The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 15
I crossed my arms, as I stood listening to them.
“She is rumored to be powerful, having gathered magic that does not belong to her. Her use of black magic has even the purest of powers unable to track her. The shaman could only see a little but sensed a power so great that would cast darkness among the world.”
Eliza warned me of this black magic. My father looked at me. If he heard my thoughts he didn’t say anything.
I rested my hands on my hips, trying to think of something I could do to rid her of her dark magic.
That bitch knew of my powers before I did.
“Demons” I shot out with “You said they were allies, can they not come and take the black magic away? They are evil after all.” I walked towards them, hoping it would be something they would be willing to try on this deranged witch.
If she thought she was getting one over me, she was dead wrong.
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THE HEIR - BLOOD SECRET
Chapter twelve
My father was enraged, at the thought of me contacting the underworld.
“There will be no summoning demons in my castle!”
He warned, disgusted with my choice of action.
He left the room abruptly, slamming the door behind him.
I looked at Anton.
“I take it he’s not a fan of demons?” I asked in a state of confusion. I was no doubt scared at the thought of seeing a demon myself, let alone summoning one. However, if it gave us a fighting start against any black magic, I was willing to take my chances.
“He has no problem with demons. It’s the fact, it can kill you. Your mother nearly died, after summing a demon once,” Anton announced.
My thoughts drifted to Eliza, I had felt enough emotions through my visions to know she would have done anything for Armacey.
I could understand her desire to help.
Anton held my hands in his “I, on the other hand, will stand by you. However, I suggest you figure out a way to block your father.” he said, nodding his head towards the grimoire that lay on the bed. He was giving me a clue as to how I could summon a demon without Armacey listening to my thoughts.
“Can you keep him distracted long enough for me to summon a demon?” I asked.
I knew I was risking his safety, if Armacey had any indication Anton was involved in what I was about to do, there was no doubt in my mind his death would be sooner than expected.
“I’ll do as much as I can, but you must hurry. You only have a selected amount of time with a demon. Let them know quickly what you require of them, as they can leave at any given time and return to the underworld.” Anton stepped closer to me, and reached up and touched my lips with the pad of his thumb “No matter what, do not allow the demon to touch you”
“Why?”
“A single touch can kill an immortal, I dread to think what their touch can do to a human.”
He paused for a moment, staring at me long and hard “Just be careful”
I smiled weakly, closed my eyes and leaned into him once more, wrapping my arms around him so tight.
If it was the last time I was ever going to see him, after summoning a demon then I wanted to savor every last second of our last embrace.
A lump formed in my throat at the thought of never seeing Anton or my father ever again.
I released him from my tight hug and held both his hands in my hands, interlocking our fingers.
“You should go” I whispered.
I jerked my head, gesturing toward the door.
Anton raised my hand and kissed my knuckles before he blurred from the room in a fraction of a second.
I stood, staring vacantly at the door for a few lingering seconds before remembering I had much more pressing things to worry about than sulking.
I rushed to the bed, climbing over the sheets as I scrambled for the book.
I quickly flicked through the thick pages until I had found the one, I had seen about demons.
The only downfall was, it required my blood.
My fingers traced over the writing, as I read over and over making sure I had understood everything that was required of me.
“Okay, I can do this” I muttered to myself, pushing past my fear of the unknown.
“First I need to block…” I paused, and didn’t say anything else, in case Armacey heard me and came rushing in to put a stop to what I was doing.
I tucked the edge of the page I needed to come back to and began flipping the pages back to the beginning. I remembered a spell I had seen when I had first studied the book. The incantation was to block anyone from hearing thoughts. I had hoped it was Eliza’s handwriting that I was looking at, for she was the one that gave him the power of hearing to begin with, maybe she knew I would need this, especially in case her daughter was as stubborn as her.
I smiled faintly, as the tips of my fingers traced over the fancy joined-up writing. The book of shadows that now belonged to me was the only item I had to remember Eliza once existed. I held it close to my chest, as I sat on the concrete floor with my back to the fire, laying the book in front of me.
I read once more, before preparing for my protection circle. I leaned forward and traced my right index finger around in the dusty concrete, half a circle around me and the book, before doing the same with my left index finger and joining the line with the right side.
As I sat in the circle I had created, I began to prepare to block Armacey from my mind. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths in before starting with the incantation, repeating over and over in my head in a bid to remember.
I call upon my Ancestors, please guard me against outsiders from hearing my thoughts. I ask you, Ancestors, please guard me against outsiders from hearing my thoughts, I thank you, Ancestors, for guarding me against any outsiders from hearing my thoughts, bless it be.
I peeked, unsure if it worked.
Then closed my eyes again for a brief second and asked for Armacey in my thoughts, waiting to see if he would come. A few seconds had passed and he was nowhere in sight.
I did it!
I didn’t know how long it would last for.
