by Elle Grace
“That’s cool.” I responded. “So, they can change appearance?” He nodded. “Do a lot of hybrids have abilities like that?”
“Some of them, yes, actually most of them do.” He answered. I rolled my eyes internally. I had no powers, typical, I thought. “Who else was there?” He muttered to himself. “Oh, yeah, there is Doe, actually her real name is Dorothy. She trained here extensively as a child but more recently she has been living in Milan. Cameron is super lovely. He is a bit of a klutz, but he has the kindest heart. Then Mike, he is a whizz kid at technology. The Inperium have decided to recruit him even though he is only just fourteen years old as he helped to design a training programme or something for them last year. He is quite young, but he is super smart. Last but not least, is Prince James, well actually His Royal Highness Prince James Alexander of Absum, Oblituus. That is his full title. I think his dad sent him here to help bolster inter kingdom relations or something. He is betrothed to a princess from his kingdom. At least that is what the rumours say. I think their kingdom is a little bit like ours from the medieval period, but they have technology! A lot of women here have been trying to get their claws into James for a while, but he isn’t interested. I think he is honouring his arranged marriage to be honest. Romantic really. Shame he isn’t available though, he is a fine-looking man.” Tristan finished.
I stood opened mouthed not sure what question to ask first. The fact that James was a Prince blew my mind. My inner Disney princess was running in circles with glee. I reminded myself I looked more like the beast than beauty and I couldn’t wear normal heels without moaning let alone glass ones.
“Another kingdom?” Was all I could mutter after him.
We arrived at the main building and walked inside. We stayed on the downstairs level and headed to the back of the mansion. Tristan opened a door to reveal a small old-fashioned library. It was fitted with a bookshelf all around the walls, filled with old looking books. It smelt stale in there. He indicated for me to sit down on a big leather armchair whilst he darted around gathering a few books.
“They don’t keep the good books in here.” He confided sadly. “They are all in a vault under the house. It’s such a shame.” He sighed, grabbing the books he had picked and sitting down opposite to me.
“Immortuuis and Oblituus, so, are they places?” I began barely waiting for him to be seated.
“Yes.” He replied. “I will try to explain as simply and quickly as I can, as I know time is not on our side. Since you know none of this.” He stopped to take a big dramatic breath. “So, the world we live in is not made up of one realm as such, but six. We call them kingdoms.” I looked at him puzzled.
“Okay.” I frowned.
“It is a little complicated to explain actually.” I felt like Tristan was an incredibly intelligent man, but he also struggled with explaining things without rambling or giving extremely detailed descriptions that meant very little. I sighed. “So, I’m sure you have heard of dimensions and parallel universes. There is a lot of theory out there, a lot of physics professors have produced some amazing publications at an attempt to explain the phenomena that we…”
“You are losing me.” I was honest. He stopped and narrowed his eyes for a moment, thinking. I had been through so much in the last few days and it was all too much to take in.
“Do you believe in heaven and hell?” His question made me think for a minute.
“Well I suppose I believe there has to be something, I mean my parents aren’t religious and neither am I, but I would hate to think that there is nothing after we die.” I answered truthfully.
“Good.” He stated. “It is easier to explain this to someone who is open to the idea then someone who isn’t. So, heaven and hell are technically real places.” He began. “Now they aren’t the heaven and hell that is suggested in places like the bible, where your soul goes when you die, based on your moral choices. The heaven and hell we know are just sort of named that based on how they look and the beings that exist there, still with me?” He asked and I nodded. What he was saying seemed insane but also a little familiar.
“All kingdoms have ancient names and within the kingdoms live specific beings. There is Caeluus and Abysuus which are kind of like heaven and hell in the sense that the beings that reside there are considered as Angels and Demons, based on human mythology anyway. They are humanoid to look at but often have slightly different features or abilities. Then there is Immortuus which is the kingdom of the supernatural and paranormal, it is where creatures like the infected come from. Things like vampires, witches and werewolves are born there. Again, technically they all look very humanoid apart from their special abilities and specific needs. Then there are the three human based kingdoms. Oblituus, which we call the kingdom of the forgotten, Vetituus, which we call the kingdom of the forbidden and Munduus, which is the kingdom that we are currently in. The kingdom of man. Questions?” He finished his short ramble and I sat staring, clearly this man needed help of the psychiatric variety, I pondered to myself.
“Yes, about a million of them.” I shook my head. “Okay, if all these kingdoms are separate places and only hybrids can open the doors, then how can hybrids exist to open the doors, if the doors need to be opened first?” I asked. “That is so goddamn confusing! It’s a paradox.” My cult theory was circling back in my mind.
“Good question!” He complemented me and handed me on of the books. “Page 85.” He said knowingly. I opened the book and began to read. “Maybe you are starting to remember.”
Upon further research, it has been made clear to me that half breeds have existed since the dawn of time. Ancient documents hint at an organisation that worked to monitor and protect the kingdoms. Guardians of the gates, allowing free passage and blood mixing. Ostiarius. Luckily over time the humans have become pure again after the gates were closed and locked by the guardians in response to the chaos that was observed. Only mixed bloods have the ability to open these gates making them the perfect servants to my new organisation, the Inperium, which serves the world to stop blood mixing and half-blood tyranny…
I stopped reading. Whoever wrote it had a real issue with Mults.
