Chapter 1
A small boy walked home from the market, carrying the groceries he bought for his sick mother. He opened the door to their small house and locked the door behind him. The boy of twelve put the items on the counter and went to his mother's side.
She looked worse. Her once bright face turned a sickly pale color and her coughing sounded more like hacking. The mother looked like a ghost that just rose from the dead.
Sighing, the son pecked a kiss on his mother's forehead, trying to be as cheerful as possible.
"Mother, I bought you your favorite ice cream. Mint Chocolate Chip." he smiled and gave her a small tub of a green container and a spoon.
"Thank you, Will." she replied but didn't take a bite out of the dessert.
"Will?"
"Yes, mother?"
"There is...something...I want...to ask...you."
"What is it?"
"Can you...forgive me?" her words coming out slower than usual
"Whatever for?"
"I lied...to...you...,your father isn't dead..."
"What do you mean? I thought he died in a plane accident."
"No, he is alive. I have to...know if...you will forgive...me...before I die."
"Oh, mother. Of coarse I forgive you." a gentle smile spread across his face as tears fell down his cheeks. "And you aren't going to die. You can't. We can fight this thing..."
"No. I will die...tonight. But you will...not be alone. I want you to...live with your father...I was wrong for seperating...you guys...I thought I was...protecting you...but now I see...I just put you in more danger..."
"What are you talking about?"
"See this mark...on my arm?"
"Yes, it's the tattoo you got when you were eighteen."
"It's no tattoo. It's a mark, that only our kind have...when we realize who we are..."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't tell...you more, Henry...will explain. I sent for him, he will...take you to...your father."
With those last words the mother closed her eyes, never to be opened again. The young boy wept by her lifeless body's side, never to speak to his mother, the only relative and friend he has ever known, again.