The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 12
They all stood dressed in black with Amulets around their necks, each one holding onto a sword.
I turned to Anton, as we stepped off the last step into the room.
“What do you expect me to do?” I nervously asked.
He pressed his hand on my back urging me to go forward.
“I expect you to defend against a threat,” he replied.
I grimaced at him, before turning to the vampires that looked a lot bigger, than any of the other ones I had seen before.
“Your powers are controlled by your emotions, fight and survive.” is all Anton said before stepping aside.
The massive stocky vampire to the left stepped forward bowing his head before rushing towards me. My first instinct was to put my hands up to defend myself, but it didn’t stop him from attacking me. He threw me up into the air so fast and hard, causing me to land face down on the soft mats that were strategically placed throughout the room.
I groaned as pain shot through my body. I turned on my side and I lifted my head up from the mat.
“How do you expect me to fight against huge vampires?” I demanded to know, each one looked to have overindulged in the steroid department, their bodies resembled bodybuilders.
My powers erased the pain from my body within seconds of being attacked.
“Francesca, you’re the greatest power that exists among any of us. Get up and fight!” Anton’s words were cold, he acted like I was his pet to be ordered around. He wasn’t the Anton I knew, not the vampire I had held onto at night feeling safe in his embrace.
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THE HEIR - BLOOD SECRET
Chapter nine
After getting knocked about and thrown against every angle of the room by each one of the vampires Anton hand-picked for me to fight. I lay catching my breath from a sword fight, allowing my body to heal from a gash.
I dragged myself up having had enough of being pushed about, deciding to take a stand. I took the leather jacket off, throwing it aside.
Standing, watching from the side. “Tell me when,” Anton called out, having witnessed the look of determination on my face. I stood, taking long deep breathes in allowing my body to release the tension, relaxing as the power passed through me. I knew I was ready to fight back. I glanced at Anton giving him a simple nod allowing him to give the order to his warriors.
“Attack!” He screamed.
On the sound of his voice I began running for the vampire to my left, he charged at me, swinging his sword in my direction. Fear pulsated through my veins, every ounce of me was begging to stop and backtrack. Maybe if I ran back into Anton’s arms, he would protect me and call off the training. But there was no time, panic quickly rose deep within my core at the impending impact of being attacked once more.
Concentrate Francesca my inner bitch hissed, scolding me.
I argued with myself as to how I was going to get free from this attack. The vampire had speed and his sword, I only had my magic and even at that, I wasn’t confident at tapping into it.
I was quickly proven wrong. I watched as time slowed down.
Distressed emotions aroused by impending danger. That’s it! Having figured out how my powers surface. They protect me when I’m most vulnerable.
With time going by ever so slowly, it was allowing me to perceive what was coming before he had a chance to strike. I jumped with all my strength only to find myself leaping up and over him, landing feet first behind the massive warrior as time reverted back to normal. I darted around to face my attacker. I observed the mighty creature as he stood confused, looking side to side, baffled as to where I went. Now was the perfect opportunity. I bend on one knee aiming both hand’s up and striking him on his back. The bright lights that penetrated through my hands knocked him out instantly.
“Yes! Francesca one, vamp’s nil” I shrieked, giving a little victory dance and throwing my hands in the air.
It was short-lived, out the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of another burly vampire coming towards me. It was too late to run, I didn’t have time to react as he grabbed me, locking me within his grip, I threw my head back head-butting him, only hurting myself in the process, he didn’t even flinch.
Although my head was thumping with pain. I had to think quickly.
I closed my eyes, and I allowed my anxiety to consume me, thrashing my measly human body against the warrior with agitation. It was no good, he still wasn’t letting me go, and it only enticed him to tug at me tighter.
Suffocation was seeping in, taking over. I was seconds from passing out.
I interlocked my hands, willing to be apart, the surge of my powers vibrated within me. I unclasped my hands, shocked to find both of us flying across the room, getting separated from one another at such a speed, and landing at opposite sides of the room.
Ouch, turns out I’m not immune to my own blasts.
My hands curled around my body, as I struggled to deal with the agony of my energy blast.
“Get up, Francesca!” Anton shouted.
I hurt my ribs from landing on a wooden bench.
“Go to hell” I cried, in a strained tone of voice, I rolled around in pain, waiting till my powers healed me, it took longer than any of the other times. I wondered if it was from the brunt of the injury or the fact, I had been fighting all day. My body was physically exhausted.
Anton was quick by my side, he knelt down and checked my injuries.
“You got hurt by your own blast, it may take a little longer than usual to heal. That’s enough for today.” he soothed, putting his hands around my waist and helping me to stand up. Reverting back to the Anton I knew him to be. Caring and calm.
With the help of Anton, I staggered to my feet, gripping onto him and leaning into his hard body needing comfort.
