The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 14
I didn’t know much about vampires.
I was still learning.
The movies made them out to be soulless monsters that didn’t care for humans, apart from the feeding on human blood. The rest didn’t fit. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was one of few to witness the emotions of their kind.
“She did…Both of you kept me safe.” I corrected him. Armacey glanced back towards the town that laid directly at the bottom of the rocky mountains, unsure of how to respond to my declaration. I had to remind myself, he was a vampire, a very powerful one at that.
Maybe, he can’t express emotions as easily as humans could.
He is a vampire after all.
“We very much do have emotions young lady!” he snapped back scolding me, clearly insulted by my thoughts. His rash tone of voice had me staring at him, unsure of what to say. Making a mental note, to do a spell that would stop him from hearing every little detail that was floating around in my head.
I glanced up at him “I’m sorry, it’s just-”
He looked at me sharply and cut me off.
“-Just what? You don’t think we have emotions because we kill humans to satisfy our thirst?” he replied in a sharp tone. Armacey proceeded to go on before I had a chance to make amends for my attitude towards vampires.
“We can be selfish like humans and at times can fear just as much as humans. Nonetheless, the fact that we have walked this earth longer than anyone could possibly fathom, many desire, to be free – free from this prison sentence of lifelong immortality. Therefore, they choose to fight without the urge for survival.” Armacey informed me.
Stunned “Some vampires want to die?” I asked. Why, if given the chance of immortality, would they choose death?
“When you outlive generations of your family, it can become lonely. That my child is an emotion we as vampires feel every second of every day.” He said, never taking his eyes off me. Instead, he waited, knowing I had more questions that only he could answer.
“Did you ever want to die?” I found myself asking the question. He zoned out for a moment almost as if he was evaluating my question carefully, before answering it.
“I suppose I did, until I found a love so great it made my existence bearable.” he mused.
“Eliza?” I whispered, he was referring to my mother, the one person I know he missed dearly just with the pained look that flashed in his eyes whenever her name was mentioned.
Armacey cleared his throat, before turning to look back towards the town. It was something I had noticed he would do at times to avoid eye contact with me. As if he was afraid to show one ounce of weakness.
It was obvious, he had allowed himself to think of the one woman he had loved. It was rude of me to think they couldn’t have emotions. I had seen Armacey express the same emotion whenever my mother’s name was mentioned.
Sadness.
“The other elders, did they know of your love for my mother. Was the love frowned upon?” I questioned.
Maybe there are rules against vampires and humans falling in love.
“I’m the firstborn elder, others died in battles. Dreven and Cassius were created by me, to lead with me and to take the previous elders' places. They hold no power over me, and never will.” he confidently replied.
When did the other elders die? How did they die? Questions were ready to fire out from my mouth, but before I could ask any more questions, we were interrupted.
“My lord, the wolf messenger has asked what his orders are.” a man’s harsh voice asked. I turned the same time as Armacey.
Both of us faced him.
My brows creased at how familiar the vampire looked. I was sure I had seen him. Maybe it was in the hall when the alarm had sounded.
Giving him the once over “Have we met?” I asked, his black hair was shaved on each side with symbol tattoos on both sides. He stood wearing what had become normal among vampires, black, black and nothing but black. His leather trench coat was similar to Anton’s, but with weapons that were clear to see stashed in the inside of his coat.
He said nothing, and looked at Armacey, refusing to answer my question.
“Why won’t you answer me?” I snapped, walking towards him. I was sure I had seen him, I just couldn’t figure out when or where.
Irritation was bubbling within me.
I looked over my shoulder at Armacey, who was standing directly behind me but staring intently at his messenger. I diverted my attention back to the stranger that still refused to acknowledge me.
I cocked my head at him “Fine, I’ll find out for myself!” I announced, placing my hands firmly on his arms, forcing a vision upon me. My curiosity was getting the better of me.
I had to find out as to how I knew him.
The energy blasting through me had me gripping harder, as images came fast as if watching a silent movie. I watched buildings, strangers blur by, before realizing what it was I was looking at. The car that was turned upside down, was outside of my family home. The home that I grew up in.
It was the accident of my parents I was witnessing.
I observed the scene through his eyes, his stare drifted over the crowd that had gathered around until he met my gaze.
I suddenly recalled standing, staring at him as a police officer tried to lead me away from the horrific scene.
I had managed to block out that awful night, now here I was, close to tears from a memory that I was forced to relive, due to my nosiness in finding out who this vampire was.
He could have said something!
My insides crumbled, at being forced to see my parents trapped inside the vehicle all over again. They never stood a chance, they were pronounced dead at the scene.
Confused, I released my hands from his arms wanting answers.
“Why were you there the night my parents died?” he still didn’t answer me, instead he kept his stare straight ahead, as if under strict orders not to speak.
I swung around and marched towards Armacey who had started to pace up and down closer to the view of the town. I knew he had something to do with his silence.
