush the king in time. I have no idea how he thought that would work being as I am only one person. Birthing an army would seem like it would take too many years to count! He was clearly looking at the long game. Whatever logic he was using inspired him to kidnap one of my closest friends and murder my best friend’s mother and many other innocents. His twisted mind may be gone now, but Aidan is still missing; and so is Markus.

King Sulis, my adoptive father, believes Markus was working with Malkum the entire time. When trying to get close to me didn’t trap me quickly enough, Malkum intervened. I know this isn’t true. I know there is something wrong with his escape. He couldn’t have been in two places at once, and then there’s the flower. I made that specific flower bloom in Markus’s cell. The only person who could have had it was Markus. I can’t tell Father this without also telling him I helped Markus escape, so I’ve kept that much to myself; but still, I search. I never call his name though, only Aidan’s. Anything to escape Father’s wrath, and wrath he has a lot of these days. His gentle, caring demeanor has transformed into a serious, nearly hostile attitude. As his daughter, I see the last vestiges of the king he once was every now and again. He says he wants to be the strong king he used to be once again, not realizing he is even stronger through love and generosity. Either way, I try to stay out of his path when he is in one of his moods. I may be stronger and faster than him, but the slightest elevation to his voice still sends chills through me. Just one more way to remind me I am not as adult as I may think.

I make one final pass over Nyga and land in the village near the palace. I love the way the warm breeze feels against my feathers, kind of like gentle fingertips lightly stroking each one all at the same time. I fold my wings close to my back and walk up to a modest home with red bricks and a thatched roof. It looks just like many of the others in the area. I see a small human child playing in the garden among the brightly colored flowers. She has ringlets of shiny golden hair that matches her mother’s. She turns as I enter the gate.

Hi, Annie, I say, all smiles.

Annie runs over to me on tiny legs and reaches for me to pick her up. I lift her up and over my head so she can fly. She giggles with excitement, and that brings her mother from inside.

Mary exits the front door with her infant in her arms.

Welcome home, Britt! she says and hugs me, careful not to squish our bundles.

Annie wiggles to get down and begins running around the yard with her arms out, still flying. I reach for the baby and hold him close as Mary ushers us inside. She seems relieved to have a break.

So have you found anything? she asks as she stretches out on the sofa.

No. It’s as if he doesn’t exist, I say, sitting down near her feet. I’ve looked everywhere.

And you’re sure he isn’t dead?

I give her an incredulous look. Yes, I’m sure. I would have seen him by now. It’s been two years.

And Adair is still waiting?

My face goes solemn. Yes. He refuses to go until Aidan is found. I can’t make him. He has to choose to go.

She doesn’t say anything else for several minutes, and I continue playing with her son. I make weird faces by stretching my eyes and mouth in different directions to amuse the child. Each time he smiles, I make a new face.

I change the subject. He’s gotten so big since I last saw him.

Brittyn. He is exactly the same size as he was two days ago when you were here. Babies grow fast but not that fast! she says dubiously.

I start to hand little Kris to her when the door flies open. I jump up and pull Xavier from my waist, only to see Mary’s husband, Kris, entering. He sees us and rushes in our direction. Kris bows in respect then kisses Mary on the cheek.

Princess. There is news from the gate. They’ve found her. I was sent to let you know.

Found who? I ask while sheathing my weapon and handing over the baby, my face suddenly serious.

Myra. She was caught crossing over from the human realm, and she’s pretty beat up. You need to get there quick.

Before he can say anything else, I rush from the house and open a doorway to the in-between. This is just one of the nifty tricks I have learned since coming into full adulthood. I can open doorways anywhere, and they can take me wherever I wish to go, kind of like a fairy path without the whole getting lost forever thing. I was hoping to be in the nearby woods so I wouldn’t startle anyone when I appear out of thin air, but unfortunately, I popped out right in the middle of the group of palace guards and Reggie. I am still getting the hang of the particulars. Just because I have the ability doesn’t make me good at it. Needless to say, they were startled. Crap.

Once I manage to calm everyone down and make them realize I’m not a threat, they bring me to Myra. She’s lying in Reggie’s guard shack on a wooden table. She is wearing ragged human clothing and has fairly visible injuries. Her face is bruised and swollen, and her brow is cut and bleeding; she appears to have several broken ribs, and cuts litter her lower extremities. Her injuries look both new and old with some yellowed and fading, and others nearly purple. I walk over to her and try to heal her some, but she is too far gone. Even though I can perform miracles, it doesn’t make me a miracle worker, and that’s what Myra would need to survive her ordeal. I watch as she takes her last breath and her soul leaves her body. I follow her into the in-between. This in-between is a replica of her home, with its lush, overly green backdrop. I had forgotten Myra is an earth pixie. She is sitting in the middle of the clearing smelling the flowers. I approach her and sit down on the ground with her to talk.

