Marker of Hope by Nely Cab

I
knew this firsthand because when my dad, Hector, died, my mom told
me the same thing: sit down .
    So I did. I sat on one of the chairs in the
study. David placed his hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at
him.
    “How bad?” I asked.
    “Just listen,” he said.
    Nyx took the chair next to me, while
Alezzander lingered at the door.
    “This story isn’t like the stories you’ve
heard before,” Nyx said. “The ending was never the same.”
    “I’m not sure I understand,” I said.
    “The ending was left up to the child hearing
it to tell.”
    “That makes no sense,” I said. “What kind of
story is that?”
    “I often wondered the same thing.” Alezzander
walked into the room with his hands behind his back. “I thought it
was meant to be a way to spark a child’s imagination and to make
him or her feel like an important contributor to the victory—or
demise—of Eva’s tale. But now…” He rubbed his chin. “Now I
understand why it’s told this way.”
    “Why?” I asked.
    “Because the only one who can decide how it
ends is the Marker of Hope. It’s her story to tell, after all.”
    “That’s it?” I said, unimpressed.
    Alezzander nodded.
    “You know….” I looked up at David. “You
really shouldn’t ask a person to sit down unless you’re about to
give them devastating news.”
    “Uh…” David gave me a confused stare. “I
asked you to sit down because I wanted you to relax.”
    “Who said I’m not relaxed? I’m fine. You’re
the one who should relax.”
    “Isis, you’re stressed and your eyes are
giving it away. They’ve been changing since my parents walked in
the door. I’m surprised Olympia didn’t notice.”
    I glanced at Nyx and Alezzander. They nodded
in agreement.
    “It happened in the car with your mother,
too,” David reminded me.
    “Okay. So, I might be feeling some pressure
with all that’s happening. But how am I supposed to control
something I have no control over?”
    “You have to learn. It’s a part of you.” Nyx
held her hand out to me, palm up. “May I?”
    I gave her my hand, and she held it between
both of hers. She fixed her gaze on a spot on the floor. It took no
more than a few seconds before she looked up at me again.
    “In spite of your mother’s claims saying you
don’t eat,” she said, putting my hand on my lap, “you’re very
healthy. And so is my grandchild.”
    “Is that all you feel?” David asked his
mother.
    “Aside from her growing strength—we saw a
display of it earlier—I feel as if the transformation has paused.
But…” She shrugged a shoulder. “I could be wrong.”
    “Really?” I stood up. “It stopped? Are you
sure?”
    “I could be wrong,” Nyx repeated. “I’ve been
wrong about you before.”
    In the midst of all that had transpired
during the last couple of months, this news shed the most dazzling
light of hope since I learned I was becoming a monster.
    “We’re waiting on test results from Dr.
Gunn,” David said. “Perhaps he’ll be able to confirm—”
    “Gunn?” Alezzander’s forehead crinkled. “How
did you get a hold of him?”
    “Dr. Gunn and his wife are living here for
now,” I explained. “With Galilea.”
    “And why is Galilea living here?” Alezzander
asked.
    “Because I asked her to come with me,” I
said.
    “Galilea’s been protecting Isis all this
time,” Nyx said. “Like she’s supposed to.” She lowered her head.
“Like I was supposed to. Years after I left the Runes, she took my
place.” She turned to look at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you and
one of my sons would end up together.”
    “You’ve kept much from me.” Alezzander lifted
Nyx’s chin.
    “I have,” Nyx agreed. “I’m sorry.”
    Alezzander kissed Nyx’s forehead. “It’s all
right,” he said. “We’ll discuss it later.”
    “So what do I do now?” I asked.
    “Well, there’s only one thing you can do,”
Alezzander told me. “Stay alive.”
    Easier said than done.
    ***
    I filled