“Stop it!” I ordered, “Whatever it is, you’re telling him, stop!” He was somewhat wary of me finding out the truth, for some unknown reason.
He was communicating to the vampire, that much I knew. My father stopped, and his stare drifted between his messenger and me.
“It’s for your own good.” was all he said.
I pointed to the vampire “He was there, I remember him. His clothes, his tattoos, just him in general, I remember seeing him there! He stuck out like a sore thumb, tell me why he was there! Tell me!” I hollered, refusing to take this lightly.
“Francesca!” he warned, his tone was stern, but he was unsure of my intentions.
I wasted no time; my temper got the better of me. I turned in a fit of rage, ignoring my father's warning, and walking towards the vampire that had been ordered to stay silent. My body began trembling, as my adrenaline from the anger boiled to the surface.
I pushed the vampire back with an intense force of air that escaped from the palm of my hands. My powers were attached to my emotions, rage made me feel invisible to them. I didn’t flinch, as the stocky vampire landed close to the roof entrance with a sickening thud.
He stood with grace refusing to fight back, keeping his head up and hands in front.
Which only fuelled my hostility.
It was in a vampire’s nature to attack. Why wasn’t he fighting me? I knew I had to try and do something to get a reaction from one of them, I refused to stop until one of them told me what I needed to know.
I held my hands up, my fingers slowly moved as I began gathering fire energy, my stare locked on the explosion of flickering flames. For a few seconds, I allowed myself to appreciate what I had created, before looking up at the mighty creature.
Giving only a sinister glare “Tell me why you were there that night, or I’ll destroy your immortality painfully and slowly!” I warned, through clenched teeth, refusing to back down.
“Francesca….!” A voice called out, only I was in my own little world.
Ignoring them, I focused on what needed to be done to get the answers to my question.
I refused to back down, I took one more step toward the warrior vampire.
“Last chance!” I warned, ready to throw a blast of energy at him.
“Francesca. Look at me!” the sound of Anton’s concerned voice had my magic flicker out instantly. Having him near me, brought a sense of calmness.
It was Anton who was trying to get my attention all along.
I dropped my hand.
Needing him more than ever “Please...Tell me why he was there, the night my parents died.” I whimpered, looking directly at him as he stood on guard at the door entrance.
I was sure Anton wasn’t here of his own accord, no doubt having been summoned by Armacey. Anton glanced at the warrior vampire then back to me.
He walked up to me slowly with his hands up trying to defuse the situation “I will be the one to explain, but not here, not like this,” Anton stressed.
“Come to me,” he coaxed, urging me to step away from the vampire warrior. I walked straight into his arms needing his tender touch.
Anton wrapped his arms securely around me. His hands rubbed my back attentively as I melted into him with a sad sigh.
“Leave now, Zac!” he rushed the words, I was unaware of his name until now, only having known who he was from his visions I had infiltrated. The messenger swiftly left, more than ready to be excused from my insanity. Armacey was by Anton’s side, watching me. The look on his face was something I could only explain as uncertainty. I wondered if Eliza ever treated his creatures with such cruelty.
I had only up until now used my powers on one breacher and also to combat against the warrior vampires that Anton had arranged for me.
I contemplated saying something to Armacey, to explain why I attacked Zac. Only my pig-headedness was stopping me.
Instead, I drew my eyes off him refusing to acknowledge him.
I pulled back slightly and looked up at Anton.
“I want to go to the room,” I announced, I wrapped my hands around his neck, needing to be away from Armacey. Also, fully aware that being up close and personal with Anton would have my father seething since he warned him from me.
Anton didn’t nod or look at his elder, he simply obeyed me at that moment. For all I knew, Armacey had told him to go before any more drama unfolded. I closed my eyes, hoping that would ease the sick feeling that followed from being rushed in the arms with his ability of speed.
“You can open your eyes now.” he soothed, I peeked slowly adapting to the gravity. It wasn’t as bad having my eyes closed, a little uneasiness in my stomach, but nothing I couldn’t push past.
“Your father...” I didn’t give Anton a chance before stopping him.
“Father!” I scoffed, rolling my eyes at his words. How could I have any form of a relationship with that creature!
I made my way to the open flame fire.
“I thought I could try and help everyone, become something that you all believe that I am. How do you expect me to do that if everyone is lying to me?” I argued.
I held my hands up to the fire, seeking heat.
Anton stood next to me.
A heavy sigh escaped him “We have reason to believe your parent’s car crash was a setup.”
I cocked my head to him.
His red eyes looked brighter, as the glare from the fire cast light against them. Anton kept his stare locked on the flames, giving me time to take in what he had just said.
“It was an accident. Their car was only yards from the house, I heard the screeching and I ran outside, to find their car upside down. The car was crushed…that’s why they died, I saw it!” I croaked, tears erupted as I was forced to recall the incident twice, in such a short amount of time.
