Part 6

Previously on The Butterfly Saga:

Previously on this:
"Butterfly," she heard her name being called. She tried desperately to find the voice, but it was no where. "Butterfly," she heard her name again, only this time, she recognized the voice. It was her sister Berry. "Berry?" she called. "Is that you?" Berry stood in front of her, clear as a crystal. "You must wake up, Butterfly. Wake up!" the words wake up seemed to come in two voices. She stretched open her eyes to see Bee, her mate, in front of her. He looked sad and worried. She knew it couldn't be more than 3:00 in the morning. "Bee, what is it?" she asked, not sure if she wanted the answer. "Just come look, Butterfly." She dashed on past him to where her sister was sleeping. She didn't move. "Oh, Berry," she whispered. "What happened to you?" Bee approached from behind. "She got hit by a monster. We were midnight hunting and the monster came through the grass, she got hit, oh Butterfly, I'm sorry. I should have been hit. She saved my sorry ass. I didn't move. I killed your sister." He dug his nose into Butterfly's shoulder. "It's not your fault." she assured him. "She was always a little overly protective. Of me, my mother, brother, and you." She brushed her muzzle on his and bit back the sadness. "I want to bury her," she said. Bee nodded, and grabbed her limp sister to the softer earth.
***
Butterfly moaned. She tried to go back to sleep, but Aria had to keep bothering her. "Just let me reach your heart!" Aria cried. "No! I'm keeping me the way I am!" "Fine, smart ass. Don't give me access, I'll have to kill you for it!" "In your dreams, bitch." "Fine, I'll access it myself!" She lunged at Butterfly. Butterfly tried to dodge, but vines quickly grew around her feet. "Nighty-night, sweetheart! Let the killing begin!" And her dream evaporated to a red mist.
***
"Butterfly!" Bee called, looking down on her. "What the hell were you doing!?" Butterfly moaned. "Waking up?" she went down to wash her pelt but saw blood. "Butterfly, you tried to kill innocent cats!" She thought for a moment. Her memory was blurry. Then it hit her like a brick. "Aria. She visited me in a dream, trying to get me to give up my soul. When she lunged, vines grew around my feet and the last thing I remember is right now." Bee sighed. "I knew that wasn't my girl." He managed to smile. He wrapped around her and started washing her coat. "Just rest," he said between licks. And Butterfly sunk into unconsciousness.

**

"Butterfly, hurry up! I want to get there before I'm old!" Bee teased. Butterfly ran to follow him. It had been six moons since her sister died, and every full moon Aria took her over to kill innocent cats. She tried to fight it, but she failed. The last time she was a little more self conscious and could resist a bit, but not much. They were heading to Hot Spring Hill, the large hill next to the Hot Spring. Madam Celestial was said to be able to cure curses, so they made an appointment with her. After her failed attempt to break the seal on her throat, she had no choice. They bounded up the hill and went in the cave. "I can't see a thing!" Bee complained. "Oh no, what a nightmare," she said. She saw the light at the end of the cave. "Keep your friend out!" Celestial called. Bee looked stunned and backed up. "Now," she said. "To the Hot Spring!" Butterfly moaned. "I just walked up it!" she complained, bouncing after her.
**
Butterfly relaxed in the steaming pool. It was so warm! "Rrrrrrelax," Celestial purred. Butterfly didn't know how much more relaxed she could be. Celestial placed a paw on her seal. "Ah," she rumbled. "This is the seal. Ah, you have Aria. Her seals are verrrrrry harrrrd to brrrreak. But, I can do it." She pushed harder and Butterfly went into a trance.
**
"W-where am I?" she asked herself. She looked into the river. It was night. A star lit up in the sky. She instantly thought of Berry. "Berry," she whispered. "I miss you so much." "There is no need to worry, Butterfly." she heard Berry's voice in her ear. "I will always be here for you."
**
Butterfly gasped as she woke up. She was on a tree stump in the dark. Bee laid below her, sound asleep. She got light-headed as Aria slipped out of her. "Aria," she said strongly. "Why is it your dream to kill me and take over my body?" Aria sighed and grew 10 times Butterfly's height. Butterfly was scared but didn't show it. "You stupid she-cat!" Aria spat. "I was killed. I was a sweetheart. Had a loving mate, three beautiful kits, and a good home. But a stupid cat came and killed me! I never got to see my family again. They were my life! I tracked the tom who killed me and killed him for revenge. After that, Sukamiko came to me. He is the worst of all animals. He said I could be his queen. Since I knew I'd never see my family again, I agreed. He gave me the symbol, your seal, and said I could curse anyone who's angel fell. Once Ivy died, I saw that as my opportunity to get more revenge. I took you over. And you've been trying so hard! But you will suffer the same fate I had to. No mate, no kits, no life!" Her voice came out as only a whisper. "I didn't deserve any of this." Butterfly stared at her. "So make other suffer because your life was short? I get revenge on the fool who killed you, but why others? My life was hell already before you came! When I was just born, by mother got killed. My father had to raise me, my sister, who's dead, and my brother, who moved away. So you see? My life... Why are you staring at me like that?" Aria's eyes shone and she had a single tear run down her cheek. "Was, was your father Argerio?" Butterfly cocked her head. "Yes..." Aria shrank down and wrapped herself around Butterfly. "I am your mother, Butterfly."
**

