Susana - Sins of the Mothers

Wolf lay on the cold floor wondering why his back hurt if he was dead. Virginia sat crouched by his side, crying with relief as he began to stir. When she realized he was not hurt she began to shake him by the shoulders.

"What were you thinking! You could have been killed!"

Wolf looked up through his still fuzzy eyes and said "I know sweetie, that was my plan." The two crouched on the floor, crying with relief and affirming their love.

Andromeda stood over the embracing couple, growing more furious with each second that passed. This was supposed to be her moment of victory, not another opportunity for them to express their love. She was not going to be cheated of her prize. They would beg and grovel before this night was through. Nobody went up against her and won. "Get up!" she hissed, "Enough with the games Wolf. You were not a choice. Since you have spoiled your choice I shall take the child."

Wolf and Virginia leapt to their feet and sped down the hallways to the nursery. When they flung open the door they were unprepard for the sight before them. Andromeda stood before Victoria's elaborate canopied bed, hands opened in a gesture of complete bewilderment.

On the huge bed the child lay still. Her skin was as white as her lace coverlet. Somewhere in the great hall a clock struck midnight. Her nanny Gretl knelt beside the bed, sobbing. "I just checked on her a few minutes ago. She was not feeling well. She never got over that sickness. This was evil magic. Now look at her! She is gone!"

Virgina rushed to her daughter's side and slapped her face. "WAKE UP! Oh God, Oh God, Victoria!!! MY BABY!!!" She shook the lifeless child then slumped over her inert body and held her as she sobbed silently.

Wolf turned to the she-wolf.

"What have you done?" Curse be damned, he could taste her blood already.

He stalked her across the room as she protested, "I did nothing; she was already dead. I have been cheated!!!!"

That was it, Wolf had heard enough. It was time to end this - wolf-style. As Wolf lunged for her throat, she vanished.

A soft glow seemed to fill the room. Snow White stood beside Wolf, her hand on his shoulder. "Wolf, go to your wife, she needs you." He did as she bade him and held his shaking mate against his chest. Snow White leaned over the still, cold, child. She gathered the tiny form up in her arms, and turned to her parents.

Through her tears Virginia begged, "Save her. You can do that. Use your magic. Please!"

The beautiful queen smiled sadly. "I can not, that is not in my power. Let me take her where I can watch over her. I will keep her like this next to me. Evil shall never touch her again."

Virginia sat and stared numbly. Wolf nodded silently. Something was not right but he could not put his finger on it. The great queen wrapped the child in a blanket and carried her through the house, down the drive, and disappeared into the forest as the first snow of the season began to fall. Every servant, Tony, Wolfie, and Wolf watched as she disappeared into the night.

Through his grief, strange thoughts crept into Wolf's mind. Why did she leave the house like that? Why not just disappear? Why did it matter? Why wouldn't she let him touch his daughter one last time?

As he spied Virginia his questions flew with concern for her. She sat silent and unseeing on their daughter's bed, clutching Victoria's stuffed bear. Wolf carried her to their room. The fire was long dead. He undressed her wordlessly. She stood limply, not resisting, not helping. She simply lay where he left her in their bed. She never moved even when she heard the anguished cries of her father and son. The sobs of the servants and the howls of her Wolf only reinforced her desire to join her daughter under the frozen waters of Snow White Falls.