“Zac was sent on the orders of your father. He suspected the breachers had something to do with your parent’s crash. He retreated back and told Armacey, what he had seen.” Anton declared, his hand’s rested behind his back captivated by the flames that danced among one another.
I stood in silence for a moment.
“Breachers?” I said, glancing at him “What do they have to do with my parent’s crash?” I asked, trying to make sense of what he had just said.
I shook my head in confusion “Why were they interested in my parents?” I continued.
“Because of you.” The sound of Armacey’s concerned voice diverted my attention toward the door.
My father stood in his usual black cloak, with his hands behind his back informing me himself.
He stepped closer. “They had watched me, watch over you. They were curious to know why you were of such importance to me” he added.
He must have known I wasn’t going to drop this, for him to tell me himself. I looked back to the fire refusing to look at him, still angry from what unfolded on the rooftop.
“Why did you not sense them watching you?” I snapped. My thoughts ran wild.
You’re a powerful vampire after all! Maybe my parent’s death could have been prevented. Maybe you could have saved them from dying!
In my head I was screaming at him, I was angry at him.
He sighed “I wish I could have saved them. Saved you, from all the pain you harbor in your heart” his voice was full of sadness.
I knew he had just read my thoughts. Maybe my words were harsh, but I was hurting and feeling broken-hearted.
He moved closer to me and Anton. I stood where I was but Anton stepped aside allowing Armacey space.
“When I was watching over you, I got consumed in everything you were doing at that moment. Your baseball games, I stood under the shade of the trees watching you from a distance as you won yet again another point for your team.” he was right, I always won. All the other girls on the team were too busy worrying about breaking a sweat.
“The night you went to the hospital after you broke your wrist from climbing trees with your friends in the summer.” He had been with me all along, and I had no clue. All I ever knew was my mom and dad that raised me.
I stared up blankly at my father as he carried on.
“I paced the corridor, listening to your painful screams as the doctors examined you. I wanted nothing more than to comfort you, but I couldn’t. You had no clue as to who I was and the breachers had seen enough to realize, there was a bond. They tested out what I can only assume, was to make sure you were who they had thought you to be.”
“You said they didn’t know. You told me it was an amulet that they had believed it to be?” I reminded him, wearily.
Armacey turned and faced the flaming fire.
“The followers of the breacher you killed, studied you like a dissected animal. They reported back to him, he had noticed something that others wouldn’t have thought to look for. You look like Eliza, and he knew of the rumors of her being with child. It wasn’t long before he figured out why I was protecting you.” He replied.
I gasped in shock “You kept her pregnancy a secret?” I asked.
He nodded and looked at me “For your safety, yes.”
I took a deep breath in, I could understand their need to protect me. Nonetheless, I needed to know more about my parents that I grew up with and loved.
“That still doesn’t answer my question. What has that got to do with my parents?” I demanded a response.
“They wanted to see if they could lure you out, and the powers they suspected you to have” he admitted “When the breacher killed your parents and made it look like an accident. That should have gotten your attention, but when you only grieved and done nothing else, they had no choice but to pull back.”
I turned, walking back towards the bed, I took deep breaths in, and then slowly released them, knowing a full-blown panic attack wasn’t far behind. Each breath got harder to take, and it felt like the room was closing in on me. I sat on the edge of the bed as I tried desperately to gasp for air.
Oh my god, my parents were killed because of me!
I couldn’t hold back, the tears that were stinging my eyes, trickled slowly down my cheeks.
“The vampire on the roof, why was he there?” I asked, rubbing the tears away trying to stay focused.
“He had traced the stench of the breachers to your home, by the time he arrived, it was too late. He arrived at the scene of the crash. He knew it had to have been them that orchestrated the attack, sending a message to me, that they knew who you were. Zac checked to make sure you were safe, before leaving.”
I was confused to learn the person that I attacked earlier, had my safety as his top priority.
I felt like a right bitch.
“Zac was protecting me too?” I whispered, more so to myself.
“Yes, Zac is my best warrior I knew he would stop at nothing to keep you safe,” my father said “Anton was ordered to protect you after the attack. He watched you day and night, in case the breachers attacked again. There hadn’t been any other attempts, until the night in the woods.”
I stood up, in an effort to walk the stress off.
I paced the floor, in the same manner as Anton had done on many occasions. I tried desperately, to gather my thoughts.
“I didn’t have powers before, how could they be sure it was me?” recalling how my powers didn’t trigger until I got here.
Anton stepped closer, including himself in the conversation “The breacher welcomed a witch into his group. The girl was shunned by her coven for using black magic. She had located you after the breachers killed Armaceys seer. That was when they had solid proof as to who you truly were.” Anton replied, answering my question.
I stopped pacing and stared at Anton “How do you know that?” I asked.
Both Anton and my father stood with a sense of uneasiness that was clear to see.
I raised my eyebrow “Tell me!” I ordered. I was growing extremely tired of them, trying to hide everything from me.
“The werewolves informed us. They sensed her magic, they even brought their shaman in to warn us.”
