Claimed

by K. H. Kate

  Whimpering, I took one step only to fall on the floor with a crash.

  "5132!"

  My scream didn't take long to reach the younger one as not a second longer, she was rushing through the door with a panicked look on her face. "God! What happened!?"

  "I can't..." My voice broke. "Pain, I can't breathe!"

  "Hold on, just hold on to me, ok?" She pulled me up, grabbing the wall to keep her balance. As soon as my head touched the pillow, she was asking for help.

  "Allegra! Come here, quickly!"

  Surprisingly, it took Allegra noticeably more time than 5132 to creep inside the room. I was just ready to tear my own skin off when I felt the presence of the Volkios. Even then, my vision blurred, past memories replacing the reality of my present.

  "Gema, you don't look good. What happened?"

  Gema looked up at me, her eyes filled with pure fear. "I tried everything I could. Yet they are going along with it."

  My breath hitched. Gema didn't have to elaborate to let me know what it really meant. I was doomed. "W-We knew it was a long due. Hey, you did try and that's what matters."

  "No, it doesn't!" Gema shook her head in despair. "Nothing about it is right! I don't believe it, it's just a silly prophesy. They are going to outright kill you. Why can't you see that? We need to fight, if we send letters to the Coven, they can help us!"

  "A silly prophesy which I've been hearing about my whole life. The clan would never let us speak to the Coven." I scoffed, barely holding my tears at bay.

  "Emie, open your eyes!" I felt someone tap my cheeks, forcing me to acknowledge where I was. Pain still very much apparent in my body, I was surprised to see now both Allegra and Mikhail along with 5132 hovering over me with concern.

  "What is he-"

  5132 looked at me then, like she was the one in pain. "You passed out, Emie. Why do you love scaring us? After what happened, I can't bear any more loss. Definitely not you."

  "It's not her fault, 5132." Mikhail came to my defense. "Besides, Alexei has been in the same position. Must be the bond that's making her sick."

  What?

  My eyes widened. "What do you mean by Lex has been in the same position? Where is he!?"

  Ignoring my misery, I tried to stand up but Allegra stopped me. "As long as I don't know what's wrong with you, I can't allow you to leave."

  "It's Lex."

  "I know. It's exactly why I don't think it's a good idea for you to meet him. He's acting a bit...strange." From her tone, it seemed like he wasn't acting strange, he just needed me beside him. Despite the warning, I wanted to run back to him. But the thought didn't linger too long before I was collapsing again.

  "I want to talk to the Coven."

  "You want to do what now?" The High Priest laughed, the other members in the meeting joining him. "I think my old age caught up to me. Say what you just said again, child."

  Gritting my teeth, I curled my fists. By God, if only he wasn't a priest... "I want to plead for my life and if I don't find justice here, I will go to the higher-ups, namely the Coven."

  Before the Priest could say anything, my step-father cut in. "Careful, Emeline. This meeting was not held for you to share any silly ideas. We are trying to find a date close to your birthday. Let the Priest do his job."

  "It's alright, she's young." The Priest smiled but I could find no warmth in that show of emotion, only terror. "We don't want to scold our pure soul, she's the only one to help us in this time."

  Pure soul?

  "What if you're wrong?" I snapped. "What if this Darkness doesn't even exist and he's just a myth. What happens to me then?"

  "I agree with her." Only one person raised their hand, sharing the same anger I was trying hard to hide. "This is the twenty-first century. We should evolve with the humans, not think as our ancestors did centuries ago."

  "Coen, my child, you don't understand-"

  "I don't have to." Coen's shoulder tensed. "There's been too many things that we should change in our clan. Why don't we start with ditching this prophesy crap?"

  I wanted to hug him so badly but my step-father wasn't one to be shoved down. His nostril flared as he stood up. "I said, enough! Priest, I say we sacrifice her on the day of her birthday. It's a full moon and we will have the moon's blessing."

  "Father, no!"