My hands rushed flipping the pages, trying to find the page from before, frantically looking for the demon summoning spell. I pushed to my feet, in need of something sharp to cut my hand to get blood for the spell. I looked around the bare room that had become my sanctuary since my arrival.
But there was nothing. I was about to step out of the protection circle, to go in search of something, only the creak of the bedroom door had my full attention.
I took a shaky breath in, wondering if Armacey had figured out why he couldn’t hear my thoughts. Only I was relieved it wasn’t my father after all. It was Anton who stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
“We don’t have long, it will only be a matter of time before my lord questions your absence,” Anton stressed, before walking towards me.
“Great timing” I held my hand out “Give me something sharp. The summoning spell requires my blood” I informed him, my request had him unsure if he should allow me to inflict pain upon myself.
His eyes glanced down to my protection circle before locking with mine.
His expression hardened.
Having noticed his standoffish behavior “It's fine...” I assured him, “I heal remember” I added, moving my hand frantically back and forth urging him to come closer.
Anton made his way to me, standing by the side of the circle. Still, hesitant to come to close. Instead, holding the dagger he took from inside his leather trench coat, close enough for me to grab the blade from him.
“Once bitten, twice shy is all I’m going to say,” he smirked, taking a step back and keeping his distance from the magic that was protecting the circle to full strength. I was curious to know, if it was in case he got the same reaction from the circle that he got from the book.
I sat down, and crossed my legs within the confined space, making myself comfortable. I held the Emerald gem dagger against my skin, allowing my palm to take the brunt of my gash.
I gasped slightly from the slash, forcing myself to take deep breaths in and out through my nose. I laid the dagger next to me as I curled my hand into a fist, expelling the blood over the page.
“I summon thee, I summon thee, I summon you demon hear me and stand before me.” My voice was loud and firm, but my body was trembling with nerves.
I opened my hand and studied my palm, it had begun healing within seconds. I stared at the blood droplets that were sizzling inches from me, like bubbling lava.
“Please work,” I muttered, hoping, I had managed to expel enough blood needed for the spell.
I glanced up to Anton who stood wearily looking down at me.
I knew just from the his stare that it pained him that he couldn’t hold me or get to me to give me the comfort that I got from his hold.
“How dare you summon me.” a deep throat growl from the corner behind me had my eyes widen, it sounded like something, was angry, the sound of their harsh voice was followed by the growl of impatience.
Anton was already watching what I was yet to see. He didn’t react but then again why should he, he was a vampire.
I stood, nervously keeping my eyes on Anton, only he didn’t see me staring at him, he was on guard staring coldly at whatever the hell was in the room with us.
I turned slowly, and my eyes drifted to a lanky dark figure standing in the shadow of the room that wasn’t there before, replacing the rainbow haze the tinted window created from the sunlight. I could only assume it had created the illusion that I was looking at. He wore a floor-length black robe that had an oversized hood pulled down slightly over his features.
I licked my dry lips and gulped “I...I need your help.” I stuttered. Flames flickered through the cracks of the ground, which would have scorched a human to bone simply danced around the demon.
I started to feel panicky from what was under the robe, but I refused to look away. The demon seemed to float towards me instead of walk, my eyes looked down to where its feet should have been, only to see the figure hovering inches off the ground.
I nervously looked up to the demon.
“You are human, yet you do not run from me.” the demon noted, its black eyes had only a small white iris. My heavy breathing had become noticeably clear, and my heartbeat drummed hard against my chest.
I kept my gaze locked on the demon’s creepy eyes.
“Like, I said, I need your help!” I said more firmly.
It looked and sounded like a male, I was sure of it.
“What right do you have to summon me, human?” he deeply growled, his irritation was clear to hear.
He must know my father. I was sure of it.
“I am Francesca, the daughter of Armacey; the elder of the vampires, and I need your assistance, please” I wasn’t sure if manners would get me anywhere with the creature that stood before me, but it couldn’t hurt. I was also unsure if my protection circle would even protect me from such evil that the demon seemed to radiate. The room had smelt of sulfur from the moment the demon had been summoned, not to mention the heaviness that was lingering in the air the longer he seemed to be within the company of Anton and myself.
“The great Armacey, fearsome among his kind. He has no spawn I am sure of it,” he growled, stepping closer to give me a glimpse of his greyish flesh, his hollow shaped face looked like a skeleton. He leaned closer almost as if he was looking deep into my soul searching for answers.
It was obvious he didn’t believe what I had told him.
“What is your name?” I asked, there was a long pause before he replied to my question.
“Vovack,” he announced.
“Well Vovack, if you don’t believe me, see for yourself” I challenged, willing to show him, hoping to gain his trust.
If that was even remotely possible. I went to take a step forward, one that would break me from the circle.
“Don’t leave that circle, Francesca, your energy will be weakened, the link between you and the demon, It could kill you, not to mention the demons touch” Anton declared.
