Disclaimer: I do not own Balem or the Jupiter Ascending universe (though I wouldn't mind owning Balem =D) but I do own Amoya.

A.N: And now the series finale of... I'm sorry. I just had to be dramatic as this is the last chapter! I know, say what! Being as this is the last chapter I want to take a moment and thank everyone who reviewed! THANK YOU! I didn't expect Amoya to go over quite this well actually! But I enjoyed reading all your reviews. I would proposely let them collect so I could read a batch in one go, lol. I'm glad that Amoya was well received and I had a blast writing and uploading this story.

A final treat for everyone as mentioned previously: The Unofficial soundtrack to this story is up! It's linked on my profile as with all the other tie-ins to this fanfic. There are songs in the playlist not even listed as inspirations for the chapters. So if you are interested in that, you can check it out.

So without any further ado, I present to you the last chapter. Enjoy!

Song inspiration:

Seal: Kiss on a Rose

Anastasia: At the Beginning

Chapter 22: Of Mothers and Children

It has been a month since the wedding of the century and Amoya found herself settling into her role. A personal tutor had been assigned to her. An short owl splice named Mr. Captiosus who was extremely knowledgeable. He was very soft spoken yet firm, his almond eyes always looking at her with kindness.

Amoya having never had parents or a decent mentor quickly took to him. She felt at ease with Mr. Captiosus and felt her endless questioning wasn't an annoyance to him. Nor did she feel her endless questioning signified her ignorance with him either. In fact he seemed to encourage her questioning and seemed eager to impart any knowledge he had.

But this day instead of attending to her lessons, she was brought into the throne room. A floating ornate golden chair was placed by the steps for her to sit. Once she was seated she looked questionably up at Balem.

Balem only spared her a glance before he waved a hand. Amoya watched the great doors opened. Two guards brought in an older woman who as struggling in their grasp. She wore blue jeans and a white dress shirt. After seeing all the exotic clothing, even the so called casual wear, made Amoya blink at the odd sight. But the woman's struggling brought her back to reality. The guards released her once she was in front of the royal couple.

Upon closer inspection, Amoya began to have the odd feeling as if she had seen this woman before though she knew she hadn't. She was a shade or two darker than Amoya and her black shoulder length hair was disheveled. Her fingernails were painted a bright red color that Amoya always hated.

Balem waved his hand again and everyone bowed as they began to exit the throne room. The woman kept glaring even as she kept trying not to look around in awe. It reminded Amoya of the time she was brought here. Only the newcomer's harsh breathing broke the silence that followed once the doors were shut.

Slowly Balem stood and walked down the platform. Upon descending the final step, he turned and held out his hand to Amoya. She accepted it and stood, still transfix by this older woman. She still couldn't escape the feeling that she had seen her before.

"Where am I?" the woman finally growled out, her voice a pitch lower that Amoya's, tinted with an Caribbean accent much like Amoya's own. Her grey eyes narrowed as she watched the couple.

Instead of answering her, Balem turned to his wife. "This is Camille Devouix. Your mother."

Amoya let out a small gasp, her mouth falling open slightly and her eyes widening. That was why this woman looked so familiar to her! She had seen the similarities between them in her own reflection when she looked in the mirror.

Suddenly Amoya was frozen with terror and after a moment she turned her back on her mother, facing the window and Balem.

"What...what are you doing?" she hissed at him, her voice low, so only he heard.

Balem's hooded eyes gazed down at her. His voice was equally soft, "You've always wanted to know the truth, Amoya."

But now faced with the possibility Amoya doubled back. She shook her head, "No, I don't."

Toying with different possibilities of her mother was one thing, but to know the truth, frightened Amoya now that she was finally faced with it. Though part of her did long to know once and for all, for good or bad.

Balem cocked his head once, his hazel eyes never leaving her, "These guessing games of yours have gone on long enough. You have proven yourself time and time again, Amoya. Do not run from this now that it faces you. You have no reason to fear this woman."

