Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 11: Amends

Raven awoke from her nap to the rays of sunlight beaming through her window, leaving a slight burning sensation on her skin. She finally convinced herself to get out of bed, though she didn't even feel like moving. Begrudgingly, she dragged herself to the living room and sat down on the sofa. 

She stared into the flickering flame that was burning in the fireplace, deep in thought. Though Raven had been struggling with depression since Brone's death, she was feeling worse than she had in a long time. She was overcome with an unbearable guilt, and her mind lingered on every awful thing she had said to Onyx in their argument not very long ago.

She had every intention of apologizing to him, but she couldn't find the right words, or the right time. But on this day, a holiday celebrated by humans and vampires alike, she was thankful for her son. 'I wish I didn't have to work today,' Raven thought. 'I wanted to spend Harvestfest with Onyx...'

She stood from her seat on the sofa and cautiously approached Onyx's bedroom door, knocking gingerly. "Onyx? I need to talk to you."

Raven received no reply, and she entered the room with a sigh. "Onyx..."

Onyx put down his colored pencil and looked up at his mother, a tinge of fear evident in his eyes. "Good morning, mom..." he said quietly. 'Oh no. What am I in trouble for now? Did she catch me sneaking out? I hope not...'

Raven silently walked over to the bed and sat down. "Come and sit," she said, and patted the space next to her. 

Onyx obeyed, and sat down on his bed next to her. "Um... am I in trouble...?" he asked.

"No, of course not, I..." Raven sighed. "I wanted to apologize to you about the way I treated you that day that we had an argument," she began. "I only want what's best for you. I never meant to hurt you."

Onyx frowned. "I know. I'm sorry I upset you so much, mom..."

"It's not your fault. I was wrong to react so harshly," she said. 

Raven looked down. "I'm just so scared to lose you, Onyx. When you told me that girl was a human, I was so afraid... that the same thing that happened to your father would..." She paused. "...Never mind."

Onyx's eyes widened. "My father? What do you mean?"

"It's nothing, Onyx," she said firmly.

Onyx frowned. "But you told me you didn't know who my father was..."

Raven was caught in her own lie. "Onyx," she began. "Sometimes there are things you can't know until you're older. This is one of those things."

"But why? Why did you lie to me, mom? I don't understand..."

"You'll understand someday," she said, and pulled her son into her arms. "But what you can understand today is that I'm so very thankful for you, Onyx."

Onyx's frustration melted away. It was rare his mother showed him affection, and he was comforted by her gesture. "I'm thankful for you, too, mom."

Raven frowned, and stood up from the bed. "I planned on spending the day with you, but... I got a call last night. I have to work today."

"But it's Harvestfest!" Onyx exclaimed, and stood up as well. "They can't make you work on Harvestfest... that's a day for family, isn't it?"

Raven managed to smile, and placed her hands on Onyx's shoulders. "I know, but I have to. I'll be home tonight, and we can spend some time together then, okay?"

Onyx smiled, trying to hide his sadness. "I understand."

"Okay, good. I have to leave now, or I'm going to be late," Raven said. "I'll see you later."

He sighed. "Okay... bye, mom." 

Though he was sad that he didn't get to spend Harvestfest with his mom, he had many other things on his mind. Who was his father? What happened to him? And why did his own mother lie to him?