"it's time you hear this..... I am not your mother!!!"
A heavy burden was lifted from her chest but unknowing to her it was transferred to Lona.
His chest aches so hard that it seizes his breath for a few seconds. "What did you say?" He calmly asked without hesitation. This was far from good news.
"I know I have failed you Lona, i-i-i just wanted to be a good woman to you" she tried to explain with her eyes already welled in tears but Lona could barely hear her. His head was clouded with so many thoughts. His emotions rising drastically.
"Calm down Lona, calm down!!" He tried to calm himself but to no avail. "Lona get a hold of yourself" his mother grabbed him by the shoulder, he quickly retreated.
"So the woman I spent my life calling mum wasn't even my mother" the fury in his voice sent her shaking.
"At least let me explain, please!!"
He scoffed and gestured, "you have the floor."
She hesitated, trying to find better words to ease the damage. Her thoughts moved at a hazardous pace.
"First of all, I want to say... I am sorry. I could have told you earlier but I promised your biological mother to tell you on your 18th birthday."
Now it sounded more absurd, "so you know my real mother. Who is she?"
She laid down a little. "Yes I knew her. The question isn't who is she, but what is she?" Her voice began to shake. The thought of the woman made her fear grow.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Your biological mother is a..... Monster. I am so surprised that she could even give birth to a child. I worked as her servant. Though I only saw her twice but that was enough to tell me that she was far from being human. She has this choking aura and without being careful, you could die just by standing with her"
Lona's eyes widened in surprise, "wait does it mean the woman I see in my dreams and visions is my mother?"
His mother's looks only made him understand that she doesn't have a direct answer. "I can't say, but that could be unlikely".
"Your mother wasn't even the one that gave you to me, it was one of her trusted female warriors. Making me promise that I will raise you to be the gentleman that you are now"
"Does that mean she is dead?" Lona asked In defeat.
"No, I am very sure about that. According to what I heard, she is immortal and I can see that trait in you."
Before Lona could question, she continued. "The truth is your original family isn't what you would ever dream of. Even your father's bloodline is nothing but darkness and insanity. With its name causing fear for millennials."
"You are immune to this Apocalypse, your family is one of the few nobles that are immune to it though only a handful of people are aware."
Lona gazed at his hands, not believing what he had just heard, first she said he was immortal, now she is saying he was immune to the apocalypse.
"How do you know all this mum?". "That means that K and dad aren't related to me"
"Yes. I was a servant to your mum. I barely know anything about her, I don't even know her name but my husband was a good servant to that of your biological father. He was raised and trained by them even when he wasn't related to them by blood."
It started becoming clear to Lona, so that was how dad became a Joker. This showed how powerful his real family is.
"And best of all, they are nobles and that means they could attend the Reom Academy. You see, your life is about to change. The cards never lied."
Lona smiled slightly, he still couldn't comprehend how all his years spent weren't with his biological parents.
"Tell me more about my family" he asked, almost sounds like he pleaded.
"I owe you that, son. First of all, Lona is your name. You are LONA BLACKWOOD. You are from the Blackwood noble family. Only family who flows with deep darkness and bonds with blood. If there is any family who is to turn to unstoppable monsters of Emotions. The Blackwood family is the first."
"That family is so powerful and dark that they barely have kids or offspring." She sounded like she was boosting even when she wasn't related to them.
"So that means I am the only child, I have no siblings" Lona couldn't hold back his tears anymore, this news didn't take it easy on him.
His mum laughed out loud, "that isn't true. In fact, since the history of your family, these last children are the highest so far. Your family gave birth to 7 children and you are the seventh. This is where it gets messy. Rumor has it that none of these children are from the same mother."
Lona jolted, his muscles tightened. "You mean each of us have different mothers?"
"Ohh yes and these women aren't ordinary, rare bloods or powers or even relatives of higher beings. Your father is known as the King of Harem. Till now, no one knows how he gets them to bear his seed."
Lona was more curious than ever. Now he sets sight to meet his biological father.
His mother drew close to him, like she wanted to whisper so the wall won't hear. "Just see yourself as an experiment done by the Blackwoods and you are their only male child."
"Wait.... WHAT...!!"
His face twitching, "you are the only male child of the Blackwoods currently. That was why I didn't want you to go to the outside world. I made sure I hid your name from all possible databases. Why did you think I didn't send you and K to school? Kelly was my child and it wouldn't be fair if she goes to the outside world and you don't so we hired a home tutor."
Understanding began to flow, tears also were streaming down Lona's cheeks. "You did all this to protect me." He couldn't get over the guilt.
"The moment you were born, I knew that my life was for you, even after losing everything. You were my consolation prize and I never regretted raising the only offspring of a deity if I am not mistaken" she was referring to his mother.
The thought of it only made Lona blush more. Almost immediately she gazed at her wrist watch.
"Alright it's time, eat quick so we would leave." Lona looked puzzled, "where are we going to?" He asked.
"Change of life and Awakening. I am taking you to where you rightfully belong.
"You mean my original family?"
"Yes, I also made a promise that on this day, you will be with your real family permanently. I am very sure they will be glad to see you" she said calmly.
"Are you sure?" Lona felt scared.
"Why not, you are their only son. People like me are born to die for you" that sounded like a joke but she really meant it.
Lona chuckled not understanding what she meant. "Alright then, let me hurry" his enthusiasm only grew by each second, still practicing with the deck of cards as he ate in a rush.
****
"Where are we going to mum?" His gaze couldn't be apart from the deserted highway.
He rarely went outside but every moment he was opportune to leave the house, he never stopped looking at the amazing yet deserted landscapes.
"We are heading to the mansion, don't worry it won't take long" her words made impact on his curiosity.
It didn't take long before they left the highway, drifting into shadow of woods. The sun was no longer in sight, all that was seen was a half chopped Moon which illuminated their path.
Loba didn't even pack anything, he tried but his mum told him no need for that. How could he be going far and all he had was his deck of cards and that's all.
"Will you stay with me there?" His question could barely be heard even in the cold of the night. His mum just kept quiet. Lona knew that she heard what he said.
Now his eyes turned towards her, she felt the gaze. "I-i can't. I don't belong"
Lona just sighed, "maybe I could talk to my father and he will let you say." She just smiled, his words melted her heart.
"That's so sweet but don't worry. I will always be there with you whether I am there or not."
The little cranky cat came to a halt, now the silence of Forest could be heard. His mum was the first to get out of the car and just stare into the empty space where lights couldn't reach.
Lona expression remained confused. He expected a large building but all he looked at was a dead end covered in pitch black.
"We are here Lona, this might look crazy but I want to ask, are you ready?" The poor lady hesitated before asking Lona who was still inside the car.
Without wasting time, he rushed out of the car still looking at the dead end. "So What are we to do?"
His mother pulled out what looked like a key and a little dagger. "These are what you need. I will open the door for you to go in"
"Are you really going to leave me?" Lona's voice began to shake, his gaze turned to his mother who was trying to hold back her emotions.
"You have to understand Lona, I have fulfilled my own part of the bargain. You have to go see your real family"
"But you hav no one. I am your consolation prize, you said that"
His mother just smiled as tears flowed down her cheeks. "Don't think I am not with you. I have always been by your side and that is what you should know. There is no time, you have to leave"
She looked around like she was sensing something around. She quickly drew the dagger out of it shilt and slowly made a cut through the air.
Lona could have laughed at what she was doing if he didn't see how the air reacted so eerie to her actions.
"What the ...!!!!"