Chapter 134 - Birthday Present

"Where is this place?" I murmur.

"It's a temple and I want you to meet someone," Zenab sniffed tracing his hand in my hair.

"Someone?" I asked with a question mark on my face, seeing someone in this part of the palace mustn't be good news.

"Relax, not everything is bad, look over there," he mumbles pointing to the alter, I look up to see tablets mounted on the alter with light candles.

Among them were mum and dad, with their name crave on it 'IN LOVING MEMORY OF PRINCESS CINDERA NEO AZUAL AND TRAVIS NEO' I stare at Zenab with teary eyes.

"Yes, this is where we laid mum and dad to rest, with all that is going on in the palace I didn't get to bring you to see them," Zenab hissed as he wraps his arms around me.

"Hello there mum, dad," Zenab mumbles as we face the tab.

"Hey daddy and mummy," I murmur robbing my hands gently on the tab. I suddenly felt a shock and quickly took off my hands, what was this I was feeling. "Is everything okay?" Zenab questioned with concern but I could only deny what I just felt since I couldn't even explain what it was.

"Nothing," I murmured with a fake smile holding my hand that still feels electrified.

"Nancy, my dear princess," a voice said which wasn't Zenab and we were the only people in the room, I turned around nervously freaking Zenab out with my reaction.

"I suppose you didn't hear the voice right?" I mumble in fright.

"What voice?" he asked back more confuse as both our eyes travel around the room, I do recognize the voice but I can't admit it because I will be admitting I have completely gone mad. How on earth could I hear my mum's voice? I said to myself shaking my head continuously with the hope the voice will disappear.

"Nancy you are freaking me out," Zenab muttered.

"Look closer baby it's me," the voice said again and this time with more clarity, I turn in the left direction and saw a reflection, I beam my eyes to have a closer look as Zenab stares at me as if I was insane, for a moment I believe I was going crazy too.

"Mum, Dad it's you," I grin as I could make out their face this time around.

they had their usual charming smile and look just the way I remembered them.

"Nancy," Zenab beamed as he holds my hand when I tried to walk closer to the reflection.

I held his face in my palm as I rub his eyes gently with my thumb, I didn't know what I was doing, I just felt like doing that, Once I took my hands off, Zenab slowly open his eyes apart.

the reflection of mum and dad turn into flesh standing in front of us and Zenab could see them too.

"What is that...." Zenab stammered. I nod as tears drip down my cheeks. "Hello son, you look just the way I have always imagined you to be," mum said as she hugs Zenab tightly.

"Dad," I sniffed as I jump into his arms, the same smell and the same warmth he use to have if this is a dream I don't want to wake up from it.

I can't possibly make meaning to what was happening but I like it and didn't want it to end, if it was a birthday present from God then it is the best present I could ever ask for.

I went over to hug mum while Zenab hugs dad, it was the perfect picture of a family reunion.

"How is this even possible?" Zenab asked still in shock.

"Because Nancy summoned us," mum bubbled with a smile that lights up the cold dark room, in her eyes I could see how proud she was of me, a sparkle I had never seen in her eyes before well except in dad's eyes.

"I did?" I asked surprised obviously I had no idea how I did it.

"Yes my dear, I'm so proud of the woman you have become and our only regret is us not having the chance to be by your sides," mum said with a sad smile.

"But it's our twin's birthday, a day we have never got to celebrate together like this before, each year your mother and I use to bake two cakes one for you and the other for Nancy," dad whimpered with a sad smile.

"Luckily we got another chance to actually wish you a happy birthday," dad added pulling both of us over for a hug as mum joins the group hug.

"I miss you so much mum and dad," I whimpered, "And I will forever cherish this moment for the rest of my life to finally meet my parent," Zenab sobs holding his tears in as mum cups his face in his arms.

we had so much to say to them and we wish we could spend the entire day with them but unfortunately, they can only stay for a few minutes.

"Our time is up children, we can't stay any longer but remember you can always summon us on your birthday while you two hold hands and blow off the candle over there," Mum instructed as Zenab and I look sad.

"Don't look sad, we are always with you two," dad mumbled with his ever-charming smile that I missed so much, a look at his smile melts all my sorrows and pain away.

They wave their hands at us as their bodies slowly dispense into fire ashes, Zenab holds me as I break down in tears, it was so good that I didn't want it to end, I couldn't watch them leave us again and it still hurt the same way.

Zenab and I walk back to the palace mum asked us to check her room, there was a secret door behind her portrait, for which our birthday present was kept there.

Once we entered the main palace everywhere was in chaos, grandma was turning every stone up just to find us, oh well we left the palace where most people were asleep, and without taking any guards with us, grandma thought we went missing.

"My prince, princess royal," the relief reaction coming from the guard was enough to tell the pressure grandma had given them to find us.

"No one could tell where you two were, the queen mother is going crazy searching everywhere for both of you," the guard mumbled in between his breath.

"Grandma," Zenab mumbles gritting his teeth. 

She hugs both of us when she realized we were safe before she could scold us for going out of the palace without telling anyone or going with a guard, Zenab gave her the good news of seeing mum which of course made her forget she had to scold us.

"Really," grandma exclaimed with her hands holding her head.

"Yes, grandma," Zenab hissed as we all heard back to mum's room to retrieve our birthday present from her secret room. Zenab shares his excitement with our grandma about how fortunate he feels for meeting our parents, something he thought was impossible.

My birthday morning was a pleasant one aside from Baby's gift, seeing mum and dad, and of course, the present mum prepared for both of us over two decades ago. 

With the fear of not knowing she will survive grandpa's anger, she left us something cute to remember her by and a letter, tears rolled down our eyes as Zenab read the letter out.

"To my adorable Zenab and Nancy whom I don't have with me right now, we have been separated for just a few seconds and I feel I'm running out of breath,  don't know if I will survive this or ever meet you two again but I want you to know the kind of mother I want to be for you two..."

She went on to narrate a perfect family picture and it breaks my heart she never got to be that kind of mother she had dreamt of, she ended the letter by apologizing for not being the kind of mother we both deserve which for some reason I felt alleviated because I have her lucky pendant with me now she will always be a part of me.

I believe the evening ceremony is going to be just perfect since the heavens made my day start this amazing and beautiful, everyone has been busy since morning.

Roland and Betty got me cute presents as well but Mary-Anne gave me scissors as a birthday present, I wasn't surprised she has completely lost them, and won't understand what it is like to act normal.

"Seriously scissors?" Betty rolled her yes as Mary-Anne looks offended.

"Yes don't you like my present?" She scoffs.

"Thank you," I mumbled putting it away as Roland turns his face aside.

She chuckles and walks out of the room as we both laugh. The ball has started Roland, Betty, Mary-Anne, the twin and Pana took the lead, we will go once everyone has arrived.

I was fully dressed in my gorgeous pink dress with Baby's ring on my finger and mum's pendant around my neck and her pearl crown, I stood in front of the mirror as I admire my beauty.

There came a knock on the door.