Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-29. The painting

[Xanthea]

"I didn't expect you to visit me again," said the High lady.

"Why not, High lady?" I asked, preparing the color palette, brushes and blank canvas on the over-bed table for her.

She looked into my eyes and then lowered her gaze.

"Well... because of what happened yesterday with Nyssa," she said.

Maybe I knew what she insinuated. She felt bad for her silence when Nyssa lost her temper. Often, silence spoke volumes. And what I heard in her silence was helplessness against the truth.

"She told the truth, didn't she?" I said, forcing a faint smile onto my face. "And I couldn't help but notice the bond you share with healer Nyssa as though she was already a part of your family. And I can see it clearly how much she loves and cares about you."

"She has been a great support ever since I got this disease and she keeps me updated with what's happening in Raven's life ever since they were in the college, so we got close."

I didn't have to force a smile this time.

As I dipped her brushes in the water, I couldn't help but notice the High lady's gaze flickering with a hint of melancholy. It was as if the bristles of the brush held memories that refused to be painted.

High lady peered at me with curious eyes, then she said.

"What Nyssa said was true indeed, but aren't you angry? Resentful? Don't you hate us?" she asked. "Why are you still helping me? Caring about me? Why spend time with me when you know there is nothing I can do for you? Why get close when... you know it's gonna end up cold?"

"Maybe I am doing all this because I know it won't last long," I chuckled softly.

I handed her the brush.

"And... I don't feel cold near you. You've always felt like warm sunlight ever since we met."

She deftly handled the brush with the skill of a professional.

"And I am not doing this because I want something from you, High lady. I am doing this because it makes me happy. And my mother always used to say knowing the harsh truth is always better than being delusional. It helps us accept our reality. And in circumstances when we can't change our situation, we can always change our mindset. I know I can't change my situation, but trust me, you have helped me become a little stronger mentally. So I am grateful, not resentful..." I said.

High lady took a deep breath. Letting out a lingered sigh, she nodded.

"You have a very kind heart, Xanthea and sadly, this place is not for the kind-hearted. You are in the wrong realm. A heart like yours certainly belongs to the celestial realm, but unfortunately, even after your death, you won't be able to go there."

"You humble me, High lady. But if I went to the celestial realm, I wouldn't have met you or Nesryn."

she asked with an astonished look. Pouting,

she looked at me with disbelief all over

very strange child. You know that? No mortal has ever been grateful

to the people who make you feel

broke into a

mother seems to be a

"She indeed was."

"Was?"

died right after my

lurked on her face and I knew she wondered how I knew what my mother said when

left behind her words for me in

here kids who have parents don't wanna listen to a word they say. Life must have been difficult for you without her..." I lowered my

the celestial realm or the infernal realm...

us immortals. They enter the creator's life-death-salvation cycle. We can't keep track of souls that haven't been contracted to us, so we have

is the happiest and luckiest mother

happy for her." I said with a

don't match Xanthea. Often it is better to acknowledge what you feel, however dark your emotions may seem. Accepting reality, like

tears, but couldn't. They reappeared as quickly

I could meet my mother's soul after I die."

is also a hope. And it hurts when the hope breaks. Sweety, I feel terrible that I might have unknowingly broken that very meaningful hope of yours. I truly am sorry,"

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I shook my head.

is contracted to my sons, so even after you die, they'll keep a track of you

I mumbled to myself, scrubbing my tears off

to relax and make amends with my feelings. Only once I was a lot calmer did the High lady speak again. "Umm... maybe I think I know what I wish to paint. Do you have your mother's photo?" High

my mother, but it

like? Can you describe her features to me? I'll try to

My mood brightened

me what she was

beautiful," my excited chuckle

doubt she was. Just look at you," she said warmly, gazing at

held back my

as a hobby became my profession and my wolf's power," she said. "Wolf's power? Like the demonic ability of your wolf?" I tilted my head. "Like Mavka can sense when I need her, and she always comes when I

reality and my portraits. It was a highly unreliable ability because not everything we imagine can come to reality. There was a point where I had lost my reality to my art and my art was just my illusion. Eventually, my wolf lost the ability to this disease, and I lost the will to wield a brush. But, since you handed me a brush today, I wish to create something for you. It might not be real, but the art will always exist in your reality. Just describe your

nodded, smiling with my

at the corner of her right eye... her skin as fair as a swan... oh! And her nose..." The next few hours with the High lady were all about my mother. I never really had a chance to talk about my mother before with anyone so passionately, but now that I did talk about her, she felt a bit more alive within me. After a while, the High lady asked me to move away from her bed and sit by the window. My hair