The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 19
How could he do this?
“I saw the vision...you…me” my hands rubbed my temples. I could feel the surge of energy bubbling within me. I had to hold it together until my powers were ready to help me fight against them.
He glanced at Ruby and smiled. “You saw what we planted for you to see, it’s called manipulation,” he said, turning back to face me. As all three of them stood watching me, I still had more questions needing to be answered.
“You came to me in my dreams and told me about the impending battle due, why warn me? Why warn me just to fight against us?” I demanded to know.
He let go of Ruby and stalked closer to me with a smug look etched over his annoyingly good-looking face. I wanted to punch him right there, right in the face and make him feel pain, only I knew he was more than willing to let me know everything, it was his way of hurting me, and he knew it.
“It was a decoy,” he said simply “The breachers are on their way as we speak, from all over the world with a little help along the way to, each and every one ready to enjoy and celebrate bringing down the great Armacey’s empire. I’m sorry to say, we are going to have to skip the fight and hear how bloody the battle was from afar.” he had joy in saying.
I walked right up to him, glaring at him, refusing to show one ounce of fear.
“You honestly think you will get out of here alive? You have no chance, the vampires will kill you. That is if my father doesn’t get to you first. After you, he will kill her” I warned, and jerked my head in Erica’s direction. She stood unsure, simply a human that should have powers but gave them up for her sister to grow stronger.
“Don’t you dare, threaten my sister!” Ruby screamed rushing for me, she grabbed my hair yanking me to the ground. We both rolled around, punching and kicking each other violently. I yelped as she sunk her teeth into my arm, biting me hard.
“You little bitch!” I roared, in such a rage. I banged my head against her head and head-butted her, knocking her out instantly.
I fell onto my back and rubbed my hand over my head, trying to soothe out the blinding headache I had given myself.
“Ruby!” Zander yelled dashing to her side and dropping to his knees, not having expected me to be the one unharmed.
He gave her face a gentle smack hoping she would wake. I scrambled to my feet, and rushed to the door hoping to escape, only Erica rushed at me, her eyes blazed with rage “You think you can hurt my sister and get away with it” she hissed, grabbing me by the shoulders and banging me up against the door.
“Enough!” Zander roared, forcing us apart with a magical blast. It didn’t hurt as much as Ruby’s, it was more of a warning.
“Erica, you need to go, my glimmer spell can’t be maintained, meet me at the safe house” he urged.
“I’m not leaving without Ruby” Erica cried, looking down at her sister lying unconscious on the ground.
“Ruby will be okay. I will make sure of it, you have to go... now!” he ordered.
She hesitated for a lingering second before turning to leave.
1
THE HEIR - BLOOD SECRET
Chapter sixteen
Erica left the room, leaving the door ajar slightly.
My body still ached from being blasted with a mixture of Ruby and Zander’s magic. My hearing of all things was fading. The fear I could sense from Erica had ceased. Ruby’s frustration was gone, even to the sadistic enjoyment Zander was oozing was fading. My powers were slowly surfacing. I knew I could try and use magic to escape the situation. I just had to time it perfectly. I glanced at the door, then back to Zander, calculating the distance, ready to flee. He was too occupied to notice me.
He kneeled over Ruby hoovering his hands over her head, slowly moving them back and forth, with his eyes closed as he began chanting over her body. Taking that as my opportunity to try and leave, I slowly started to edge closer to the door. I stepped back with one foot, then the other, slow and with caution, trying not to spook him. The door creaking forced me to stop. My eyes opened wide with fear, I turned my head to see Anton stepping in, his eyes drifted to Zander and then to Ruby.
Panic surged through me “Get out. Run!” I yelled frantically, running toward him.
“Not so fast, vampire! I may as well just kill both of you, right here, right now” Zander hissed.
I threw myself in front of Anton, protecting him from Zander’s powers, the intense blow, a much more powerful energy blasted through me, so violently, it had me thrown halfway across the bedroom, crash landing against the wall then plummeting to the ground with a violent thud.
I winced, writhing in pain.
“Go! Anton.” I croaked, but his need to protect me was greater than running to inform Armacey.
Anton bolted towards Zander incredibly fast, blazing rage fired up in his eyes at having witnessed Zander using his magic against the woman he had fallen for. I watched him dart around Zander’s magic blasts in all directions.
Anton was too quick, within minutes he had grabbed Zander by the scruff of his collar, lifting him off his feet. The sound of growling echoed the room.
“Francesca trusted you to protect her!” Anton bellowed.
“Turns out she’s not my type,” Zander croaked back, with a sinister chuckle. The speed of Anton throwing Zander against the castle walls had my eyes needing time to adjust to what had just unfolded. Zander landed so hard on the ground, he was knocked unconscious.
Ruby let out a long, deep moan, as she began to wake up.
“Who is she?” Anton growled, unsure if she was a victim or an enemy. He was by my side, in the flicker of a movement, his hands moved protectively around my waist to keep me upright.
I gripped onto him tightly “She’s the witch the demon stripped of black magic. We have to get out of here and warn my father.” I urged. My body was still in agony, it literally felt like I had been beaten to a pulp. Zander’s blast was taking its time to leave my body.
