I stood at the door to the hiding place where my Mother was hiding. The door was closed and secure, as I had left it. I took a deep breath in an attempt to control my nervousness. It had been weeks since I had last seen her, and I was worried about her safety. Mother didn't require much substance daily as we humans do. I didn't know under what mechanism in a monster's physiology allowed for such a feat, but what I did know was that when she consumed food, she could consume inhuman amounts. However, today wasn't her scheduled feeding which meant I did not need to bring the carcasses of a few deer for her to consume. 

For a few weeks, the owner of the barn has allowed me to use the barn as I saw fit for as long as I had a need, which is very kind and generous of him considering my use of the barn. I was grateful for her kindness and made sure to be careful not to disrupt her life in any way, but it wasn't easy to adjust to living in hiding. It was challenging to be away from her, but I knew it was for the best. The barn was a safe place for her to hide, and I was sure no one would come looking for her there.

As much as I loved my Mother, her transformation into a monster had complicated things, and keeping our secret from everyone was necessary. The thought of the consequences that would follow if the truth came out was so intense that it caused my heart to race. Still, I knew my Mother had no other choice. We were desperate, and we had no place else to go. I stood frozen in front of the door for a few moments, feeling my heart beat faster with each beat. I mustered up the courage and pushed the door open, hoping to find her inside.

Neither the old man or his daughter had asked any questions or even considered sneaking around the barn. If anything, they'd kept would-be snoopers away from their property or dissuaded anyone from the nearby town from asking too many unwanted questions. In that way, I could keep Evangeline, my Mother, hidden from the public eye. It was essential to be careful with Evangeline's situation; we couldn't risk exposing her secret to the world. I held the drawing that Doctor Aleena Walker had given me, studying every detail. I knew we were about to take a significant risk, but I had no choice but to trust the Doctor's plan. As my heart raced and my hands shook, I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. It was time to face whatever came our way.

I felt a sense of appreciation as my eyes took in the drawing. It may have been a roughly approximate depiction of the person I was about to bring in, but it was the best I had to work with. Sadly, yet another innocent person had succumbed to the curse of being transformed into a monster without warning. It was a sobering thought, and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for the person who would now be in my care. I wondered how they were feeling and if they would remember their human life. The transformation had been so sudden and unexpected, and I could only suppose what kind of shock it must be. After placing the poster in my pocket, I unlocked the heavy door and opened it quickly. There was a dingy and dark atmosphere inside the building.

My Mother and I were both familiar with this. When I enter the dark space, I take the lantern hanging on the outside wall and enter the barn,  but the lantern's light only illuminates so far—a typical phenomenon when dealing with monsters. The smell of stagnant air hit me like a brick wall, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed in my ears, making my heart skip a beat. Suddenly, a sound came from somewhere deep inside the pitch-black room, like something was moving. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw my Mother in the corner of the small area, lying on a tattered old mattress with her face hidden in shadow. 

"Mother?" I whispered, taking a few steps forward, unsure how she would react. 

She doesn't respond, which is not unusual after such a long absence between visits. I take a step closer.

"Mother?"

In the darkness, I notice she tilts her head. 'Okay!' Taking another deep breath, I slowly walk over to the mattress where Evangeline is lying down. As I approach, she moves, turning around with otherworldly grace. She looked at me with a sense of relief in her eyes, as if she could sense that we were finally safe in this hidden place. I sat the lantern down on the table near the mattress and went to shut the heavy doors behind me with a heavy sigh. Aside from the light emanating from the lantern, darkness engulfed everything around me. I turn back around to the mattress, and Mother is gone. Instead of panicking, I remain calm. Monsters are well known to move at inhuman speeds in the blink of an eye, and for most, panicking leads to an unfortunate end. I calmed my weary nerves as I spoke once more.

"Mum... Mum," I whispered. "Mum... it's me, Adam."

The movement I heard from earlier stirs up, coming closer to me. Within a few moments, my Mother, Evangeline, walks into the lantern's flickering light with the same supernatural grace as the lioness imprisoned in the Hall. I found her to be calm and unimposing when I looked at her. It's not the kind of thing you would expect to see from a monster. 

Immediately my eyes were drawn to the sharp teeth that would terrify even the mightiest predators if they saw them close up. Aside from her near-flawless and razor-sharp claws on both hands and feet, she could also cut through the most formidable armor. My Mother's appearance was something out of a nightmare. I soon realized how dangerous she could be, and I had underestimated the danger she could pose. Despite this, her appearance is the epitome of beauty; she is a perfect hunter-killer. She was now much more than a mere monster, having transformed into a dangerous predator with unmatched combat abilities.

Mum wore a tattered white gown that barely touched the top of her thick thighs with a dark leather corset to support her bounteous chest. It was hard keeping clothes for her that lasted for any length of time. Those sharp blade-like talons of hers made keeping her dressed difficult. There were several tears along the seams of the dress, and I could see her pale blue skin peeking out from underneath. Although she had some difficulties maintaining her modesty, she seemed to move with grace and nobility. Seeing someone so powerful still preserve their dignity while wearing a dress ill-suited for someone with her physique was a rare sight.