Hello, Myra.

Hello.

Do you know why you’re here?

Yes. I died.

That’s right, and I’m here to help you move on to your afterlife.

She stares at me for a moment then replies, I don’t hurt here. I have forgotten what it feels like to not be in pain. Will the afterlife feel as good as this?

It will be better, and you will get to see your sister.

Her eyes light up at the mention of Mindy.

I’ve missed her so much. Can we go? She stands up and begins looking around as if Mindy is hiding nearby.

I rise as well and say, Yes, but first I need to ask you something.

She stares at me expectantly.

I need to know where you’ve been. We’ve looked for you for years now.

I’ve been running ever since we escaped the prison.

We who? And prison where?

Markus, Aidan, and I.

I draw in a sharp breath, clearly not expecting this revelation, but deep down, I hope.

Where is the prison, Myra? Where did you last see Aidan or Markus? Are they okay? I ask her, trying to keep my voice calm and doing a terrible job of it. My pitch rises and falls in all the wrong places.

The prison is in a place called New York. I saw them last in New York City. We decided to separate to make it more difficult to be tracked.

When was the last time you saw them, and what direction did they go? I ask, getting more agitated at the piecemeal conversation we are having.

I haven’t seen them in more than a year. I don’t know where they went. We thought it better to not know. We were right. She tried to get me to tell her, but I couldn’t. And she left me for dead.

Who is she?

Renee. Is it time for me to go? I don’t know anymore.

There are so many additional questions I wanted to ask her about this Renee; but she deserves her rest, and I cannot behave as selfishly as my ancestors. I swallow all my questions, and they sink like rocks into the pit of my stomach. I hold my hand out to her. She clasps it tightly, and we begin to walk toward her afterlife. I hear Mindy calling for her in the distance, and Myra releases my hand and rushes into the fog toward her voice. She will be happy here. I turn to leave, but before I am completely out of range, I hear Myra shouting, Go to the windy city.

Chapter 2

I exit the in between back at the palace near my quarters. I am so focused on what Myra said I don’t see the person standing by my door and nearly barrel into her.

Crap! Sorry! I didn’t see you, I say, trying to bring my mind back to the present.

It’s okay. Most people don’t, she replies.

I look at the figure standing in front of me. Her dark hair is pulled into a high ponytail, her pale skin luminescent, and her icy blue eyes twinkling. Maureen Moline, the middle Moline sister. I’m not sure I can really call her that anymore since there are only two left.

Can I speak with you for a moment? In private? she asks while peering around as if the walls could actually hear her, and with so many different Fae in the house, they very well may. Although most of the others usually steer pretty clear of my quarters. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Sure. Come on in, I say and open the door to my room.

I escort her to the sitting area and ask my handmaiden, Thea, for tea. Thea leaves the suite, and Maureen begins to talk.

I heard Myra was found today. She pauses, waiting for my confirmation but clearly not needing it.

I take a few breaths before responding. She was, but unfortunately, she didn’t make it, I say finally.

Is it true she came from the human realm?

Yes. It appears that is the case. I try not to give away too much. I know she isn’t the enemy, but I’ve always thought she was holding out, keeping something from me. It’s almost like I can feel her duplicity, and it makes me nervous. I know I have no right to her secrets, but with so many people hellbent on not being truthful with me, my trust is in short supply.

Did she know where Aidan is?

I look her over again, and it occurs to me she has been asking me about Aidan since it was discovered he was actually abducted and not an evil mastermind.

Why are you so interested in Aidan’s whereabouts? I ask suspiciously.

She hesitates then gets up from her chair and begins to pace the sitting room, walking back and forth between the few chairs, careful not to look me in the eye. It’s a combination of her deadly glare and guile.

Well? I ask her. Her steps falter, and she beelines for her original seat. She takes a deep breath and begins.

Aidan and I had been seeing each other for months. We were in love. It came as a sudden shock when he returned from break and acted as if I didn’t exist. I was devastated, but now I know that wasn’t him.

Maureen rises, and in two strides of her long legs, she is kneeling in front of my chair. She grasps my hands with both of hers. It almost takes a hand from up above not to react in a manner that would traditionally be frowned upon, like throat punching, a knee to the chin, or slinging her frail body into the bookcase behind me. This is another surprise; with my coming of age, I do not respond well to touch. It’s as if my fight-or-flight response goes from zero to a thousand with one touch. I calm the feathers rustling across my back and send calming thoughts through my body. The calming vibes obviously do not reach my face in time, and after one look, she releases me and leans back on her haunches, almost folding in on herself.