Amoya eyes were still wide-eyed as she stared blankly ahead. "How do you know for certain this is my mother?" She still wanted to deny the very idea.

"Your genetics match hers. In addition we did a check into her memories to be sure. You are her daughter."

The Entitled reached up and tilted her chin, bringing her wide-eye gaze to his. "You are Queen now. This woman has no power over you and it's time you realize that. You are in a position to find all your answers. Seize the moment, my Queen."

"But..."

Balem's eyes flashed once, "No buts! I won't let you be weaken but this mere woman." He turned and sneered at Camille who had her arms crossed and was getting impatient before looking back at Amoya, "I won't have your life blighted by hers any longer."

Amoya's mouth finally closed and she swallowed. Her eyes were starting to return to normal. She knew that Balem was right but still it was easier to stay in the hole she was in, concerning her mother. Amoya looked away, trying to gather her thoughts.

Suddenly Camille clapped her hands, "Hello! Where am I and who the devil are you two?" Apparently her patience had run out.

Balem slowly lifted his head and gave her a warning glare.

That didn't seem to faze Camille as she just glared right back, "Seriously, I will report you to the authorities."

"Oh, the irony", Balem murmured though not loud enough for Camille to hear.

Amoya had to laugh once at that. She had said something very similar when she first met Balem. Finally though, Amoya was able to compose herself enough to turn back around to face the angry woman before her.

Camille Devouix.

Her mother.

Still this reality didn't seem real.

"I know this is startling to you...Camille." Amoya stumbled over the name, "... but there is a reason that you are here."

"Which is?" Camille snapped.

"You were brought here so that we could meet. I am your daughter. My name is Amoya." Amoya unconsciously stood straighter.

Camille stared blankly at the Amoya before she burst out laughing. It was loud and piercing almost hysterical. Balem eye's fluttered in irritation, while Amoya wrinkled her nose once. They waited until her laughter began to die down. Well, Amoya had to hold her hand to Balem's chest as she sensed that this woman, her mother, was getting on his last nerves right about now.

"Oh that good." Camille finally said between chuckles.

Amoya took a step forward, "I am not lying. You wouldn't know me, but..." here she stopped having to take a moment to collect herself, "It would be about 27 years ago now. It's rumored that I was found near or in a trashcan. I grew up in an orphanage in the Caribbean."

A little gasp escaped Camille mouth as her eyes widen. She unconsciously took a step back, her hand coming to her chest. Amoya could see the gears working in Camille's head, trying to put everything together. Then Camille was looking her over, as if seeing her for the first time before looking back into Amoya's eyes.

"You have his eyes", she whispered looking at Amoya like a ghost. She shook her head again and took another step back. "That's not..." a pause, "How?"

Amoya felt her eyes becoming wet, so she blinked. "So it's true. You...tossed me away? Why?"

"You were suppose to dead." the older woman whispered more to herself than to them.

Amoya twitched. Her felt anger and sorrow both beginning to rise, comingling. Her mouth worked a few times as she closed her eyes, "What happened? What lead you to such a decision? The very least you could have done was walk me to an hospital or church or even the very door of the orphanage itself!"

Amoya knew her voice was getting higher and higher though she couldn't control it.

Camille drew to her full height then, her hand dropping as she glared at Amoya, "I do not have to explain myself to you. I had my reasons."

Amoya's eyes flew open in a rage. She snapped, "I am your daughter! Whether we like it or not, I was born out of you so I bloody well deserve an explanation! An explanation that has eluded me for 27 years! Do you know what I've been through? Do you even care?"

"Don't lecture me, child!" snapped Camille, "Do you know what I'VE been through? Your father promised me the world but gave me nothing in the end. Nothing but a broken heart and memories I didn't need."

They both knew that would have been memory was Amoya.

Amoya fought to calm herself as she asked, "So what happened?"