“Can you walk?” Anton questioned worryingly.
I glanced up.
“I’m fine,” I assured, but I had more pressing issues to address. “I’m sorry, you were right, I should never have trusted him” I whispered, lowering my eyes in shame. I had allowed a witch that I believed to be here to save me.
Save the vampires.
Only to be fooled.
Anton tilted my chin to force me to look at him. “Lesson learned,” He said, accepting my apology.
He placed a gentle kiss on my lips “I have to get you to safety or that won’t be my only concern. Armacey will see to it himself that I have a slow and painful death if any harm comes to you,” He whispered against my lips.
“Come on, my father can’t be that bad” The rustle of Ruby moving had both myself and Anton pause, watching her.
“Time to go?” He questioned.
I nodded “Yup! She is one crazy bitch.” I pointed to the bed
“The Grimoire. I need that book!” I stressed. I had barely said the words before the room spun fast. Within seconds I found myself out in the great hall with Anton holding me tightly, and with the book in my hands.
Puzzled, “I thought you couldn’t touch the book?” I asked.
“I didn’t” He smirked with a gleam in his eyes “I had you hold it the entire second it took me to do that rapid movement that I know annoys you.”
“Thank you…” I hesitated, allowing myself to get lost in his flawless beauty “For coming back for me”
“I will always be here for you no matter what, Francesca you are what makes me whole.” He whispered, leaning forward unsure if he should kiss me again.
I cradled the book to my chest.
Giving in to what both of us needed at that moment, I leaned forward kissing him first. The touch of his soft yet cold lips against mine had me sinking into his embrace. After a few long blissful seconds, I pulled back.
“I need to try and lock them in here until I can get my powers back to full strength.” I rushed, dropping to my knees and opening the book, rushing through the pages.
“Found it!” I said, tapping on the page I was looking for “Pandora’s box spell. Binds the enemies to one location through layers of protection spells. I would like to see them get out of here within an hour” I added smugly.
I was sure it would work.
“Your powers, are they back?” Anton questioned. He kneeled down on one knee, curious to find out how.
I looked at him “Yeah, my ability to hear and smell things is greater than even Armacey. However, I can still feel my magic simmering, ready to bubble to the surface,” I looked back down, holding the grimoire in one hand, and my other hand on the wooden door, closing my eyes preparing to keep them bound to that room, giving me enough time to warn Armacey and to decide what to do next.
“I call upon the forces of all elements. Spirits hear my call, hear my plea bind these enemies to this room, so mote it be”
I slowly opened my eyes and closed the book over.
Anton gave me a helping hand to stand up.
“Did it work?” He asked.
“I don’t know.” I admitted “There’s only one way to find out. Since my magic is still a little haywire, no evil or magic can enter or leave. So, go ahead and try it out,” Nodding my head to encourage him to proceed.
Anton hesitated.
“Come on, if it hasn’t worked, it will only feel like a tiny little bee sting, I promise,” I said, trying my best to contain my laughter. I knew it would be a little more painful than that. I was sure he could handle it though.
After all, he was technically dead already.
“You’re joking, right?” He asked, still hesitant to do as I asked him.
“Go on.” I urged “You’re a vampire, you’re not scared of a little magic, are you?” It seemed to me that he was.
“A little, no.” He answered, “But I have seen your magic at its best, I’m just preparing myself.” He rolled his shoulders, like an athlete warming up before a big game, then slowly edged his hand out ready to test out my magic. His hand extending towards my active spell had vibrations radiating from the room.
He tried to push past it, only his hand was forced away each time.
It worked!
Anton was unable to break through my magic.
“It’s working,” I said, even I had my doubts, to begin with.
“How long will it hold for?” Anton asked while trying once again to see if he could penetrate the barriers of my magic.
“There are layers upon layers of protection. Zander will no doubt be quick to figure out how to get past my magic. I’m still learning” I told him.
“Then we should leave,” Anton said worryingly. Urging me forward with a guiding arm. We walked down the long corridor. The castle was rather quiet, I had no clue, as to what was happening.
I looked over my shoulder.
“Where are all the vampires?” I asked.
“Your father called a meeting in the great hall after what you discovered about Erica, he sensed something was coming, he just wasn’t sure what. The ones protected with Amulets are ordered to watch the castle grounds, others have chosen to stand by their lord and fight. The ones new to immortality are underground. Some are not as fortunate enough to have an amulet to protect them, having no other choice than to stay hidden.” He said.
Anton looked over his shoulder. We both had no clue as to how long my spell would hold for. His hand rested on my lower back, encouraging me to walk faster.
“Hurry. Your father is in the elder room.” Anton added.
Puzzled, “Underground?” I queried, staring up at him as I took longer strides to keep up with him.
“There are tunnels that had been built throughout the centuries, which keep vampires safe from daylight, hidden from battles that may approach at light” He informed me.
“I can use my magic to protect the vampires, protect them with a spell to fight, I wanna help,” I stressed.
I was sure it was something that would need to be done.
