The Heir - Blood Secret : The Chosen One - Secret Heir, page 8
Realizing I had thought it, and never said the words.
“Wait, you heard what I was thinking?” I asked.
He was by my side, faster than I could even steady myself on my feet. We stood side by side.
“Yes,” He said “I once knew a seer with more than just visions, she gave me that as a gift after I was betrayed too many times,” He replied, answering my question.
Tilting my head, I looked up at him “The seer that you loved and had a child with by any chance?” I wasn’t sure that I was in any position to ask an elder such a personal question, but I needed to try and make sense of my visions.
I had no clue if it was in a vampire’s nature to lie, I could only hope he would be truthful with me. He looked at me and said nothing.
I kept my eyes on him, refusing to look away.
“Am I, the baby that was in my vision?” I asked.
I needed to know if what I had seen was true. He didn’t look away, instead, he straightened out his posture, showing me his willingness to talk with me.
I scattered, making a dash for the stairs, knowing I needed to be sitting, for what I figured was about to come next.
I watched him as he continued to stare out the window, protected by the sunlight from his amulet. “You hold great power, not only allowing you to protect yourself but also the ability to help vampires to win the war. If you stand by our side, the breachers will have no choice but to accept we are greater than them, once and for all.” He said.
Wanting answers and not a history lesson.
“You didn’t answer my question.” I shot back, irritation started stirring within me.
Why does everything need to be so complicated with vampires?
He paused for a few lingering seconds.
“You are the baby” he finally said. “I left you at the door of a young couple, you were wrapped in a blanked and in your basket that had your name hand-stitched on it. I observed closely, hoping they would look after you, keep you safe and they didn’t fail me”
I said nothing.
“They fought hard with the local authorities and eventually gained custody of you, the authorities figured you had been abandoned. I kept a watchful eye on you as you grew up. The woman I believe you seen in your visions is no doubt your birth mother. She cloaked you from being detected by breachers.”
I tried to take in everything he was telling me. I stood trying to stop my legs from buckling under me as I made my way to his side.
It sounded ridiculous, but the visions were clear.
“So, that would mean...” I clutched at my stomach, knots tightened and pulled at my insides.
The baby. The woman. My mind was racing with all that I had been shown in my visions.
I gasped.
“You’re my...” I didn’t want to say it. I couldn’t say it.
“-Father” He finished, confirming my thoughts. My legs buckled. Armacey caught me just in the nick of time, as my body gave way, ready to drop to the floor from the shock.
“No…no…no…no” This can’t be happening.
He held me up and only let go when I shrugged from his touch, he regained his position and stood there giving me time to absorb everything.
I always felt I didn’t fit in, now I know why! I’m the daughter of a vampire!
I stepped away, needing space.
“My whole life was a lie,” I said, more so to myself “My parents, they weren’t even my biological parents” Tears blurred my vision, my bottom lip quivered.
“They loved you” He interjected.
There was no doubt in my mind that my parents didn’t love me.
He stayed by the window, unsure of how to handle the situation. Here I was, finding out I was brought up with parents that weren’t my parents, just to find out my real father is a vampire.
Of course, not just any vampire, but an elder of their kind. I slumped onto the stair by the chairs and held my hands over my face, trying to seek comfort from the darkness.
I dropped my hands, and raised my chin.
“Why didn’t you want me? You left me, you abandoned me!” I croaked. There was a whole new rollercoaster of emotions running high.
He walked toward me, only stopping and looking down at me as I sat on the dusty stair. He stood tall and with grace as his dark red eyes studied me.
“I never abandoned you, my child. I knew everything about you, I just kept you hidden and away from danger.” His tone became soft, I suppose as soft as it could be for such a powerful vampire.
“I’m not who you say I am!” I argued, as loudly as I could. I suppose in a way I wasn’t ready to accept the truth.
“Oh, but you are” he paused for a moment “And so much more. I watched you grow up to become the young woman that you are today. Your stubbornness and curiosity, you take that after your mother.” He almost gave a chuckle as he spoke of her. For an elder that held his composure as if not to show weakness among his kind, showed a sense of happiness, if that was remotely possible.
I didn’t know my birth mother, yet I felt connected to her in some way, I felt the overwhelming love she had for me as a mother. I could sense how much she loved Armacey and the fear of her family being torn apart.
I took a deep, shaky breath “The breachers, do they want to kill me for who I belong to?”
He glanced away obviously contemplating his answer.
“They want you for the powers that lie within you,” He sighed.
He’s dead. He’s a vampire. How could I ever have any sort of relationship with him, how can we ever be a family?
“Give it time,” Again, he answered my unspoken question.
I was unable to make eye contact with the one person I had found out to be my father.
“Please, stop reading my mind,” He was invading my mind, hearing my every thought and fear. I simply was not comfortable with him being able to do that.
“I don’t mean to scare you” He noted with caution.