"What do you think? I was undocumented and I grew up, barely getting by. My mother didn't care much for me either so don't think you are the only one to get the short end of the stick. But I persevered. My only mistake, my only regret was that I met your father. He was charming, educated, wealthy and we fell in love. I was working at a spa resort as a masseuse when I met him and we began to spend time together."

Camille stopped for breath before continuing, "He said he wanted to marry me. I would be legal and we would be together. So when I got pregnant, I thought he would be happy. Instead he flew into a rage. He lamented that this would ruin his image and wouldn't be good for him."

"He tossed me money and told me to get rid of the baby. Get an abortion. And I would have if for the fact it was too late for that. I didn't tell him I was too far into the pregnancy for that. I had found out about you pretty late."

Amoya swallowed around the lump in her throat, "And then?" she whispered.

"I found out he was a scuzzball! He was married, with three children, lived in London. He was just in the Caribbean's for a year for his business. That was it! I was played, honey, played!" Camilled growled.

"He would have killed me if he found out I had the baby anyway. You ruined my life! Everything would have been fine if you hadn't been born." Camille pointed at Amoya and Amoya stepped back to see such hate in her eyes.

She felt a soft touch in the middle of her back that she tried to concentrate on as Camille continued," I had to go underground to keep the birth secret. As soon as I was well, I placed you in a trashcan and left. I made my way underground to America where I was to be free from that past and start over."

"And did you? Did you not think of me, even once?" asked Amoya smally as she unconsciously seemed to curl in on herself.

Balem glanced at her. He had never heard her sound so small and unsure. His hazel eyes glared at Camille but said nothing. This was their conversation.

Camille lifted her chin, "Yes, I did. And no, I left all that behind. Why would I think about it? Think about the man that played me for a fool."

Amoya blinked, hard, "But I'm hu..man", her voice broke once and she cleared it, "How can you just...toss me as if I was nothing?"

Camille scoffed, "I didn't ask for you to be born, you know."

"But you did ask for the one you have, I take it", Balem interjected.

Amoya looked up at her husband, "Wha?"

The Entitled held up his hand, palm up. He moved his fingers in a rhythmic way and a hologram appeared. It was big enough for all three to see.

Amoya saw a dinner happening. An older man that Amoya didn't know, laughing as Camille put out the food. A young child, a little girl, smiled around her dinner.

"Who..." Amoya couldn't even bring herself to ask.

"My daughter, Jamille and my husband James." Camille offered.

Amoya looked up from the picture perfect family to see that the hate in Camille's eyes were gone when she took in the scene. The warmth in her grey eyes were in contrast, to the storm they had presented to far. Even a small smile played on Camille's face as she watched the scene. Amoya tried to stop the rising anger that threatened to spill over as she raised her hand and placed it over Balem's effectively blocking the hologram. The change that Amoya saw in Camille left as she glared at Amoya. Balem turned it off as he lowered his hand.

"So...you are able to love...just not me." Amoya spoke softly of her observation, her voice wavering. "So you have no regrets?"

"Why would I?" came the answer in a growl, "You ruined my life! You shouldn't have been born if you are so worried with how your life turned out!"

Amoya felt like she was going to hyperventilate and she struggled to keep her composure. Part of her knew that the chances of her mother regretting such a decision was very slim, considering the magnitude of such a decision but to hear it all out there...

Amoya didn't know what to do or say. Now she knew. Now she knew the truth but what was she suppose to do with it.

It wasn't until two arms wrapped around her shoulders did she begin to calm down. She reached her hands up to grab the forearms, her only port in this storm.

Balem glared at Camille over Amoya's head. "Perhaps I should thank you, Camille. Because of your limited intelligence, the universe has a Queen again."

Camille blinked at this, "Huh?"

"My point exactly." Balem said simply.

Those words filtered into Amoya's consciousness. She wondered, if everything had gone as she would have wished, would she be here now? If her mother had kept her, would her life have been better or worse than what it is now? It was these questions that was at the core of wondering about her mother. But looking at her now, hearing the truth behind her horrid decision, it did bring a sense of closure to that part of her life. Answers for questions, she had searched her whole life for, were now answered.