Please. I just need to know he is okay. I’ve tried to move on, but I can’t, knowing he is still out there somewhere. I owe it to him to help. I can see the pain in her eyes and feel the sorrow radiating from her crumpled form. I gape at her, unsure of who this person is and also feeling internally guilty. All this time, and I had not noticed how tired she looks. I survey her face more closely, and I can see the remnants of the powder used to cover her dark-rimmed eyes and hollow cheeks. This woman has been suffering right under my nose, and I never noticed. I guess I am not as selfless as I think I am.

When I don’t respond, she looks up, careful to not meet my eyes, and says, Please, clearly begging me at this point.

I get up from my chair and step around her, pulling my roving eyes from her face, guilt lacing my features.

Okay, okay. You can help, but first, I need to make sure you are telling the truth. I feel a bit of malfeasance at the thought, but I have to be positive.

Anything! she nearly screams out, jumping up from the floor, with a burst of energy I haven’t seen since combat classes.

I call for Thea, who has returned but was in my dressing chamber. She comes at my hail and bows her head, waiting for instructions. I hate when she does that, but I have not been able to convince her to break the habit.

Thea, please go find the general and ask him to come see me. Impress on him how important it is.

Thea bows and rushes from the room. A few minutes later, she reenters and announces General Riga.

I cross the room and hug the general in a tight embrace. This man may not be of blood relation, but he is family all the same.

General! I’m happy to see you have returned! I say excitedly.

General Riga has been in Marcor, trying to find out more about Malkum and his heritage. Despite what he learned from me, he wanted to hear about it from a source closer to the action. Probably didn’t want information laced with my bothersome emotions either.

Yes, Princess, I arrived just last night. Would you like an update?

Yes. However, I need help with another matter first. Do you mind?

Anything my princess needs from me is at your service, he says with a smile.

I shake my head, promptly dismissing all the princess talk. I do not consider myself a princess, nor do I behave like a princess probably should. I love my father, but the title reminds me of my duties to the province that I have definitely been shirking lately. Luckily for me, no one seems to notice or care these days. It’s almost like everyone is lost within their own cloud of personal despair.

Continuing, I say, I need to know if Maureen here is telling the truth about something. I gesture to Maureen who is standing close by, waiting not so patiently. She is overtly fidgeting and pulling at the hem of her knee-length dress.

Okay. Maureen, if you would, come stand here and hold my hands. He points to the spot directly in front of him and holds out his hands. She complies with no hesitation. The general has a way of making his voice sound so calm and relaxed. Like you would be safe as long as you hear it. The type of soothing you can only get from the warmest water after the most trying day or that first bite into something, anything chocolate, just creamy and smooth.

Now, Princess, ask your questions. Make sure you are specific.

Maureen, are you telling the truth about you and Aidan having a romantic relationship?

Yes.

Tell us how it happened.

I was in the library one day trying to figure out the iPod I had gotten for my birthday. Human technology is not really my thing, so I was struggling. He saw my distress and offered to help. We started talking, and next thing I knew, he was asking me on a date. After that date, we were together every free minute we had. Careful not to let you, Adair, or my sisters know.

Why didn’t you want anyone to know about it?

Because we knew you all wouldn’t approve. Aidan is gentle and reserved, whereas I am known for being vicious and ruthless. From the outside, it doesn’t look like it would work, but we balanced each other out. He didn’t want to change me, and he wasn’t with me for my looks. He loved me for me, she says with finality.

The general releases her hands and looks at me.

She is telling the truth.

Okay, good.

I gesture to the chairs, and we all have a seat while Thea pours my guests some tea and places an open can of Pepsi in front of me.

So what’s the news? I ask. General Riga hesitates and gives a short look in Maureen’s direction. I give a small, almost imperceptible, nod, and he begins. The entire exchange takes place over less than a second. General Riga begins to speak almost immediately.

King Myselis told me Malkum was, in fact, his biological child. He was given to the queen after their own child died in childbirth. Despite what Markus told you, his mother knew Malkum wasn’t hers. It was only after his biological mother made threats against Markus that Malkum was disinherited. Malkum left with his biological mother, and the king never saw him again.

What was his mother’s name? I ask.

Renee.

I give him a shocked look, and Maureen picks up on it.

You know something about her, don’t you? Maureen asks, her eyes narrowing at me in suspicion. There is the cunning Maureen I am familiar with.

No. I mean, yes. I shake my head a bit to clear my thoughts and continue. When I went to escort Myra’s soul, she told me her, Markus, and Aidan were being held by a woman named Renee. She said they split up in some place called New York City.

No one says anything for the next few minutes, and the general leaves to go brief