Unsure of what to do. I glanced back to see the demon who was waiting for me to proceed.
There was no way out of this, I had to prove to Vovack who I was.
I ignored Anton’s warning “I have to try, if black magic protects the breachers, I might not be a match for that witch’s magic. I have to do this.” I announced, without hesitating.
I stepped out the protection circle, within seconds my body had sensed the amount of energy I had used to summon the demon.
“We have to hurry” I offered the demon my hands to prove to him who I was. His bony hands rested on mine, as I closed my eyes, hoping I could show him in time.
My body was growing weaker by the second. I tried my best to ignore the overwhelming waves of heat that had surrounded me.
I focused, showing the vision of the night Armacey left me to be found. The demon watched with curiosity as to what he was witnessing. Not only was I sharing my memories with the demon, but I was also forced to watch his.
I had to endure the horrific images that were forced upon me from his memories, from allowing the creature to enter my mind.
No matter how much I tried my best to ignore it. I was drawn to the piercing screams of souls getting pulled from all directions, I could only describe the scorching heat, dark souls and deformed things that looked like humans but acted like creatures as hell.
I tried desperately to keep the images flowing, however, it was too late the link was broken as I slumped to the floor. My body began shutting down from the amount of energy I had used. Anton was quick by my side, holding me tightly in his arms.
“Please, I’m begging you,” I pleaded, with the demon.
Anton swept me up from the cold ground and placed me gently on top of the bed. Vovack gradually floated towards me.
“Very well, I will assist you on this one occasion, I will collect what is owed to me in due course. Do not summon me again after this.” his inhuman eyes bore into mine for a lingering second before asking what I needed from him.
Wait, collect what? Before I had a chance to speak the words that repeated over in my head he interrupted me.
“What do you require?” He demanded to know.
I pushed aside his I will collect speech to the back of my mind.
“The witch that helped the breachers in finding me, she uses black magic. Can you strip her of it?” I asked in-between trying to catch my breath.
His eyes never blinked, ever! He just stood staring at me. “What you have asked of me, requires a lock of your hair and a link with you” his deep growl lingered.
I caught Anton staring at me “No! Francesca”
“You know, it’s the only way”
He paused for a second, glancing at the demon “If you hurt her, I will descend down to hell and kill you myself” he growled.
An unpleasant sinister rumble escaped the demon “She summoned me!”
I grabbed Anton’s hand “I’ll be okay.” I whispered, trying my best to reassure him. I separated a few strands of my hair and yanked it.
“My hair,” I said, passing Vovack one of the items, in a hurry for his assistance. He carried on doing what was asked of him, standing close to me, his long greyish bony hand stretched out until it laid on my forehead. His touch had me forced back no matter how much I moved. His dark energy pinned me down. I accepted the fact there was no going back from this, not now.
I lay still, not fighting against the dark energy, and closed my eyes as Vovack chanted in a gibberish language. I had no clue as to what he was saying.
I had no other choice but to wait to see if it would work.
As the pain of his touch began to get more intense, my low groins became curdling screams, I thrashed about as he absorbed all my pure energy, entwining his darkness with it. My magic tried to fight back, unsure why such darkness was trying to merge with me, energy formed as if it was my body’s way of protecting itself, his touch kept my powers from doing what they were created for.
No amount of pure magic would keep me safe from his evil touch.
I wasn’t sure what would become of me. However, I knew even If I was to die from the demon’s deadly touch, the vampires held a better chance of surviving the battle if there was no black magic involved.
The bedroom door burst open.
“Get away from my daughter!” my fathers’ angry tone of voice was loud, loud enough for me to hear him through my screams.
It was obvious he had figured out why I was silent in thoughts. I knew he would put a stop to anything he thought was causing me harm.
I forced myself to ignore the pain the demon was inflicting upon me and held my hand up, unsure if my magic was too weak to work.
I willed for protection.
Brightness expelled from my hand as it surrounded me and Vovack within a cloak of white light. Armacey rushed to me only to be forced back from the shield of protection. He tried over and over, again and again, desperate to get close to me, being unsuccessful each time.
My powers were fading. I couldn’t hold it much longer. “Hurry” I begged the demon.
“Bring down the barrier now! Francesca” my father roared.
I felt my nose begin to gush, I wiped my hand across, and was shocked to find it was blood pouring from me.
“Francesca...!” Anton roared. My blood-stained hand dropped as my body gave up from the overwhelming pain. I tried to focus on their voices, as they rushed to my side.
My body convulsed unable to protect itself.
“The black magic has been removed; the witch only holds the magic within her” was the only words Vovack spoke, before bowing his head and glimmering out of sight.
“I’m sorry...I was only...” I tried to apologize but the darkness was chasing after me, my body was weaker than I had ever experienced, my focus went fuzzy before everything went black.
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THE HEIR - BLOOD SECRET
Chapter thirteen