And despite the fact that the truth did in fact, hurt, it was also liberating in a way.

Amoya breathe began to return to normal as she shut her eyes.

"Look I want to go home!" Camille snapped.

"Why?" Balem asked, releasing Amoya and straightening. Amoya was still in her head.

The elder Abrasax took a few steps forward, partially blocking Amoya from view. "Perhaps, you should be made to feel that kind of aching lost. I mean, you seem quite fond of your new family. I wonder what you would do to insure their...safety."

Fear flashed in Camille's eyes. "You wouldn't..."

Balem gave a small deadly smile, "Safety you didn't ensure for Amoya. Do you wish to know what that feels like? I could arrange it."

"I'll go to the police! Tell them you are threatening me and my family!" Camille said.

Balem smiled indulgently, "That's cute." He cocked his head slowly and appraising the older woman, "I can't decide if a slow death would be preferable, tossing you into the void, or a quick death, making you part of Regenex. Hmm."

"Neither."

Balem frowned and slowly turned to Amoya. He lifted his eyebrow, demanding an explanation.

Amoya seem to come back from her soul-searching as her eyes opened. Her brown eyes met Balem's before settling on her mother who looked halfway between terrified, angry and confused.

"Her punishment will be to continue." spoke Amoya with a graceful wave of her hand. She began walking towards Camille slowly, "Continue on with the knowledge that I am not dead. Continue on to know that your secret is not buried."

She began to circle Camille. Never did her brown eyes move from her mother who had stiffened. Amoya leaned over her shoulder and asked, "Have you even told your new family? Do they know of your past transgressions?"

"N-no-o." Camille half stuttered.

"Ahh, I see. Must be nice." Amoya stated as she continued to circle her mother, "I want you to live with what you've done." She stopped in front of Camille and turned back to her, "I want you to know that your daughter, the one you thought was so worthless is now Queen. I am not broken somewhere. I'm not dead."

Amoya leaned into Camille her voice lowering, "I fought. Just like you, I persevered. And I will continue to do so. You. Don't. Win."

Camille swallowed once.

Amoya lingered before popping back, "If you want to go to the authorities, good luck with that. Do you even know where you are?"

Camille shook her head, slight fear in her eyes as she looked at her long lost daughter.

"Welcome to Jupiter, mother!" Amoya chirped with a smile as she spread her arms out once before dropping them to the side.

Camille blinked, "Pardon?" Clearly, her so-called daughter done lost it.

"What I've learned is there is a whole universe out here. My husband..." Amoya gestured behind her to Balem who was smirking as he watched, "...is technically the ruler of all the universe. It's a bit much I know. Even I sometimes have a hard time with that sound bite but it's true."

Camille laughed awkwardly once, "You've got...to be kidding me."

"Hmm..." Amoya spun around to Balem, "Is it too much to ask to let her be conscious her ride home?"

Balem gave a delicate shrug, "It can be...arranged."

"Wonderful. Thank you, darling." Amoya turned back to her mother who more and more was looking at her as if she lost it, "Don't worry. If you feel the need to tell "the authorities"", here she did the quote-y fingers, "or even your husband, by all means. I doubt they'd believe you but you are well within your rights."

"You are...insane", Camille whispered.

Amoya lifted her head, her eyes narrowing, "I'm not the one that committed such a horrible deed. But I do wish you well, mother, for this will be last time we will meet. That I can guarantee."

The Queen turned and began walking up the steps of the platform. Based on some unseen command, the guards re-entered and escorted a sorely confused Camille Devouix out.

Balem watched as she disappeared out the door before turning and walking up the steps. Amoya stood by the window, arms folded as she stared out.

Silence graced them for a long while.

"Amoya Devouix."

Balem looked down at his wife who scoffed, her gaze not breaking from whatever sight that held her captive outside. "I never had a last name. They had to make up some random last name when they made up my birth certificate. Even my birthday could be subject to interpretation."

"May 14th, 1987."