Over the years, I had seen her naked on countless occasions. I was so familiar with her body that I knew every inch of it. Part of my responsibility was to care for her, which meant bathing her. When I was little, this fact would make me blush out of embarrassment. The task was not pleasant or easy, for that matter, but I never once complained. But as I grew older, it became second nature to me. It was just something I must do to keep her healthy and clean. While this may seem strange to some, to me, it was just part of caring for my Mother.

As time passed, her physique gradually transformed, becoming more toned and shapelier, with a distinctly Rubenesque silhouette accentuating her curves, especially in the bosom region. Her already ample breasts grew even more prominent, fuller, plumper, perkier, and more alluring, while her figure became more hourglass-shaped. Her body was ever-evolving into a shape that was distinctly more womanly as her breasts spilled deliciously over the top of the corset she wore. In contrast, her lower body became more defined, and the curves of her hips and thighs became more defined.

She no longer had the slight curves of a human girl but rather the shapely body of a true demon. It was fascinating to see how Mother's body changed with each new day, but it also worried me, knowing that she would never return to being human. Mother had become an alluring and attractive being, albeit a dangerous one. As she adapted better to her new nature as a monster, her body took on an otherworldly and seductive quality. Seeing her in this new light was both horrifying and alluring, sending mixed emotions through my being.

It was fascinating to see how Mother's body changed with each new day, but it also worried me, knowing that she may never return to being human. The muscles in my Mother's abdomen bulged whenever she shifted her weight, displaying the raw power that was contained within. Her hair became thicker and more robust, and her features sharpened. It was as if the gods themselves had crafted her to be the epitome of physical beauty. She became less like the Mother I knew and more like a primal force of nature, an apex predator. 

The dress she donned valiantly attempted to mask her generous décolletage but ultimately struggled to contain her ample assets. It was an impressive feat of dress-making that it did so as well as it did. The fabric looked like it might split at any moment, revealing more of her than she might have preferred. But it was no use; every time she took a few steps, the dress seemed to find just the right way to cling to her perfect physique, forcing her to readjust with every step she took. The entire scene only makes her look even more appealing than she already is. The outfit became little more than a pretense of decorum, struggling to contain what was underneath. It was a losing battle, and she knew it too. Her body knew no restraint, and her physique spoke for itself, making it a futile effort to conceal the obvious.

Her ample bosom juggled whenever she even took a single step. What fits in the midsection was often too tight in the chest, and what fit around her hips didn't always fit her chest. She was undoubtedly gorgeous regardless of her monstrous affliction, with an hourglass figure that any goddess would kill for. Even when fully dressed, her body was still incredibly voluptuous yet athletically slenderly petite; occasionally, it was difficult to ignore that. Of course, that would never keep my gaze away from her face; there were far more important qualities to consider than physical beauty anyway.

I quickly look away, not wanting to violate my own Mother's dignity. Her independence and strength are well-known to me. I would never want to do anything that could make her uncomfortable or objectified. I also know that she is a beautiful woman, and I am proud to be her son. But I also know that she is more than just a beautiful woman. With every movement, she threatened to spill out of the dress, forcing her to readjust with every step she took. She is my Mother, and I want to respect her privacy. I looked away, trying to forget what I had just seen. The fact that she was still a human, regardless of her current form, had to be kept in mind. She was still a person with feelings and emotions, just like me. I had to try to see her as a person, not just a monster. It was hard, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

The bag I brought contained the only substances she was able to consume. These substances were essential for her survival, as she was allergic to many other foods. I could sense that she was very grateful for the bag, as it meant that she would be able to eat and stay healthy. The barley sack contained a jar of animal blood and two uncooked rabbits. I emptied the bag and laid the concepts before her on the floor. As soon as I was clear, she dived into the rabbit meat and consumed the animal blood.

"Mum... listen... we have to go somewhere tonight. It is imperative that it be completed before daybreak. That place that I told you about where we would be safe, remember? " I whispered. "Well, I have to do something for them before they'll take us in. Remember Allen did say something like this might happen?" I added.

She didn't say anything. Mum couldn't communicate the way people could anymore. Becoming a monster had made that impossible. The transformation had left her mute, and her beautiful yet terrifying face was now that of a beast. She was still her Mother, of course, but she was also something else now, something dangerous and unpredictable. Even though she couldn't speak, my Mother always knew what I was trying to say. She could read my lips and body language always seemed to understand my feelings. She was a very intuitive person, and she had a special way of connecting with me. She always loved and supported me, and I know she always had my best interests at heart. 

I wondered for a moment if it had anything to do with my supposed unique ability, that I had. Allen never said much about the Holy State. In hindsight, I understood why. There would be many who would appall and reject using monsters as allies or treating them like human beings. 'Did Allen have this ability? Doctor Walker did question whether it ran in my family. A bigger question bothered me. Did my father know this too?' That was around the time that Allen went off to join the Holy State.

Mother finished up her late-night meal. The look on her face said she was ready to go. I nodded and unlocked the door. I did not doubt that I could retrieve this newly transformed monster. The problem was that hunters were in that area already. I had to be quick, no, we had to make haste, or that poor little girl would die a horrible death.