The breachers no doubt had help from Ruby with the same problem, they would know attacking in daylight would give them the advantage. I was willing to protect any vampire in need of daylight protection. We stopped and Anton reached forward and opened the door to the elder room.
“That’s not for you to decide,” Anton commented as we both stepped in. Armacey was standing by the window, looking down onto the woods. The sky looked troubled, dark grey clouds loomed in the distance.
“My lord, you were right, trouble is upon us sooner than expected” Anton warned.
“Where is my daughter?” He asked in a concerned voice, everyone was unaware of the drama that unfolded in my room all thanks to Ruby’s spell.
“I’m here,” I answered on behalf of Anton, he turned to my voice. I knew time was of the essence, I had to tell him everything I had learned.
“Erica’s been released from the dungeon, her sister, who by the way is a badass witch, she cast a normality spell to stop any vampire sensing danger within the castle.” My hands flew in all directions, as I tried to tell him everything I had endured.
“Slow down my child.” Armacey was by my side as quick as I had known Anton to be, with a look of uncertainty in his stare.
“I can assure you Erica is locked up, I saw to it myself, I left the breachers son with her before retreating to inform my vampires of the plan.”
Shaking my head “No! She isn’t...she’s gone.” I paced the room, frustrated at trying to get him to understand me.
Yet again he was doubting me.
“She’s gone! Her sister Ruby is here. The witch I had Vovack strip of black magic, she is working with Zander...”
“Zander?” He questioned.
I stared at him “I get that you are an old vampire, but try and keep up with me.”
I paused “Wait. Just how old are you?”
He raised a brow.
I shook my head “Never mind.” I couldn’t afford to be distracted. I was grown more frustrated as each second passed.
I sighed heavily “Zander, he’s the bad guy, he was manipulating me from the start. The vision I had, I believed he was coming to lead me through the battle. He’s here to help Ruby and she is after my powers and apparently, breachers are coming to kill me.” I stressed.
“They will not succeed,” Armacey warned, with his hands placed behind his back as he calmly stood prepared to make sure no harm came to me. whereas I was freaking out, up until my very first vision, I had no clue about the powerful magic that I had flowing through me, but I was damn sure no one was going to take what did not belong to them.
Not caring to ask permission, I made my way toward the elder’s chairs and plonked myself down on the one to the left.
“I should have listened to Eliza and Anton, they both told me not to trust him” I sighed, my frustration had my body feeling fuzzy. I knew my powers were coming fast, my body was humming with magic swirling within me. It was trying desperately to surface.
“Eliza warned you?” Armacey asked, keen to hear more.
I looked at my father “Yeah, I didn’t understand before, now I do. She said everything is not as it seems; my visions were blocked. Now, I know Zander had something to do with what I had seen, he planted visions in my head, and he wanted me to believe he was who I needed to trust.”
I raked my fingers through my hair and rested my back against the chair.
“Eliza was always one, willing to help,” Armacey mentioning Eliza had me snapping out of my confusion. I knew I had to work quickly to get back what was rightfully mine to full strength.
I wasted no time.
“I know what I have to do.” I pushed to my feet and rushed to Anton, who stood with grace in the presence of his elder.
“Attack me!” I urged, I shoved his shoulder. Not that it did much, I simply was just trying to rile him up.
He shook his head, refusing. “I will not attack you, Francesca.” He replied back, looking at me with a roguish stare. Anton was no doubt worried he would hurt me. He was looking at me as the human he had fallen for, not the
powerful witch everyone believed me to be.
I was no threat to him, but my magic intimated him, I was sure of it. I pushed him again, and again hoping to entice him to attack me, but he barely moved an inch.
“Attack me!” I snapped. He shook his head again.
“I need my powers to resurface. Fear, anger, I need my emotions to get the better of me.” I was sure that was how I would get my powers to erupt.
Anton looked to his elder as if waiting for instructions.
My father who was protective of me was just as curious as me. He offered a nod, stepping back, waiting to see what would unfold.
“Lose control and I will kill you myself.” He warned sinisterly. Anton gave me a once over for a lingering second, before catching me off guard by grabbing me from behind.
Oh, this should be fun!
My hands instantly grabbed his wrists as he was squeezing tighter around my neck. He pulled and tugged forcing me to struggle. I drew in a lungful of air, trying to catch my breath as he applied more pressure. I kicked and squirmed but his grip was too great.
For a creature he was fast and prepared for battle there was no doubt about that, but even I thought he would go easy on me.
“Focus, Francesca.” Armacey scolded.
My glance flickered to my father.
He was right I was letting my guard down, it felt more like play fighting. I had to see this as a threat or nothing was going to happen.
I closed my eyes and I steadied my breathing, forcing myself to calm down. My hands pulled at Anton’s hands trying to ease the pressure just enough to catch a deep breath.
“You are Francesca. The free one. The daughter of Eliza, the greatest witch known to many. My daughter, vampire blood runs through your veins...fight to survive….Fight!” His words were a welcoming distraction.
My body was fiercely vibrating. My powers drawing closer. The sensation of fluttering gathering in and around me begun swarming me like thousands of butterflies that were trying to escape from a confined space.