“You don’t scare me” I was quick to add “We just need to set boundaries, your mind-reading is invading my privacy,”
“Privacy?” He drawled holding his hand out.
He really wasn’t used to having humans around.
I held my hand out and grabbed onto his “Yeah, you know, privacy?” He pulled me to my feet “Keep out of my room, type of attitude, in this case, it’s, stay out of my head”
No vision followed from holding his hands, he was simply just helping me to my feet.
“Can I ask you a question?”
He nodded.
“Why was my birth mother killed?”
He gazed at me with a solemn expression “Because of the power she possessed”
My brows knitted “Why didn’t she use her magic against her enemies?”
“Eliza, called upon her ancestors to gain the oldest magic known to any magical witch, in a bid to help us fight the breachers, unbeknown to her at the time, she was with child. That was something her powers hadn’t shown her, therefore, sending all the magic directly to you. When she sought counsel from her ancestors. They agreed to grant her request, in exchange for her magic,”
I frowned “They took her powers from her? Why would they do that?” I was beyond bewildered.
“As an offering to the ancient one”
Ancient one. That did not sound good.
“So, she just willingly gave them up?”
He nodded “Her true power was visions. She gave a little hoping to gain a lot more. When she gave birth to you, she had the greatest vision of all.” He looked to be in a trance as he spoke about my mother “She was killed shortly after giving birth to you, she held on just long enough to tell me that you were the chosen one. The light within darkness. You are the only one with the power to win the war and I had to protect you at all costs.”
He walked up the stairs taking his position in his chair.
He sat down, giving me time to gather my thoughts.
Eliza. I didn’t even know her name until he told me. I knew the breacher that had attacked me was the reason she was no longer here.
“So, now, I possess the ancient magic?” I asked nervously, I was trembling slightly.
He stared at me, fear smoldering in his red eyes, “Yes”
A trickle of panic slithered over me “Is that a bad thing?”
“You are simply the most ancient power to walk this earth. You are all five elements. Air. Fire. Water. Earth and Spirit”
“Great, now I’m a bigger misfit than before” I muttered under my breath.
A loud knock at the door had me straighten up, unsure if they knew what had been said. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Anton approaching me.
I stared blankly at Anton.
“Hi” I whispered, my voice a little scratchy. I needed him to hold me more than ever, but unsure of how that would go down with my father.
I remained where I was.
His eyes wearily looked back and forth toward me and Armacey. Seconds passed before it dawned on me that my family that I loved and missed every second of every day wasn’t really my true parents, after all.
I missed them even more.
I would do anything to see them one last time.
“My lord, the others are getting impatient and are asking about Francesca. They want answers as to why there is a human within the colony?” Anton said.
Armacey stood and clasped his hands gracefully behind his back “They can keep on asking questions. It will be announced that there is an Heir to the throne once I know for certain Francesca is no longer in danger”
I shot Armacey a look. He never once informed Anton of the ancient magic I held within me.
Anton nodded respectfully.
Silence smothered the room.
I didn’t want any announcement. I didn’t ask for any of this. I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to go home. Numb and in a daze, I stood, backing up and wishing that I could speak with my parents, just one last time. Just so I could tell them I love and miss them.
I bowed my head in shame, trying to keep my tears that burned my eyes from falling, as I remembered all the times I yelled at them out of anger. All the times I wished they weren’t my parents, now all I wanted was for them to hold me and tell me everything would be okay.
“Francesca.” A faint whisper of a familiar voice called out. I looked up, casting my eyes warily around the room. The softness of the tone of voice had me known for sure it was my mom’s voice.
I turned frantically, looking in all directions trying to figure out where it was coming from. And that’s when my heart nearly dropped to the floor in shock. My mum and dad stood, smiling at me.
I released a shaky breath. My eyes were frozen wide open.
“I don’t understand what's happening” I whispered.
They’re dead!
I made my way to them as they stood among the colors that beamed through the tinted windows.
“Mom...Dad?” I whimpered, unsure if I could even hold them. They stood in front of me, their transparent appearance made me believe it was another dream.
I looked back to Armacey who was standing rigid on guard.
“Please, tell me you can see them too?” I asked, hoping it was real, that my parents were really standing in front of me once again and that I wasn’t going crazy.
1
THE HEIR - BLOOD SECRET
Chapter SIX
Armacey glanced back and forth between Anton and myself, I could tell by his weary expression he couldn’t see who I was seeing. I turned back to my parents who still stood in front of me with a bright white glow surrounding them within the rainbow haze. I could only hope they were somewhere that freed them from any pain.
Anton was by my side as he had done since he brought me here, any sign of danger he always had my back.
He glanced around curiously, “See who, Francesca?” he asked.
How could they not see them! There standing right there!
Not once, did I take my eyes off my mom or dad for the fear of them leaving.
“My parents” I gestured to them “They are right there.” Armacey appeared within a fraction of a second, on my other side, checking to make sure it wasn’t some kind of trick. I held my hands up placing the back of my hands on their chests, warning them to stand down from removing me from any situation they feared was a trap.
“Don’t” I rushed, I looked up to Armacey “It really is my mom and dad” his jaw tightened at my words, and a flicker of emotional pain flashed over his face.
Sure, Armacey is my father, but my parents will always have a special place in my heart and forever be my parents. After all, they were the ones that loved me and raised me.
I loved them and missed them every single day, which would never change.
I turned and locked eyes with my mom and my mom extended her hand.
“You asked for us, and we answered your pleas, my sweet baby girl” Tears filled her eyes as she smiled lovingly at me.
I held my hand up, desperately hoping to touch once again.
I could feel the burn of my tears starting to sting my eyes. I still could remember just how gentle her hands were when she brushed her fingers through my hair when I was younger, or the time she would wipe away my tears each and every time I fell off my bike.
Our hands simply passed through each other.
There was nothing, no touch, no warmth, no hold. She was here with me, yet I couldn’t be comforted by her touch. My dad stood towering behind my mother, his hands resting on her shoulders, as he smiled down at me.
“Francesca, you may have just conjured up a spirit, if your parents are indeed in front of you,” Armacey said. I didn’t take my eyes off my parents. I needed to see them, even if it was like this.
I was bewildered for a fraction of a second then a smile and tears followed.
“I miss you both so much” I choked.
“We’re sorry we never told you, we thought we had more time together. You see, you were always our baby in our hearts.” my dad said.
Needing them to guide me “Tell me what to do,” I begged.
“We’re watching over you baby bear.” my mom replied, blowing me a kiss. Her nickname for me had the tears pouring down my face.
I had so much more to say but they were beginning to fade before my very eyes.
“Wait don’t go… not yet!” I cried. I wasn’t ready for them to leave me again.
“We always knew you had a higher purpose, we just didn’t know how important you were. You were always so fearless and determined, stay strong and follow your instincts.” My dad said firmly.
Just hearing their voices, forced me to drop to my knees. Knowing they had to leave had my insides crumbling. I couldn’t control the agonizing sobs as they echoed through the room from having noticed my parents were gone.
Hoping they would return. “Please, don’t leave me!” I cried “Please…!” I screamed once more, slamming my hands on the concrete ground, begging them to come back.
But they didn’t come back for me, they were gone. And I had no clue if I could or ever would be able to see them again.
Someone scooped me up and held me close. I looked up needing the comfort I only got when Anton held me, only to see it was Armacey and not the vampire I had expected it to have been.
I didn’t care, he was my father after all. Vampire father. Even though I didn’t know him, I was willing to try to understand the craziness that was forced upon me. I was a normal girl just trying to get by a couple of days ago.
Now, I’m an elders’ daughter that has powers. I couldn’t make this up, even if I tried.
Refusing to put up a fight, I allowed him to carry me, his smell was familiar like a cologne I had smelt before. He smelt of musk and spice at the same time, I assumed it was from being a vampire, but the smell reminded me of the scent that lingered in my bedroom, from years back.
When I was about six or seven years old, I remembered that I would wake to that nostril-flaring odor through the night.
“Did you ever watch over me, when I was younger?” I asked.
“Yes,” he instantly said “When you were little, I stood in the shadows, telling you stories about your birth mother Eliza as you slept. I would leave when you stirred from your slumber.” his words were comforting.
He never abandoned me, he had watched over me all of these years.
I leaned in closer to him and peered over his shoulder noticing Anton was following behind.
I smiled at him and he smiled back and it was the first time I had seen a smile reach his captivating eyes. I knew instantly, at that moment, he could never be the monster he claimed to be. To me, he was handsome, kind and protective.
Armacey laid me down to rest on Anton’s bed, then he stood back watching me.
“Anton, wait outside” my father ordered. Anton glanced at my father then to me before nodding and making his way out of the room.
“Francesca” he stepped closer “To others, you are simply a witch with power. Do not tell anyone you hold the ancient magic within you, unless you trust them with your life”
I frowned “Why can’t anyone know?”
He stood staring at me for a lingering second.
“Even immortals wouldn’t hesitate to take down someone as powerful as you”
I nodded, fully understanding his fears “Okay” I agreed “I won’t tell anyone. But won’t they figure it out?”
“You are the daughter of Eliza. That comes with the most powerful ancestor magic alone”
I bit my bottom lip, realizing my father was a vampire, yet I wasn’t.
“How come I’m not a vampire-like you?” I asked.
He sat at the edge of the bed, close to me “You weren’t bitten, you were born. The ancient magic is much stronger than anyone could ever truly understand. That would have played a part in the construction of your DNA.” he replied.
“So, when my body healed itself, was that my powers?” I asked.
He stood abruptly.
“Your body healed itself?” he questioned, his eyes creased hard trying to fathom, what I had just said.
