A Mother's Touch

Ellia Ren and Silver Knight

The door chime rang out over and over, starting Ellia from a disturbed dream. The moment her eyes flew open, she knew why it had been so disturbed. "Little one!" she cried out as she hopped to her feet and bolted to the door. It didn't matter how old her youngest got, she was still her baby. The moment the door whizzed open, she threw her arms around her girl and drew her inside. "Oh my sweetness."

"Mother..." Silver sniffed. "I'm sorry I didn't come earlier..."

"Hush now, you're here now," Ellia whispered, leading her softly crying girl to the sofa. "What's made my sweet little thing cry so hard, huh?"

Curling up next to her mother, Silver closed her eyes and lifted her hand to touch the small patch on her neck. Suddenly the world became a blanket of silence. ~~He found someone else~~

Ellia sighed. Her girl only ever switched her hearing device off for two reasons: she wanted to be alone, or she was hurting so much she didn't want to hear anything else that would make it worse. Sometimes, she wished that engineer hadn't built in the off-switch. ~~Who, sweetness?~~

Slowly, Silver built up the picture of the man she'd been falling in love with. ~~Imzadi?~~

Shaking her head, Ellia kept her automatic growl to herself. ~~Not a chance. Imzadi means love on both parts. This man, I don't feel any love from him~~

~~That's because I'm so angry~~ Silver admitted. ~~I felt his love when I was with him~~ Blowing out a deep breath, she cuddled up to her mother and tried to stop hurting. ~~He was so blatant~~

Ellia stroked her daughter's hair, growling to herself out-loud. When her girl glanced up to poke her, she giggled. ~~Silly little one. Did you hear me growl?~~ "Can you hear me?"

~~No, I felt the vibrations~~ Silver could feel her mother's heart sink a little. She knew she'd always harboured hopes that Silver would gain some kind of hearing. She didn't understand it. Especially since James McEntire had improved her implants. Now she had total control. And her range when it was switched on was phenomenal.

"Hmph." Ellia cuddled her daughter tightly, setting her head on top of her crown. ~~One day, little one~~

~~If you say so mother~~ Silver relaxed more and let her mind wander a little. She drew up sharply with a hiss. ~~He's nearby!~~

~~Where?!~~ Ellia saw red dots dance in front of her eyes.

~~I can't... pinpoint him. But he's here, he knows I can feel him~~ She let out a shuddering breath as she curled closer to her mother. ~~He hates me~~

~~Hush now~~ Sending out feelers, Ellia tried to track the source of the malice and suddenly it hit her. She'd felt it before when it had been aimed at Sergeant Major Cameron. Just the thought that it was for her little girl made her blood cold. ~~You're staying here with me tonight~~

~~Yes mother~~ Silver shuffled down to lay her head on her mother's lap and let out another sigh. ~~Don't let him find me...~~

"Never, little one, never."