“If I can’t fight off an orchestrated fight, what chance do
I stand with the breachers, they move faster and different, it’s pointless teaching me.” I stated with sadness. We both retreated up the spiral staircase.
“You just need to be in control of your magic, it’s going to take time” he assured, holding me closer.
“We don’t have time, the breachers are due to attack soon,” I said. I stilled, suddenly having a light bulb moment.
“Wait, I have an idea.” I pulled free from Anton’s hold and I rushed ahead, as my body continued to recuperate.
I made my way to Anton’s room, I knew I had to study the grimoire if I could understand that, then maybe I could use my magic to help the vampires.
Upon entry, there was a silver trolley filled with fruit and chicken wings. I didn’t care where they got it, I was starving from fighting all day. I sat on the edge of the bed in desperate need of food. I grabbed a handful of grapes, then washed them down with the water that was in the decanter by my food. Feeling grateful for whoever got me what my body needed to refuel.
Studying could wait, I was famished.
I chomped into pieces of chicken on the bone, devouring each and every one.
Anton had stood the whole time, hovering his hand over the grimoire, unsure if he should test its powers against protecting itself again.
I giggled, having seen how curious he was about the book that held all of my Ancestor’s knowledge. “If you want me to open it, so you can look, just ask,” I told him.
“So much magical knowledge lies within that single item,” he said, not once taking his eyes off the Grimoire.
I leaned on the bed, laying my chin in my hands, admiring the book myself. I glanced back and forth from Anton and the book with an urge to have another look. He stood in front keeping his distance as I opened it, but close enough to peer down and look.
My hands brushed against the decrepit pages, as I began my journey to understand who I was and where I came from.
“There’s so much to learn,” I whispered.
When Anton didn’t say anything back in return, I looked up, but he was gone, I wasn’t sure if he was allowing me space to figure myself out or if he had to hunt.
I quickly turned my attention back to the book of shadows.
Herb ingredients, Moon phases, hexes. This book had everything. I began feeling more confident, that I could find something to help out Armacey and his army of vampires.
I studied the book for hours on end, having also discovered the spell I was sure could help us in the battle against the breachers.
Three-pointers spell; Combining protection, clear hearing and strength. This, I was sure was the one.
I had to check first, I decided to test my powers. I lay the grimoire in front of me, crossed my legs, and made myself comfortable.
I closed my eyes as I steadied my breathing.
I calmly imaged Armacey in my mind and mentally called his name asking him to come to me.
Armacey I need you. I repeated just to clarify my intention once more. Armacey I need you.
I knew he could hear what others were thinking. I just didn’t know if I was too far from him to hear me. I was relying on my magic to help amplify my link to him.
“I’m here my child” his words had me throwing my hands in front of me instinctively. He literally scared the living daylights out of me.
“Would it pain you to knock on the door next time?” I moaned.
His brow twitched “You beckoned me, remember?”
I did. And it worked.
“My Ancestors, they weren’t just seers, some were witches, some healers. Their magic was so strong, I feel an invisible string linking me to them,” I told him.
Without coming to close to the book he stalked closer.
“They were all different, each unique in their own way, now each and every one of their powers lies within you, along with the ancient magic.” He informed me.
He stood watching the book cautiously, I was sure he must have tested it out once before and got the same reaction Anton got earlier.
“I think I have figured out how to prepare the vampires for battle,” I said confidently.
Willing to hear me out. “What do you require,” he asked.
Reading from the list of ingredients to him. “I need a lock of hair belonging to each vampire that will stand fighting against the breachers,” I told him.
My index finger brushed over the ingredients list saying them out loud.
“A drop of blood from each one gathered in the same glass”. I said, looking at the last remaining ingredients, mostly herbs.
“I need, devils Shoestring for invisibility, high John the conqueror for protection, also mugwort. I will link to all your clan of vampires beyond normal sensory, it will give us an advantage point against the breachers.”
He stood with a look of solemnness in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I asked with caution.
“I know of the magic you plan on using, it’s dangerous, you need to be under protection yourself, as the magic can’t be disturbed, if it is to work and succeed,” he replied.
He genuinely was worried about me.
I had known it was a touch and go spell, the page came with a warning, one that I wasn’t willing to share with Armacey, as I was sure he wouldn’t agree.
I had to try.
I couldn’t allow the breachers to get to me without trying to destroy them first.
Hoping, he would go along with my plan. “I’ll be okay, trust me. I’ll call upon my ancestors who will stand united with me. Anton can keep me safe, while I make sure your vampires have the power to defeat our enemies,” I was feeling more than confident.
“Very well, I will retrieve everything you need. You will not only have Anton. I will stand protecting you also” he declared.
I wasn’t surprised to find he was willing to be by my side, he had kept me safe for eight-teen years already, why was he going to stop now.
