The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 23
They were all confused looking as they stood among each other.
Oh, my god!
“They have no idea who's coming? Do they? Or why there coming?” I asked. My father stared at me long and hard before looking over his shoulder.
I shook my head in disbelief.
The fact he didn’t answer my question, told me what I feared. I stared at him, glancing back and forth between him and the other elders. I knew instantly he was communicating with Dreven and Cassius in his creepy elder sort of way, they were silently nodding, agreeing to something.
He knows fine well what is about to go down.
“I fear the enemies of my past are out for revenge.” He bellowed so everyone could hear “Wolves have been breeding with breachers.” He announced that little bit louder.
“How accurate is your vision, Francesca?” My father asked, with his back to me. I was surprised to find him not doubting me as he had done in the past.
“Eliza showed me a vision, they slaughtered my hometown. Two brothers from a clan, the same ones the wolf had said - the Eyman twins” I repeated what I had found out from Eliza.
Armacey spun round to face me, recognition flashed in his eyes “Ruben and Russell.” He added followed by a rumbling growl, his lips parted and for the first time, I caught a glimpse of his vampire fangs. I didn’t move an inch from my father showing his true nature.
I simply took control of the situation.
I knew my vision of destruction was closer than I anticipated. I could feel the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach, something was coming and it was coming soon.
Very soon!
Time was of the essence.
Taking it upon myself, I made my way to the center of the hall, pushing past bodies of many vampires who stood tall, refusing to move out my way.
Deadly eyes followed my every move.
“The arrival of the Hyman brothers simply means all of you are in grave danger, for those who wish to join the others down in the tunnels, go now!” Dreven shouted out to the crowd. It was okay for him and the few that wore Amulets, they would be able to defend against such a threat if the fight broke out in sunlight but many were not that privileged.
No one moved, they stood united.
“We stand as one!” A vampire hollered, before the rest all nodded, agreeing. I took my position in the middle of the room, every vampire within touching distance moved back, unsure of my intentions. I wondered just how much they knew about me; about my powers. They were vampires, they killed humans yet they stood unsure.
“I am the heir to the throne.” I proudly announced “I am Armaceys firstborn for those who do not know. Trust me, when I say I am here to protect all of you, we have to hurry, there isn’t much time.” I cocked my head to the side between the swarm of bodies, having caught the gaze of my father.
I need the blood, herbs, and hair of each vampire I told him in my thought.
He nodded.
I waved my hands, motioning them to move back.
“Everyone, gather to the far end of the hall. I need all of you together for my spell to work.” As if I was their leader, they all pushed back, gathering in lines. Armacey walked towards me, with Cassius and Dreven by his side.
“Blood and herbs.” Dreven informed me, reaching into his rope and presenting me with a glass vial and the bags of herbs I had requested.
He stood ready to assist me.
I nodded in appreciation “Thank you.” I said.
“How come he got to collect the blood and I get the...Urgh,” Cassius rolled his eyes and held his hand out, palm side up to show me strands of each vampire’s hair, not in the least bit amused he had got the short straw of the job.
Shaking my head at him moaning, “You’re are a vampire, an elder may I add, yet you act like a five-year-old brat, grow up!” I snapped, grabbing the hair from him. There was no doubt in my mind both of us were polar opposites and it showed in how we treated one another, we were like siblings, squabbling at any given opportunity.
Before Cassius could retaliate with a snide remark, Anton stepped closer “The spell requires power, your body will shut down if it has to use a certain amount of energy.” he warned, giving my arm a gentle rub.
His touch was what I needed through all of this chaos.
It kept me calm.
Kept me focused.
I took a deep breath. “If I channel my ancestors, I should be able to keep a link to them until I have completed it. I will merge with the elders, which will give us a head start,” I told him. I could tell by the look in his eyes he was wary of me using so much magic.
“She has barely said a nice word to me. Yet, here she is, wanting to merge!” Cassius snorted, with arrogance in his tone. It was clear to see we didn’t think much of one another if there was a way to just merge with Dreven and my father I would most likely do that, nonetheless, I knew what I was willing to do regardless of his feelings towards me, and that was to try and protect everyone here.
“Francesca will do what has to be done, you will do well to remember she is the heir to the throne. The one that will lead us to victory!” Armacey snapped, putting the vampire he had chosen to be by his side, in his place.
“Dreven, I need you to pour the blood and sprinkle the herbs over my hands after I call upon Eliza,” I announced.
The elder who I had gotten on the wrong side of at the beginning nodded. I found myself liking him more as each second passed, for he hadn’t made a snide comment at every opportunity. He stepped closer taking his position in front of me. I closed my eyes, and I held my palms up with the hairs of the vampires in the middle.
“Eliza, I call upon you, bring forth each member of our line, stand by my side allow me to protect. With this offering, I call upon the power to allow protection of many, so mote it be” I opened my eyes nodding, giving Dreven the go-ahead to pour the blood and herbs over my hands
My eyes drifted down to my hands becoming soaked in vampire blood. Dreven opened each bag, sprinkling the herbs onto my hands evenly. I edged back slightly, trying my best to not inhale the metallically stench that came from their blood, it was much more potent than humans’ blood.