Amoya looked up at Balem with an raised eyebrow. "How do you know that?

"Her memories."

"You watched them."

"Yes."

"Hmm", Amoya looked back outside, "May 18th? They have me listed for April 29th."

Balem turned his gaze back outside, "What last name did they give you?"

Amoya wrinkled her nose, "Thomas."

Balem blinked twice at that, "How...quaint."

"Really isn't", Amoya laughed humorlessly, "They just picked a popular last name. When I was old enough to know what happened...I hated my last name. I didn't even know if that was my mother's or father's name. It just seemed to be a name I got saddled with for no reason. It meant nothing."

Silence floated for a long moment again.

"It's odd. Feeling like that's over.", Amoya murmured, "Especially after so long."

"Personally I would have liked to see her float away into the void", Balem spoke, gesturing with his hand, as his mind's eye pictured it.

Amoya rolled her eyes and gave a short laugh. "Why give her that kind of power?"

Balem inclined his head once as Amoya turned to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, "Thank you." she murmured.

Balem mouth twitched once but he said nothing as she rested her head on his shoulder. He looked back out, his gaze swinging around. It paused when it settled on a figure in the distance, that was standing on the balcony of a nearby building.

This figure was dressed in white and looked to be transparent. She wore a flowery headdress and a golden-choker much like Amoya's. The woman smiled once at Balem.

Balem's breath caught. "Mother..." he whispered.

Amoya felt the change in Balem and lifted her head. She had never seen Balem looked so troubled before. His eyes had widen and his breath had quicken. His mouth was opened slightly. He seemed frozen on the spot.

Amoya glanced outside, her eyes running around trying to find the source of his discomfort. Not finding it, she leaned back and gently turned Balem's face back to her. "Darling, what's wrong?"

It took Balem a moment to come back. He started trembling a bit. Amoya frowned, concerned as she reached both hands up to couple his cheeks. "Balem, talk to me. What's wrong? Should I call the guards?"

"No guards!" Balem snapped.

"What is it then?"

"She was there." he whispered in a tortured voice.

Amoya was confused, "Who?"

A beat, "My mother."

Amoya automatically looked out the window, "Where?"

Balem felt a rising anger as he snapped lifting his head, "She was right..." he went to point in the general direction but his voice trailed when the apparition he saw was not there.

Amoya looked to where he was pointing. She saw nothing but didn't state the obvious. Finally she looked back at Balem, who ripped away from her. Amoya let him go. Balem's eyes searched the area. His voice was a thin thread, "She was standing right there. Smiling. I know my mother. It was her."

"But she's dead right?"

The smallest of nods was her response as Balem's eyes were stuck on the area, as if willing her to come back.

"A ghost? A spirit?" Amoya mused.

It was then that Balem rolled his eyes and began to straighten, returning to normal, "Don't be absurd. Ghosts don't exist."

A hand under his chin, broke his gaze from outside. He blinked as he took in Amoya's smiling face, "Darling..." she drawled, "I have since learned to never say what doesn't exist. At one time I thought Earth was the only inhabitant planet in the entire universe. At one time, I didn't think there was a ruler of the universe, pretty arrogant, very childish and vaguely handsome."

Balem's mouth twitched at this.

Amoya's eyes sparkled, "Who's to say at this point that ghosts and spirits don't exist? That there isn't some realm beyond ours." She dropped her hand to his chest, "If you think you saw your mother, you saw your mother. Ghost or no, no one will tell you otherwise."

Balem's hand came to caress Amoya's cheek, his mouth twitching. She leaned into it, looking up at him. He began to lean down slowly, punctuate his words,

"You.

Are.

So..."

His hand on her cheek, began to travel to the back of her head, drawing her closer as his other hand snaked around her waist.

Amoya's breath caught as his lips neared. Her own arms rounded about his waist.

And just before they captured her in a kiss his voice dipped lower, "...Fascinating."

FIN.

A.N: A final thank you for all the reviews and reading this story! =D