“Who wrote this?” I asked.
“Thomas Walsh, the founder of the Inperium.” He stated.
“He was not a friendly man, was he?” I raised an eyebrow; his views had created a hatred since the beginning.
“That is an understatement.” Tristan laughed.
“Why did he not like half-breeds?” I asked knowing that it must have been more than just his fear of hybrids.
“It’s a long story.” Tristan sighed and I raised my eyebrow. I wanted to know more. Tristan thought for a moment before telling me. “I will give you the abridged version. He started the Inperium after his second son was born. His first wife, Eleanor, died giving birth to their first son, John. He never remarried but he had an affair with a woman named Ann Dubois. She gave him his second son, but he was illegitimate, who they called William. When William turned one years old, John did something. He was only six or seven at the time and he worked out how to open a gate. Ann was unfortunately swept into the gate and John closed it. He was too young to know any different. Thomas Walsh sunk into about 3 months of madness, strong liquor and research until he discovered what John was and what his first wife had been. He was head over heels for Ann and so angry with John, he decided that no half-breed should be able to do anything like it uncontrolled by a human again. He consulted all sorts of people and managed to have curse put on half breeds of sorts. I mean, that is what the legend says but some books have different ideas about how the arch works and the inner workings of the trials. I don’t know what I believe if I’m honest, but it meant that hybrids could not open any gates until they had been found worthy in the eyes of the Inperium in a trial.”
“That is insane.” I stated staring at him. It was the craziest story I had ever heard yet I seemed to believe it. It felt right. “What happened to John?”
“Thomas made both his sons work for the Inperium. William became a high commander, whilst John was kept as more of a servant or prisoner. The Inperium began to capture other Mults and kept them as servants as they came up with more projects. Thomas mostly hired humans to work for the Inperium and serve as Guardians and Keepers of the Mults. John actually fell in love with another hybrid in secret. Romantic relationships were strictly forbidden for Mults at the Inperium. John did not care and ended up getting his young love, Abigail, pregnant. As soon as Thomas found out, he had John punished. The punishment back then was death. Once the babies were born Abigail was also punished. Their twin babies, Victoria and John Jr, were then raised in the Inperium to serve.” He told me and I listened intently.
“That’s dreadful.” I concluded.
“The Inperium is a little different now.” He said.
“I’m not sure it is as different as it should be.” I added and he nodded. I was beginning to feel like I could trust Tristan.
11
Aurora
2pm 6th September 2020
“She’s mine now, Tristan.” Colt had stormed into the room. “You should have finished ten minutes ago.” He seemed more mad than usual.
“I am not anyone’s.” I snapped knowing it would make him worse.
“You need to watch your mouth!” He snarled at me.
“Colt, just take her, we were finishing up anyway.” Tristan relented trying to not add to the situation. I could see he was getting fed up with the way people were treating me. I stood up following orders.
“Follow me.” He barked and I cast a look to Tristan hoping he would save me, knowing he could not. I followed Colt out of the room and down some stairs. As we walked across campus, I got a glance at the other recruits who were going some combat training on the main lawn, hybrids and humans mixed and training together. They all looked like they really knew what they were doing, apart from Cameron and Mike who seemed to be struggling. We eventually arrived at what looked like a small gymnasium. There were lines on the floor indicating boxes and a few punch bags around the room. He walked in and waited by a punching bag. The room was warm and humid.
“What exercises are you used to doing?” He asked abruptly.
“I do Pilates and yoga. I used to take ballet when I was younger. I also played hockey for a while at school.” I answered nervously, not knowing what to expect.
“Useless.” He mumbled. “Any fighting classes, karate or jujitsu?” I shook my head before remembering some classes we were forced to do in physical education at school.
“I had a few self-defence classes at school.” I was honest. He perked up a little.
“At least that is something.” He muttered. “Punch this.” He pointed at the bag and I obliged. Winced as my hand hit the hard leather. It barely even made a noise. “That was pathetic. Again.”
I punched the bag again. It stung my hand.
“You aren’t even trying!” He shouted at me. “Again!”
I punched the bag again. As hard as I could. I hated the pain in my hands that followed. I had never had to punch anything before in my life.
“That’s better.” He remarked. “Now keep going until I tell you to stop.” I did as I was told and kept punching the bag. My hands were screaming. I must have been punching for what felt like an hour. Sweat covered my face and poured down my back, I felt terrible. I hoped we were done for the day.
