Who is this lady and how does she know my name?

As I descended the stairs one by one, my feet started to shake constantly as the hypertension of my heart started to rise, suspensefully. This is my life every day. There's always something at the end. Today was supposed to be the best day of my life but on the contrary, it's the worst. I wanted to enjoy it for the first time. I wanted to feel human for the last time.

I curse the day I was born, and I meant it.

No matter how hard I've tried to fit in this selfish world, there's always going to be something to remind me of my original home. 

Lionland.

Was I proud? No. Was I blessed? I wish.

My existence was written by someone who was supposed to love me unconditionally. I was wrong. Ana Hudson, my grand grandmother never loved her children. My father was the only person who had a heart of Gold. He was there for me when nobody else was. Now, this stupid prophecy. I had to remind myself over and over again that Jack Walter was going to survive this and gain his power back.

Welcome to my world. Where normal isn't a thing. Where Love is forbidden by my ancestors. Where blood is the best poison someone like me could ever taste. Where pleasure is expired in my hormones. Where life is just a fairytale.

Take a quick tour. Dear friend.

But be careful, your own enemy might be your own shadow. 

"Good evening..." I headed to the living room. "Please, stay where you are," I commanded. "Don't come closer."

The lady obeyed.

I thought she was going to be old and creepy but my eyes proved me wrong. She was a beautiful human being. Her curly brown hair was out of beauty. Her skin was as young as the sun. Her clothes were contaminated by dirt. Her toenails needed to be repaired by an electrician. That's how unpleasant they were.

I didn't want to be rude to her. This is not who I am but I had to protect myself. My father used to tell me that life is not a straight line, sometimes you can find yourself heading in different directions. I didn't want to add one person to my life. I was tired of the lies and disappointments. I wanted to draw a straight line. Impossible to achieve but that was my last goal.

"Happy birthday, Hawk." Tears flew down her face as she tried to console me with her words. "I'm so proud of you. You're so tall and handsome just like your father."

"What do you want?" She really got to me by mentioning my father. What the hell did she want from me? I had no clue. "How do you know my name?" A quick smile aroused her cheeks, positively as she sat on the couch near the window.

"What have you done, Child?" Her tone scared me. "Why did you break the rules?"

How did she know about that land? Who was she? Why now?

"I'm sorry, Maim but I really don't know what you're talking about." The lie melted under my skin. "Thank you for the visit but I think you got the wrong guy." I headed to the front door as her upcoming words stopped me, automatically.

"I had to kill my nephew to protect you and give you that last page." She admitted. "You should know my name by now." She chuckled. "My story is quite famous in Lionland. I'll tell you that."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Evana Hudson. Queen of Lionland, traitor." 

No! No! No! There's no way! For so many decades. Her skin still looks like she was born yesterday. It can't be! How is she still alive? What happened?

"Please, leave," I replied, shockingly. Lost for words. "Leave."

"I'm the one who broke the rules in Lionland." She reminded me of her story. "I'm the girl who ran away from home to give birth to your mother, Ana Hudson." Her words shocked me. I was speechless, my bones were floating inside my body. I was numb. There I was, standing in the middle of my house, witnessing my own nightmares, eye-to-eye.

Evana Hudson, flesh and blood.

"I can't leave." She announced. "I'm here to take you home."

"Home?" My brows arched. "This is my home," I yelled. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"The clock is ticking, Hawk." She insisted. "We need a new leader and Lionland needs you."

"What are you saying right now?" I said, confused. "Lionland no longer exists."

"My dear sister, Kara, told me to come back and destroy the land but I just couldn't." She cried. "She told me to bring my daughter when she turns twenty-one but she was so young, weak and beautiful. I didn't want to risk her life. I didn't want to destroy my home. I wanted my mother to live her life."

"Why didn't you?" I asked, furiously. "What have you done?"

"I loved my father. I did." She sighed. "But he betrayed me and killed Kara." Her conscience patted her mind, consolingly. "He created a curse between the moon and the sun." Her eyes were full of regrets. "I'm not proud of myself. My sister saved my life and I want revenge."

"Why do you need me?"

"You're the last Hulion." She exclaimed. "The most powerful." She made some steps towards me as she continued. "We have to kill my father."

"I'm not killing anyone." I declined. "The door is this way. Have a great night." I walked away.

"What if I tell you that I can save Jack's life before the clock dies at twelve?" She ran after me. "Would you change your mind?"

"You're bluffing."

"I'm not." She got on her knees. "Please, believe me. I'm telling you the truth."

"Please, get up." I felt bad. "What do you want me to do?"

"There's a map on the page." She stated. "I drew the map because I wanted to find my way back to Lionland. I know how to get there but you have to come with me."

"Why would I trust you?" I questioned. "You killed your own nephew. Your own blood."

"You're also my blood." She rephrased. "I want the best for us. I want the best for Lionland and Father is ruining mother's life. I have to step in and disgrace his crown in Kara's memory."

"I don't trust you."

"We're running out of time." She whispered. "We have to leave before you turn twenty-one. You have to come with me, Hawk."

"And If I don't?"

"Jack will die." She responded, with so much confidence in her voice. "Is that what you want?"

"What do I have to do?" I asked, desperately. "Tell me."

"You have to forget about the human world." She cited. "You have to leave everything behind. Your money, your house and everyone you love."

"Including Hazel?"

"I know it's hard but you have to make sacrifices in life."

"What the fuck are you telling me right now?" I said under my teeth. "What about Hazel? What's going to happen to her?"

"Nothing." She replied, sadly. "Nothing is going to happen to her but you will have to choose."

"Choose?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"If you want to save Jack's life, you have to leave Hazel behind." She explained. "Jack is Part Hulion, he can come to the land but I'm sorry to inform you that Hazel can't come with us."

"What would happen if she does?" Questions were burning my mind with curiosity. "I can't leave her behind. I love her."

"Lionland is a magic land. The land of Blood and Storms. A small village where Lions are gods and humans are slaves of Dust. " I thought of Hazel. "Where real blood is water in the enemy's throat and storms are like silent thunders under the heavy rain. The sun is a dangerous threat and the moon is highly praised." She paused as she caressed my chin, slowly. "Lionland has its own world, different sun. The sun will burn her skin and her blood will tear her up. Her ashes will spread all over Lionland as a blessing. She has to stay in her own world. Don't worry about her, as soon as you set foot in Lionland, she will no longer know your existence."

"Would I forget her?"

"No," She responded. "She's going to be on your mind every day. Until the day you die."

"When will I die?"

"The human world brings death. If you stay here after twelve. Your death will be automatic but if you come with me before the clock dies, you will live forever and you'll never get old."

"I love Hazel to death. I can't lose her."

"I know." Her face was pale. "I've been hiding for so many years. I faked my own death to forget about my daughter. Hazel is really lucky to have you in her life." 

"I don't want to leave her behind."

"What time is it?" She stared at the clock. Clueless. "I can't read a clock."

"It's Ten, twenty-nine."

"Make up your mind." She pushed me to my last limits. "You'll have to choose." I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. "Do you want to save Jack's life or let him die to be with Hazel?"

Man!

This is hard.

Jack's life? Or Hazel?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE?