The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 18
I shook my head in disbelief, he had no right what so ever to tell me who I should and shouldn’t trust.
“Why? Because of the vision or because you're jealous” I snapped, crossing my arms defensively, my temper getting the better of me.
I tilted my head, staring at him.
“Vision?” He asked curiously, gazing at me with focus and giving me his undivided attention, blatantly ignoring the jealousy dig.
I remembered he knew nothing of my vision I shared with Zander.
“Turns out me and Zander are linked by our so-called future vision. Zander told me he would be arriving and he was to stand by my side.”
“Future vision? That would mean...” Anton couldn’t finish what he was about to say, instead, he stood staring back to the raging fire in pensive silence.
My mind was racing through all the possibilities as to what he was thinking “Visions can change...Free will and all” I quickly added. I wasn’t wanting to hurt him in any shape or form. Before I could reassure him, Anton asked me a question I was unsure of how to answer.
“Do you want it to change?” He asked, watching the flames and waiting for me to answer him.
I didn’t move. Didn’t say anything.
Anton shot me a look “Francesca? Do you want it to change?” He demanded to know.
“I honestly don’t know” I admitted “The only part making sense to me so far, is that both of us hold powerful magic within us, it could benefit me to have him by my side, to learn who I can become”
“By your side for battle or love?” He questioned. I was no empath but the energy surrounding us was somewhat unclear; anger mixed with frustration. I could only assume Anton was trying his best to keep his emotions in check.
“Anton...I...” I stuttered, taken back from his question. Needing space, I turned to walk towards the bed only for Anton to swiftly back me up against the brick wall in the fraction of a second.
Locked in an embrace like nothing I had experienced before. His manly hand cradled my face as his other roughly snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to him. So close, that our lips were only inches apart.
My heart was beating violently with excitement and a touch of panic.
All he wanted was an answer, and I couldn’t even do that.
He rested his forehead against mine.
“You hesitated, why deny what you feel for me?” He whispered.
Pleading with sad eyes. “Anton, please.” I croaked.
My head was spinning out of control with everything I had to take on board. His guilt trip was just adding to my stress.
He cupped my face with both hands.
“I have watched you for a long time. I never knew what it was like to feel hope again. Even love, until I saw you. Francesca, having you around makes me feel less of the creature that I am and more of the human I once was. You’re everything I had missing in my lonely existence”
The word love had me pull back from his hold. Needing to hear it one more time.
“Say it, again.” I smiled, the sensation of happiness bursting within me.
He paused, staring at me intensely before repeating what I wanted to hear “I’m in love with you, I have been from the very beginning.” Without delay, he leaned in needing the touch of my skin against his lips, his slow kisses became lower until his lips were pressed against the throbbing pulse on my neck. I had the overwhelming urge to give him the one thing he craved.
Me.
I desperately needed the release that was building from needing Anton to take me in a way that would make me feel more secure and wanted.
Only I didn’t.
“I can’t,” I stated with sadness and turning back towards the bed. If Armacey found out what was going on both of us, Anton would die for loving me and I would have to endure the pain of losing the one person I knew deep down had stolen my heart from the first morning I saw him.
“Why not, we have a connection and you know it, you feel it!” He argued, walking towards me.
“I know, we do...I’m not denying that, but Armacey will make sure you are not around me, let alone alive!”
He grunted in frustration. “I need you, Francesca. I will do anything for you, why are you fighting me on this,” He asked, holding my wrists restraining me.
“I know you do! I need you to. But I can’t risk losing you Anton, please. Until I can find a permanent solution to Armacey hearing our thoughts, we need to be careful.” I told him, tugging my hands-free from his hold. Willing to take the first step of keeping my distance from him.
Cold dead eyes stared at me “Very well, say no more,” He said coldly, before dashing out of sight and exiting the room. My eyes never left the bedroom door. Sobs clawed at my throat from the sad heaviness that pulled on my heart.
“Anton!” I cried. I was more confused than ever before, he acted so cold towards me. I wasn’t sure if it was a man thing or a vampire thing not to express his emotions as clearly as a woman does. One minute he loves me, now he had stormed away. All of it was beginning to cause me a headache.
Will he ever speak to me again? I pondered.
I collapsed onto the bed as tears stung my eyes, lying back the tears flowed like a river. I had Anton declaring his love for me. Zander telling me he’s my future and I’m also the leader of our kind. Not to forget my elder vampire father who I had no idea existed until recently.
All I wanted to do at that moment was to curl up into a ball and cry. Cry until tiredness claimed my body.
A loud knock on the door had me bolting up, rubbing my hands quickly over my tear-stained face before rushing towards it, hoping Anton had heard me calling for him and willing to talk to me again. My hand reached for the latch to open.
“Anton, I’m sorry.” I sighed, needing to apologize for pushing him away seconds after admitting his feeling for me. I pulled the door wide enough, only to frown. It wasn’t Anton, it was a stranger.
I was sure it wasn’t a vampire.
A tough-looking girl stepped towards me, forcing me to take a few steps back. I backed up unsure of her intentions. She slammed the door shut with the flick of a hand.
Magic! She has magic! My mind raced, searching for answers as to who this person could be. I was under the impression I was the only witch amongst the vampires.
“Well, aren’t you a clever little witch!” She hissed, my mouth fell open in shock. Her fist smashed into my face, causing me to fall hard to the dusty ground. My jaw pulsated in pain for a few seconds before my body slowly regenerated.
My powers. They were coming back. I could feel my magic erasing the pain.
I turned onto my back, pushed myself up onto my elbows, and looked up at the girl who was smirking as she glared down at me.
“Who are you?” I asked, balancing on one arm, and reaching up to rub my jaw with the other.
She looked at me with a mean stare.
“I’m a little insulted you haven’t heard of me!” She said, with a venomous sneer, opening her hands and aiming an orange energy ball at me. As the shock wave pulsated through my body, my whole inner sides felt like I had just been kicked and winded.
It took a good few deep breathes to stop me from passing out. Having quickly put two and two together. She had to be Erica’s sister, the witch that I had black magic stripped of. My legs quickly took a swipe at her ankles, forcing her to land hard on the ground. I quickly stood up. She lay where she was, offering nothing more but a chuckle before standing.
“Vampires will know you are here, they will come to protect me,” I warned, watching her hands with caution, hoping to avoid another blast.
“You mean the vampires that know nothing of me being here?” She corrected.
I frowned, confused.
She raised a brow “It’s called magic darling, something you hold within you, but yet know nothing about our kind. You don’t deserve it, that’s why I’m going to take it from you.”
“I might be new to the magic, but I’m a quick learner,” I said.
Her eyes creased. Nervousness was clear to hear, the thud of her heart was banging away, echoing in my ears. I had the upper hand. She surely couldn’t know I held vampire abilities. I knew to try and distract her, I was sure Zander would come looking for me. I was meant to meet him in the elders’ room. He would no doubt have noticed I was nowhere in sight.
“It was you that helped the breachers locate me, wasn’t it?” I asked trying to stall.
She stood up, dusting herself down.
“Clever girl, one point to you.” She mocked, standing her feet slightly apart, and her palms ready to use magic at any sudden movement.
“So, you know who I am?”
She rolled her eyes. “The elders’ daughter who holds great magic, blah, blah, blah.” She muttered.
“What did the breachers promise you in return?”
She stared long and hard at me. “What makes you think I'm not doing it out the goodness of my heart?” a sinister smirk teased her lips.
I gave her a once over “You risked your life coming here. One witch, against hundreds of vampires, isn’t the smartest move, then you have the audacity to attack me with your magic, when I wasn’t even a threat to you. I know a promise when I see one.”
She rolled her eyes “I barely touched!” she interjected with a sly smirk.
“It hurt!” I growled. The pain still ached in my body.
She shrugged, uncaringly “My bad”
“So, come on” I went on “No one would go to that much effort if they weren’t promised something in return.”
She hesitated for a second “I agreed to help them in return for your powers.”
“Why do they want to kill me?” I asked, stalling more.
“They have been ordered to, dumbass!” She seemed almost annoyed that she had to explain.
Wait!
Who was ordering the breachers to kill me?
Her long vibrant ruby red hair was waist long; her choice of outfit was like something from the nineties; the black halter top was clinging to her toned body giving a glimpse of a star tattoo that was around her navel. Her ripped effect skinny jeans were tugged up at the ankle, her black ankle converse looked to be well worn.
As a girl on girl, I was sure I could tackle her tall slender body, but her magic was the only thing keeping me from running, tackling her to the ground.
Please help Anton, Zander, Armacey, anyone! I hoped my father would hear my silent cry for help.
“Let me guess, a blocking spell? Cloaking maybe?” I challenged.
“Normality spell, actually.” she gloated. “Not that hard if you know how to use magic properly, it’s simply to make the illusion of normality so it doesn’t raise concern,” she added, raising her eyebrow. She knew her spells, that much was obvious.
“How did you get access to the castle, I would think that spell had to be performed on the grounds of the location?” I was aware of the spell she had used. There were easily over three hundred vampires in this castle, how she got in without getting caught had an uneasiness stir within me. Either she used another spell which would be unlikely; her energy would be zapped. Tapping into keeping more than one spell active was exhausting. She was anything but lacking in that department. There must be a traitor among the vampires I was sure of it.
“I know what you’re doing.” she scoffed, tapping her foot on the ground. Growing impatient with me.
“I’m not doing anything, I’m simply trying to understand magic” I replied back calmly, trying to keep the seconds ticking by, in the hope that someone would come for me.
“Don’t insult me, your stalling, no one will come for you!” she hissed, aiming her hand up towards me and hitting me with another energy blast, only this one was much stronger than the last, it threw me against the concrete wall.
I landed hard on the ground, a painful moan escaped me as I steadied my breathing hoping the pain firing through me passed quickly. It was a lot quicker than the last time, I was sure my powers were close to resurfacing.
“That’s not nice.” I coughed through the soreness “Do you throw everyone across a room when they ask you a question?” I croaked, staggering to my feet.
“Only the ones that irritate me.” she was quick to say.
“What do you want?” I asked, growing angrier at the fact Anton, Armacey and Zander had not once tried to come to my rescue. Surely, they must have noticed I was not with one, or the other.
“Your magic!” she snapped. “You have not been listening to me at all, have you?” she demanded to know, annoyed at having to repeat as to why she was here.
I laughed. “Oh, I heard you, and I wish you all the luck with that.”
“Why would I need luck? I have powers, I’ll just take them,” she smiled. “I will draw them to the surface and steal them, it’s like taking candy off a baby”
“That’s the thing, your stupid witch. I don’t have powers for you to steal. When I summoned the demon to strip you of your powers, I lost my mojo!” I hollered.
Her face twisted in disgust at my confession “You couldn’t have, your magic is within you.” she protested.
“Well, it did. Why do you think I’m not fighting back, I would so be kicking your ass by now!” I argued.
“Oh, do you think so?” she muttered pacing the room, she looked to be thinking, no doubt trying to figure out how she could overcome this obstacle.
“I know so,” I said loudly, breaking her concentration.
“Shut up!” she shouted, “This was my window of opportunity, I’m not leaving here until I get your magic!” She stopped pacing and turned to look at me, with a look of hatred.
“Window of opportunity?” I questioned.
She smirked “Didn’t mummy dearest inform you?” she asked with a tone of amusement in her voice. “Ancestors help from the other side, don’t act like you don’t know!” she said.
“Leave her out of this!” I warned, walking towards her, my jaw clenching in anger.
“Uh uh...One more step and I’ll blast you to no return” she threatened, holding her hands up, and taking a few steps back.
I wasn’t sure she could, nonetheless, I wasn’t willing to find out, the last blast slashed through my skin like a thousand bee stings.
“You summoning Vovack weakened your powers, giving me the window of opportunity, you must have thought all was okay, but you forgot one thing,” she smirked.
“Like what?” I asked, more curious now. What alarmed me more was the fact she named the demon I had summoned, I hadn’t said his name. I was sure of it.
How on earth did she know that?
“The demon stripped me of black magic. I still hold twin magic.”
“Twin magic?” I asked. I recalled a section in the grimoire about twin magic, but it was very rare to come by, I didn’t think it concerned me.
The knock at the door had me ready to yell for help only her words had me deciding against it.
“Scream and I will kill every vampire in this castle, then burn it to the ground,” she warned, through clenched teeth.
She turned towards the door, her hands held up in attack mode, before glancing back at me.
“Tell them to come in,” she whispered.
I didn’t want to, but her threatening the vampires had me doing as I was told.
“Come in!” I called out, watching nervously as she lurked behind, waiting for the door to open.
As the door creaked opened, Erica appeared smirking at me as she closed the door over.
“Erica, you’re okay,” the redhead sighed, rushing to her sister and enveloping her in a tight hug.
“I’m safe,” she assured, hugging her sister a lingering second longer.
“How did you escape?” I asked, as they both pulled away. I couldn’t help notice they looked nothing alike, for being twins; Erica was petite and average looking yet her sister was annoyingly stunning and taller.
“Funny story really, why don’t I show you instead” the redhead offered. She reached for the door her sister had just entered, with her hands on the latch.
“Drum roll please…” she teased before pulling opened to present me with...
Zander.
“Wait...what?” I stuttered, shaking my head in disbelief “Zander, what are you doing?”
“I had you fooled, didn’t I? He asked with a sinister smirk. He practically skipped his way into the room.
“I had it all planned out, I just didn’t count on you having more than just magic coursing through your veins. You kinda messed up my plan…Oh well, it is what it is” he shrugged.
“Why are you doing this?” I couldn’t gather my thoughts, I was becoming more bewildered by the sudden announcement.
Zander slammed the door behind him, grabbing hold of the redhead, kissing her passionately, making sure that I saw them. His eyes locked on mine as he pulled away.
“Meet Ruby, the woman of my dreams, literally.” he wrapped his arms around the witch, pulling her closer to him. He held her close just like I had known Anton to do with me.
I still didn’t want to believe it, but there was no denying it. Zander had fooled me from the beginning.
“You’re with them? Helping them? I thought you...” I staggered, needing to sit, my legs were ready to buckle from the shock.
Ruby stood by Zander’s side, with one arm around him, staring up at him all hazy and loved up.
“You thought, what? That I was your future lover? The man for you? The one to help you find your path in life” Zander scoffed.
“Everything was going smoothly until you messed it up. You caught me off guard with the amplified abilities you possess.” He said with raised eyebrows.
My thoughts drifted to the monster I had killed. “The breacher, I take it he wasn’t even your father, was I just a pawn in your game?” I questioned.
He cocked his head to one side “Pretty much, and to answer your other question, he was my father, only he deserved everything that he got, he was nothing but a monster, you did me a favor.”
Nothing made sense. He betrayed me by gaining my trust just so he could help destroy my father.