As the last drop of blood dripped from the vial, a bright blue light expelled from the tips of my fingers, every inch of my body was fuzzy, as if electricity was surging through my veins.
Dreven stepped out of sight.
I gazed at my hands, captivated by the blue energy illuminating from them.
“How about getting on with it, instead of admiring it!” Cassius called out, in a curt manner. I looked over my shoulder.
“Patience, child.” I almost stuck my tongue out at how much I seemed to be getting under his skin, but decided against it, not lowering myself to his standards.
“Child! I’ll show you, child!” He growled, marching directly for me, his eyebrows pulled down together in rage.
So they can frown!
If looks could kill, I would most certainly be dead.
Anton rushed at him, throwing him to the ground stopping him from coming within an inch of me.
The youngest elder stood with grace, dusting himself down, before glaring at Anton.
“Touch me again and I will kill you!” He hissed.
“Enough!” Armacey roared. “I will not warn you again Cassius, lay a finger on my daughter and it will be the last thing you do. Do I make myself clear?” My father demanded to know. Cassius drew in a long agitated breath then bowed his head having acknowledged his threat.
“Carry on, Francesca,” My father said in a much calmer tone.
I turned my attention back to the vampires that stood, looking at me, shocked that I took such an attitude with one of their elders. I closed my eyes and proceeded with the spell to protect the vampires and to grant them invisibility.
“Protect and conceal the ones I have chosen. Protect and conceal the ones...” Before I could finish the incantation Cassius interrupted, alerting us to danger getting closer, breaking me from my concentration.
“Hybrids are within the castle grounds. We don’t have much time!” He warned
“Where are they?” Dreven asked, demanding the location.
Cassius’s nose flared, his head tilting at angles.
“Some have found their way into the tunnels as we speak!”
I looked around to find the three elders standing by one another, plotting strategies.
Armacey held his hands up.
“Silence!” He roared instructing everyone to stop talking. His concentration had his beady eyes focusing on the ground.
“They have just got past my best warriors, they are barely alive, there are also breachers and rouge wolfs alongside them, each one is here with the same agenda to kill everyone until my daughter has been found!” He informed the others.
I knew my father had read the minds of the breachers that were within the castle. It was only going to be a matter of time before they found me.
If I can’t stop them, I will give the vampires’ a fighting chance against them.
“I need more time, for you all to get through this battle. I need to keep going with my spell!” I stressed, looking down at my hands knowing I could finish what needs to be done. I needed an additional ten minutes or so.
“There is no time left! Everyone out, protect the heir with your life,” Armacey roared. Instructing everyone to fight.
My fathers’ loyal vampires left at different exits from the room, taking the fight to the intruders, within seconds I was alone with the elders and Anton, all of them willing to risk their lives for me.
“They have no idea what they’re walking into” I warned, directing my stare at my father and the other elders. My father reached into his rope and presented me with a clean handkerchief, passing it to me. I stood, wiping the blood from my hands and staring at them.
“They will all die!”
“I did what had to be done!” My father shot back “Hybrids strike fear among the young of our kind, they are new to our way of living, they need to know protecting you is what is expected from them.” My father added.
I threw the rag down in a temper.
“I can protect myself,” I told him.
“She has a point, by the looks of it the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, she could no doubt protect the castle and everyone in it.” Cassius chipped in. Only my fathers’ death stare at the youngest of the three had him bow his head, knowing he had spoken without being spoken to.
“Francesca is my daughter! This is my castle! you all had instructions’ on the day she was born, no harm shall come to her, protect her at any cost, failing to do so will result in me ending your life, do I make myself clear?” He demanded to know.
That’s a bit harsh is it not? I asked silently in mind.
My father shot me a look.
“I was just pointing out the obvious.” Cassius interjected.
“Do I make myself clear, Cassius?” My father roared, walking straight up to him, needing him to agree before his temper got the better of him.
“Crystal clear.” Cassius replied, stepping back a few feet, having sensed he had riled his leader up the wrong way.
The sound of the castle alarm ringing throughout the castle had everyone’s attention.
Dare I say it, I was starting to feel sorry for Cassius getting told off again within the company of me and Anton.
“Dreven, I trust you to obey my order?” Armacey asked to clarify the situation. Dreven looked at my father and nodded.
“I fight to protect Francesca and always will. We all will.” Dreven noted, looking at Cassius.
Armacey gave a slight nod of appreciation.
I wonder if they get rewarded for their loyalty. And also, for putting up with his demands.
“Who doesn’t love a good fight? Shall we?” Dreven hollered before him and Cassius left the room, leaving me alone with Anton and my father.
My father turned his attention to me “Francesca, I take it you did not find another spell to keep me from hearing your thoughts?” He asked smugly.
