Chapter 3

Catheryn

Cats emotions exploded; terror, horror, anger, love, grief and happiness. They each burst inside her one after the other, intensifying then subsiding to make way for the next. Finally, all that she had been feeling for the past month exploded in one, intense, bittersweet happiness that consumed her like fire. Mum! she cried, and ran forward to her mother, her arms outstretched. Her mother smiled, a huge, overwhelming smile, and Cat flung herself into her mothers open arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She buried her face in the clothes that billowed around her mothers willowy frame. Mum& mum& she wept, the tears streaming down her face, how could you? How could you just have left us? Oh mum& She held onto her mother as if she would never let go.
Hush, hush, Cat&.my daughter, Cat gasped as her mother began to speak in a pure, silvery voice, leaving you  my family  hurt more than I could bear. But it had to be done. Catheryn, my dear, sweet kitten, you must understand right now that I never left you because I wanted to. It was because I had to. I was commanded by beings that were not of this earth. I could not endanger you; place upon you a burden that was not yours to bear. That is why I left this life. Cat gasped, and stepped back from her mother.
Then you must be& dead?
Her mother smiled gently. The answer was clear. Cat looked up at her. She was still the same; same figure, same face, same smile that was so like her own. But something had changed  her presence was different somehow. Cat couldnt put her finger on it, but it was definitely different. Mum& murmured Cat, what happened?
Cat - it is of no importance. Not yet. And anyway, I have little time left now in this world. My strength is failing, and I cannot remain here for much longer. I do not wish my time here to be wasted telling you things that will soon become clear to you. Cat tried to speak at this point, but her mother hushed her with a finger on Cats lips. Sweetheart, listen, Dulcinea continued, but with a renewed urgency, as if she had little time left to speak, as I am sure you have noticed, there is more to death than is clear. Catheryn, there is indeed life after death. In fact, there are many, all on different planes. It is hard to explain now, but soon it will become clear to you. Rather sooner than I would have hoped& she finished with a sigh, then carried on, quicker than before, but none the less, you must be prepared for what you will soon encounter. I have come with a warning; Cat, you possess a gift, Cat nodded mutely. This gift, it is of great importance, greater that you could ever even begin to understand. If used at its full extent, it could tip the balance of life and death in this world, it would cause turmoil, it would rip the world apart. If anyone were to harvest that power and use it& well, the results would be devastating. That is why you must guard your power carefully. Do not let anyone take it from you. You will learn from experience in the times to come how to use it properly. She gave a sudden groan and collapsed to the floor. She seemed to be fading, although Cat saw that she was fighting hard against it. Cat cried out, and rushed to steady her. Ah, my soul, continued her mother in a weak voice, it hurts me to remain in this world. I am not strong enough  recent& events have left me weaker than before. She carried on, but beads of perspiration rolled down her forehead with the strain, Cat, today, someone  something, will come for you. Trust those with the golden bracelet. Only they are your friends. Go with them. My daughter, please, you must remember what I have warned you about your gift. It is the only help I can give you now. Her eyes closed, although her face remained distorted in agony. Her breaths were ragged and uneven. Mother! screamed Cat, I cant lose you again, I just cant! A loud, dry sob caught at the back of her throat, but she became silent when she saw her mother was trying to speak again. You wont lose me, Cat. I will always remain in the other world, however it is up to you to find me. My only regret is that I will not be able to watch you grow up in this world, watch you experience all the things that you would have normally experienced. Ah, you are so beautiful, Cat. Now, even if you dont remember any of the thing you hear from me now, remember what I have told you about your gift, it will perhaps enable you to understand when the time is right. Also, one other piece of advise that only one who has lived by her mistakes can give you: follow your own path. Never let anyone make it for you. But you must always be happy with your decision  I chose the wrong path, I was not happy with it, and it was the worst mistake I ever made. I wish you to fare much, much better than I did. Good luck, my Catheryn. She looked peaceful now, but had almost completely faded away. Her voice came as a final whispering sigh, I am too weak to remain here any longer& I must return to the other world. You are not really losing me, Cat, but you must tell your father that I loved him and will always do so. Tell Sam that it was not his fault that I passed away, and that he must protect you, as I am now unable to do so. Remember, I will love you and your brother for always and eternity. Goodbye, kitten, be at peace, and I hope we will meet again& Her eyes opened, and stared into Cats. The deep emerald pools were filled with love, and they were smiling as she faded& faded& and was gone. Cat stared at the spot where her mother had lain, her tears streaming down her face. To lose her once had been a tragedy that she could hardly bear. To lose her again& but her mother had said that she wasnt really going, hadnt she? But she had returned to the& the death place, the Afterlife  how was she supposed to follow her mother there?

Cat couldnt move, speak or think at all for hours. She felt utterly numb; she felt no emotions, no thoughts, nothing. The sun had risen hours ago; long fingers of gold pushed their way through the chinks in her curtains. They streaked the floor like the stripes on a tigers pelt. Cat couldnt measure how long she sat by where her mother had lain. By the time there come a knock on her door the streaks of light had moved halfway across her room. The knock on her door seemed to awaken her from almost a trance. The stood up slowly and unsteadily, rocking on her feet. She unlocked the latch on her door to find Sam standing there, looking concerned. She felt herself relax; Sam was here  everything would be all right now that Sam was here. Suddenly she felt herself overwhelmed with a deep blackness, and with a final, grateful submission, she blacked out.