Nodding, instead of arguing “Okay, but I need all the ingredients by the day of the Blood Moon, I should have the spell figured out before the breachers arrive.” I said, closing the book, needing to rest as tiredness was quickly kicking in.
“I will get everything you require but you must sleep now,” he told me, no doubt having heard my thoughts, he was quick to leave the room.
He wasn’t good at saying goodnight I had come to notice.
I placed the book on the floor, and went to bed, pulling the sheets over myself, sprawling out and taking advantage of the king-size bed, embracing the space.
I hadn’t been so invaded with my own personal space until I arrived here, but a part of me for once in my life felt like I had a purpose, dare I say it - I felt I was a part of their family.
I contemplated on staying awake until Anton arrived back, to put me to sleep, somehow it was easier when he was by my side, but the torturous day of fighting against the extremely strong vamps had me still feeling tender.
My powers are a force to be messed with for sure.
My tiredness pulled me deeper into the darkness.
I found I was back standing on the rooftop of the castle, the bright silver moon was so close I was sure if I reached out, I could touch it.
“You need me, your magic will be tested to its limits,” the voice behind me said. There was something so familiar about his voice. I turned my head to see the breachers’ son that came to me in my vision.
He was young, human I was sure of it, his dark brown hair fell over his eyes.
“Why are you willing to help me?” I asked confused.
With a hint of smugness in his tone. “Why tell you, when I can show you. I’ll be arriving on the night of the battle.” He said confidently.
I needed answers, and I knew my dreams were the time to receive them.
“Who are you?”
“I’m like you but slightly different, my name is Zander, my father was a breacher, he was turned while my mother was pregnant with me, she left him not wanting to get caught up in the war between vampires and breachers. She was a witch from the South coven. They didn’t like him to start with, so they used protection magic to prevent him from finding her, and he never knew he had a son until you told him.” he informed me not taking his eyes off the moon.
I gulped nervously “You saw me with your father?” How was it even possible for him to see what I had done?
He walked closer to me, standing by my side “When you linked to him, it surged through me. The pain you forced upon him, his agony, I felt it all. He’s my father by blood that was our link.”
I stood unable to move, unsure if he was angry at me for killing his father. He was hard for me to read; my gut was surprisingly calm considering the circumstances. He stood at ease as he carried on talking.
Zander looked at me “Over the years, I often found myself looking, keeping a watchful eye on him, to make sure he was nowhere close to finding my mother.” He said.
“He wouldn’t have been able to find her if the coven used magic,” I said. I knew that because as long as each individual that performed the spell was still alive, the magic would still actively be in place. Which made me believe, whoever had used the cloaking spell on behalf of his mother, must have died for the magic to fade, why else would he feel the need to link through his father and check he was nowhere in sight.
“The coven that cloaked your mom, there dead, aren’t they?” knowing the answer without him having to tell me.
Regardless of how big or small the spell was, whenever magic is used by a witch their magic will be active until their death, then all magic ceases with them. Undoing all the spells they had cast in their lifetime. There was a reminder on most spells in the grimoire warning the practitioner of that con side to their magic.
“Yes,” he said, confusion washed over his perfect features as to how I knew so much.
I shrugged “My father is the elder of the vampires, he had a child with a seer. Me! My mother told him to keep me safe and watch over me, I was cloaked from birth, her magic protected me but the link was broken when my father’s seer that took over from my mother was slaughtered. The magic faded allowing me to be detected.” I wasn’t sure it made sense but the fact he didn’t react to finding out my father was a vampire had me known, he knew more than the average human.
“Will you be taking over from the last seer?” he asked.
“I suppose” I mused. I hadn’t given it much thought.
“The light within darkness,” he whispered, gazing at me in admiration.
“How did you know that?” I queried, the words he spoke had confusion ripple through me, no one knew what the light within darkness was, an amulet was what everyone was looking for until the breacher -his father, who had discovered my true identity.
I didn’t have time to react to him knowing who I was, his lips pressed against mine, forcing us to share a vision. My hands reached up, and I tried my best to free myself from his rude approach.
Only forcing myself to stop fighting, as I was desperately wanting to know what he knew.
I gripped his arms, keeping a hold of him.
The battle that was coming, the ones that would die fighting for me. The battle that he was due to stand by my side rushed passed. Both of our powers being tested to no return.
I prepared myself to pull back, to break the link, only he held me tighter refusing to let go, allowing another flash of pictures to pass by.
Me and him in love. I felt the need to be with him, love him as he does me.
I forced myself away from his hold.
Catching my breath from the intense vision. “I don’t understand.” I panted.
“You’re the light within their darkness, use your magic correctly, all of what you have seen will be preventable. You’re also the other half of me,” he said.
He wasn’t making sense, I couldn’t deal with all that he had shown me, my fingers rushed for my bare arm, pinching the skin ready to wake up.
“Until next time,” he whispered, flashing me a wide grin.