I rolled my eyes, not caring for the fact he heard my thoughts that should have just been between me, myself and I.
A part of me had done it deliberately so he would hear me.
I stood staring at him so boldly.
“Not yet, but I will.” I told him, knowing fine well he was trying to distract me.
“Why are you not going with the other elders?” I demanded to know. I was sure my father loved nothing more than a good fight, yet, here he was by my side.
“I will protect you, and no one else.” He declared.
“They are all your creations, children even!” I argued, to hear him refusing to fight for his own creatures was riling anger within me. My father simply stood unfazed that his sired vampires were ready to die for me.
“They are simply creations of the monster that I am. You, are my daughter, the purest of my blood. The heir to the throne.” He informed me.
I could have easily had argued with him, but I knew there was no point. Instead, I sighed and walked towards the door, ready to fight alongside the vampires myself, to protect them as much as I could, with or without his consent.
Not in the least bit willing to hold back of the impending battle that was beyond the door.
“If you don’t want to fight, then I will take your place!” I warned him. My hands grabbed the rustic door handle. I couldn’t just stand back and watch them die. If I wanted to prevent the horrendous visions from coming true, I had to try my best to protect the ones fighting.
“Francesca!” Both Anton and my father roared at the same time.
Frustrated, I turned to face them “Stop, okay!” I demanded, “Stop, treating me like a child, my destiny is to help you win the war, let me do what I was born to do” I called out, before pulling at the door handle, about to rush out only to be presented with a tall, surprisingly handsome stranger, with inky black hair that cascaded over his emerald green eyes. Dressed in a ridiculously expensive tailored black suit and white shirt, he looked somewhat normal looking. He looked me up and down, savoring every inch of me before speaking.
“Ahhh, the daughter of Armacey the greatest. You are just as beautiful as I had envisioned you to look like,” He said in a seductive tone. As if hypnotized, he had me calm and collected standing unable to move.
“Ruben...!” Even my father screaming out in a harsh tone never had me flinch. By the angry sound of my father, he wanted to rip this man to shreds. I was unable to move, my body was rooted and paralyzed to the spot, my mouth unable to mutter a single word.
The stranger was handsome, somewhat perfect looking until his eyes went from emerald to a canary yellow shade. His sinister smile showed more than just pearly whites, each one of his teeth was as sharp as razor blades.
I gasped in horror, as his human hands morphed into long claws before swiping at me, throwing me back into the room I had fled from. Anton rushed towards me, only his speed was not able to reach me in time.
I groaned as pain shot through me, my body slammed down hard onto the varnished floor, my ribs once again took the brunt of an attack.
I cradled my battered body.
Anton went to help me, only for me to scream in pain.
“It hurts.” I cried out. I clenched my teeth forcing myself to push past the tenderness.
The heaving sound of grunts and growls had me looking for my father. My eyes grew wide with fear.
My father and the hybrid were moving at a rapid speed. I was only able to make out my father getting more blows than what I would expect from a powerful vampire elder.
He stood no chance against the hybrid, he was merely trying to bide time, no doubt to allow us time to escape.
“Help him!” I urged Anton. Armaceys' right-hand man was doing nothing.
“I have been instructed, not to leave your side. We have to go!” He said.
“For crying out loud, help me up!”
Obey my rules he says, protect my daughter he says.
“My goddess! Does everyone have a death wish in this castle?” I muttered.
My pain was slowly easing.
I held tightly onto Anton, as he helped me to my feet.
“Francesca, we need to go!” Anton urged, grabbing my arm and pulling me in a different direction.
I shrugged away from Anton “No! I can’t just leave him here!” I argued. Ignoring Anton, I aimed my hand up, my magic ready at my disposal and ran towards the commotion. Fear and adrenaline had my magic ready to erupt from my body.
I raised both hands. “Pain.” I whispered, forcing the hybrid to his knees. My father staggered back, his suit ripped from being clawed at.
“What are you doing?” My father demanded to know “Get out of here, now! Go!” He rushed to me, but my other hand aimed up to him aiming a less amplified energy blast, warning him to stay back.
He was thrown halfway across the room from my magic.
“Are you crazy!” Anton demanded to know.
I glanced at Anton. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt him.” He seemed literally shocked that I used my magic on my own father.
I turned my attention back to the hybrid.
The stranger refused to scream at the immense pain I forced through his body, like water and electricity touching. The currents thrashing through his body had his eyes roll back, unable to maintain the deadly combination.
He eventually caved under the stress of my magic, and fell to the ground, I watched with caution as his body started to convulse.
1
THE HEIR - BLOOD SECRET
Chapter twenty
“He’s resisting against my powers!” I warned, stepping that little bit closer.
Panic tore at my throat.
I could feel the hybrid pushing past my barriers, reflecting the energy straight back at me. I was struggling to keep the beast down. I held my other hand out, aiming another blast of magic towards the hybrid, hoping he would give up fighting and pass out already.