“Stop.” He finally said and I nearly collapsed. “That was not the worst I have seen.” He remarked. I looked down at my hands which were covered in abrasions and blood. They stung something rotten. “Run to the end of the room and back again.” He ordered me and I just looked at him for a second. Not moving. Defying him. I was exhausted. “Did you not hear me?” He was getting angry, so I set off slowly jogging. “Faster!” He exclaimed and I picked up the pace. As I arrived back to where he was standing, I stopped. “Why are you stopping?” He lifted an eyebrow at me, and I continued to run. My body was screaming to stop. He began to build little circuits for me to do, around the gym, repeating the exercises over and over again. Taking HIIT to a new level. Finally, he said I could stop for a minute. I slumped against a wall and slipped down to the floor. He rummaged in a bag by the wall and handed me a bottle of look-warm water. I drank the entire thing in one go. My body desperate for the hydration.
“Now I think it is time you fight me.” He spoke as I finished to water. I nearly spat it out. I shook my head. I could not go on. I had no chance, he was huge.
“I can’t.” I breathed.
“Yeah, you can, and you will. Don’t tell me you haven’t been imagining punching me this entire session!” He laughed. “In the box.” He pointed at one of the painted boxes on the floor. I paused for a moment and then reluctantly got to my feet and walked over. My legs could barely hold me up. They felt like jelly. I entered the box and turned to face Colt. Smack. He swiped my feet from under me and I hit the ground hard.
“Get up.” He snarled at me and I did. He put me straight on my back again before I could even defend myself. “Why don’t you fight back?” He snarled. I got back up to my feet gingerly. My whole body was shaky from the continual impact with the ground. I remembered I still had not eaten anything since I arrived. He went to hit me again and I dodged it. I was dizzy.
“Better.” He muttered. He tried again and once again I managed to move out of the way. The third time I was not as agile, and he hit me hard knocking me to the ground and winding me. I couldn’t get up. I lay on the ground feeling pathetic and fully worn out. It was clear from the look on his face exactly what he thought of me.
“You won’t last here.” He remarked and walked off, leaving me on the ground breathless.
12
Aurora
7pm 6th September 2020
Half walking, half stumbling, it took me an eternity to get to the dormitory. The other hybrids were already gathered there. They were milling around chatting to each other. It looked like most of them had showered and changed since I had seen them outside doing their training. Sam was polishing their boots. Doe was the first one to notice me.
“Damn Rory, you don’t look so good.” She remarked as I stood in the doorway.
“Thanks. I feel great.” I jested and walked over to my bed slumping down on to it. Almost swearing at how uncomfortable it was. Cameron came running over to me a bottle in one hand and a plastic cup in the other. Kneeling in front of me, he handed me the cup without saying anything and I looked at him puzzled. He began to pour out some clear liquid which I realised was vodka when I saw the bottle properly. He gave me a generous helping. Then he took out a small vial of what looked like dish soap and tipped it in to the cup. Turning the whole cup of liquid bright green.
“That should help.” He smiled and hurried away to hide the bottle.
“What is it?” I asked.
“We call it a magic brew.” Doe informed me sitting next to me. “It’s 95% vodka and 5% healing tonic. Drink up.” She said and I went to take a sip. She would not let me drop the cup and instead kept tipping it until I had drunk the lot.
“Where did you get the vodka from?” I was surprised that they had such clear contraband.
“Oh please, no one suspects William going and getting a night cap from the cellars.” Sam said behind me, I turned to look at them as they transformed into William and back again.
“That is awesome!” I slurred a little, the cup of vodka hitting me fast. Maybe it was the special tonic or whatever it was he had added, I thought.
“When did you last eat?” Cameron said concerned as he saw me swaying.
“I didn’t.” I replied frowning. He lifted on of the beds and handed me something wrapped in tinfoil. I opened the foil and saw it was bread. I began to eat hungrily. “Thank you.” I mumbled between mouthfuls. “Are you the dormitory chef?” They all laughed.
“She needs some ice for those hands.” Mike was leaning against the wall in front of me. He promptly left. He seemed
a little off with me.
“I think they are being silly trying to train you like that.” Doe said to me. “It’s just not right.” She was clearly the unofficial group leader.
“I don’t think they care about right or wrong.” I said solemnly.
“That is so true!” Cameron agreed.
James came walking into the dormitory and stopped dead when he saw me sitting on the bed.
“Are you bunking in here?” He asked.
“Looks like it.” I smiled.
“Nice! Is anyone using the showers?” He questioned and I wondered if he often kept to himself.
“No go right ahead.” Doe informed him. As soon as he was out of ear shot, she turned to me.
“So, you’ve met the Prince?” She grinned at me.
“Briefly.” I replied.
“And?” She questioned; I was not sure what she was probing for.
“He seems nice.” I honestly did not know the guy.
“A little too nice if you ask me.” She said even though no one was asking, I began to wonder if Doe was a little bit of a gossip.
“What makes you say that?” I frowned.
“Well, he is always so cheery, no matter what. I mean the commanders have done some messed up things to try and break him and it doesn’t affect him at all. I mean the guy is a Prince a literal Prince. He is used to being treated like royalty, a VIP. They treat rats better than they treat him here.” Doe rambled on with her opinions.
“Doe, stop it!” Cameron butted in. “Maybe he is just a good guy.”
“Cammy you see the good in everyone, you thought Lance was nice until he put you in the infirmary with 44 stitches and two broken arms.” Doe corrected him. Training had clearly been brutal for them.