"I am your mother, Butterfly." Aria whispered. Butterfly closed her eyes and shook her head. "No no no no no, that's not possible. It can't be true. Noooo..." Aria closed her eyes. "I can't believe I possessed my own daughter. And your sister is dead? No, no!" Aria shook her head furiously. "If your my mother, why don't you just un-possess me?" "Butterfly," Aria sighed. "it's not that easy." She sat on her haunches and beckoned Butterfly to sit too. "Only the possessie can break it. Which is way too hard to do. You know from experience. And if I take it away, you die, and I can't lose all my kits. And Sukamiko made mine virtually unbreakable. Only one creature can break it, and that's Sukamiko himself, and some hard attempts. Or..." She stopped. "Or?" Butterfly asked. "Anikusomiana. She is a magical seal at the bottom of the Hot Spring. But, you need to drown yourself, but you live. But I couldn't bear to see you drown. But..." she nodded. "It's your choice. I can't stop you. Now get back to sleep. Bee will be worried if you are talking to me." Butterfly nodded and jumped onto the stump. She looked back at Aria, her mother, who dissolved into her body. Her eyes grew heavy from that and she settled down to a deep slumber.
**
"Butterfly!" Bee called. "It's almost noon! Get your ass down here before I do it!" Butterfly snapped her eyes open and remembered what happened. "Bee..." She mumbled. "I know how to break the seal." she told him everything, but Aria. Bee nodded and they set off to the Hot Spring. Butterfly jumped in and sank into the warm, black-blue water, water filling her lungs.
**

"Butterfly," a sweet, gentle voice rang in her ears. She opened her eyes to see she was in the deep blue water, breathing, alive. "What is going on?" she asked the voice. A beautiful gray seal swam into view. "I am Anikusomiana. I can break all cursed seals." she stopped and giggled. "Animals and curse seals." Butterfly raised a... well, not brow but she got that look. "That is what Madam Celestial said and did it work?" She raised her head to reveal the seal* on her throat. Anikusomiana stopped and investigated it. She placed a fin on it and pressed her eye on it. She pressed her... ear? on it and then stuck out her fin again, as if checking for a pulse. She picked at it like it was a scab. She even licked it. Gross, thought Butterfly. What does she think it is? Anikusomiana swam back and away. "Gee, thanks!" she called sarcastically to her. Now she had to find her way out. She tried swimming, but her limbs fell exhausted as soon as she tried. She sighed and sat down. Then she saw two teal colored eyes and jumped to her feet. Anikusomiana was... carrying a hatched? "What the hell is that?" She asked as her lungs started to fill with water again. Anikusomiana smiled and laughed. "Just relax my dear. Let the water fill your lungs. It is filled with sedative where you are. Don't worry, I won't kill you." Butterfly soon realized her eyes started to grow heavy. Had her mother sent her into a trap? She sank to the bottom and fell unconscious with a seal murderer above her.
**

"No!" She screeched, jumping to her feet. She panted and looked around. No water, no killer seals. She sighed and lay down. "Butterfly!" Bee called, going ninja. "What's wrong?" Butterfly got up. "Why am I not dead?" "Because," Bee started. "I could see what Sukamiko was doing to you and I got you out of there!" Butterfly was puzzled. "Sukamiko? No, it was Anikusomiana." Bee sighed. "That's what he wanted you to think. I met Anikusomiana and she's actually a sweet creature. Like your mother said: Sukamiko is evil. Anikusomiana is nice. We can still get Anikusomiana for you." Butterfly shook her head. "Ok first off, how do you know she's my mother?" "She visited me." "Ok," she said. "Next. I am not breaking this seal. It's my only connection to my mother, my life. No, I don't think this seal is going to be broken." She smiled. Aria formed next to Bee. "Shit, don't scare me like that, Aria!" He muttered. "Butterfly," she whispered. "Thank you. I never meant to do anything terrible to you." Butterfly ran over to her and pressed her face into her mother's fur. "I love you," they both whispered.
**
"Bee!" She called, siting at the lake. Be ran over to her and puffed. "Are you ok?" He asked, falling to her side. "Yes I'm fine, there is something I need to tell you though. We've been together so long..." her voice trailed off. "Yes?" He asked. "Bee, I'm expecting." Bee cocked his head. "Expecting what?" Butterfly shoved him. "Toms! Hmm. a she cat and a tom. She cat is expecting?" she rolled her paw. His eyes grew wide. "Kits!"