Hyperborea made her way out of the gallery as quickly as possible. It couldn't be her, Hyperborea knew that. Her mother and father had died years ago there was no possibility that her mothers star seed remained to project a ghost. Either it was devoured by the god forsaken youma that took their lives or it would have been reclaimed by cauldron. But even still the evidence had been right in front of her. She would recognize those eyes anywhere, eyes she inherited, eyes she now knew belonged to Hyperborea. How was her mother here, what sort of cruel trick was this wonder playing on her.

“Ma Biche.” She heard a soft voice call out to her. She spun on her heels towards the source of the voice. Jeanne Karpusi looked at her daughter with a fond smile. In that moment Hyperborea lost any composure she had retained, sinking to her knees.

"You can't be here." She choked out through tears. "You're gone, you've been gone for years."

"Ma petite." Jeanne said sympathetically putting a gentle ghostly hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"How?" Hyperborea asked quietly switching to French. "I don't know love. But I'm happy I got to see you again. You've grown up so much, my little girl has become a beautiful woman." Jeanne said helping her daughter to her feet.

"Mama I'm sorry I'm so sorry it's my fault you...and Papa and Arthur. It's all my fault you died that night." Hyperborea sobbed. "If....if I hadn't of transformed..."

"Come now love you can't blame yourself for that. You didn't send the monster that attacked us. And any mistakes you made that night they were the mistakes of a child, a child I loved and still love with all of my heart." She comforted her daughter wrapping arm, that were becoming corporal around the young woman.

“Mama I’ve missed you so much.” Hyperborea cried as she held onto the older woman, she was too caught up in the moment to question how she was able to hug a ghost. She relished in the older woman's warmth. “I miss hearing your voice. I miss your hugs when I'm feeling sad. I wish we could stay like this forever.”

“My little doe, I miss you too. I'm sorry I couldn't see you grow up.” Jeanne said sadly. “If I could I would never let you go. But unfortunately that can't happen.”

“I…I know” Hyperborea might not know what magic was allowing her to meet her mother here but she knew it couldn't last forever. Even magic couldn't resurrect the dead.

“But at least for tonight. I can tell you everything I wanted to say for the past four years.” And so they talked for hours, Hyperborea lost track of time as she regaled her mother with tales of both her civilian life and her powered life. She told her about her wonder and her amazing girlfriend.

Eventually she was brought out of her conversation by a clock chiming midnight. “You should go, love. You have party to enjoy. I hope you always know how proud your father and I are and how much we love you.” Jeanne said with a final kiss to her daughter’s cheek.

“Goodbye Mama I'll always love you and Papa too.” Hyperborea said with one last bittersweet look back at her mother. Despite how much she hated it she knew she had to let the dead rest.

[Exit to Gallery]