  My eyes opened abruptly, making me gasp. What I imagined to be still near my sister and friends, to my surprise, it was Lex who was sitting beside me. He looked no worse than I did but at least the pain seemed to be gone for the time being.

  "What? Where are they?"

  "Allegra is busy burying the bodies of her Coven members and Lana went to look for Jonathan after Allegra went off of her. They had a pretty nasty argument but she will get over it."

  Shit.

  "When did you-"

  "Three days. It's been three days since you've been unconscious." He sounded angry where I couldn't stop freaking out. It only seemed like a minute to me. How could it have been that long?

  "It didn't feel that long. What happened to you?"

  "You tell me first." His hands raised to touch me but in the end, he changed his mind, deciding to ignore my question filled gaze. "I woke up only to feel our connection almost severed. I thought I was finally put to rest."

  It took everything in me to not slap him. He was doing that on purpose, baiting me. Making me feel guilty? No, he wouldn't dare. Not after everything.

  "I was actually dreaming. No, not dreaming. I was having flashbacks of the time I was supposed to be sacrificed." My body shuddered just by saying the words. "I think that's my way of grieving. Maybe I didn't want the present to remember."

  He should look insulted, not slightly terrified. So, when he finally grasped my hands, it was anything but gentle. "Answer me one thing, Emie, are you hungry?"

  I stiffened, not because of the question. Because of the reality crashing down. After going through hell, literally, I should have been hungry for souls, my body should demand it normally. But now I felt nothing but a dull ache where my heart was supposed to be.

  "Little soul?"

  "I-I am not." We both shared the fear and he jerked away from me. "How is that possible? Lex?"

  In my panic, I didn't notice it before but now? I could certainly tell why Allegra mentioned there was something strange about him. His dark eyes looked more like greenish and where he should have been healed by now, he looked more sickened. And, so angry.

  "You don't look good. Your shadows...they didn't heal you? What about Allegra? You should let her help you."

  Like I never even spoke, Lex started laughing. "I think something is wrong here, I have been reliving the same memories right before I was buried. It's starting to haunt me and my shadows? They never returned. Not even when I begged them to."

  Shocked, I inched closer to him but he flinched, halting my advance. "I-I think it's best if I stay away for a while."

  "What are you saying?"

  He looked guilty but determination won over. "I was frustrated and so freaking angry, I didn't realize I've hurt Zach until he had to go to the healers. I am not going to risk hurting you too."

  "No, stay." He had to listen to me, wasn't he? So, why was he backing up like he wanted to leave?

  "I can't. Not until I figure out something."

  With that, he left before I could beg for more. But at the back of my mind, the same fear intensified, making me stricken to the core.

  Something was changing.

  For good or bad.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  The next few days passed with fear and uncertainty. Everywhere I looked, there were memories to torture me. At first, I chalked it up as my way of grieving or maybe it's because my shadows abandoned me but when even she started getting worse, I had no choice but to go look for answers.

  "You sure this is the place?"

  Allegra eyed the small hut just like I was doing before nodding. "According to Jonathan, this is the place."

 
; "He said whoever we are meeting is over the top about everything." I mockingly threw a pebble at the door. "This looks completely opposite of it."

  "Hey!" She snatched the other pebbles from my hands with a disapproving gaze. "Let's not make him angry even before we have the chance to meet him."

  "Fine. Have at it your way."

  She threw me another glare before giving a few sharp raps on the door. Waiting for someone to receive us, I couldn't help but think about my life. Just when I thought I started a new chapter in my life, everything fell apart right before my eyes.

  My oldest friend was gone.

  My wife was dying.

  Before my thoughts could go anymore deeper and to the more dangerous territory, the door opened, revealing a child. The child looked ten to elevenish with his height but his eyes seemed too dull to be childlike and when his gaze finally met mine, I could swear I saw the same fire in someone else's gaze.

  "I-We are looking for Alister." Allegra said softly, sharing a questionable look with me.

  Hearing the name, the child stiffened, his small hands curling into a fist. "Who send you here?"

  "Jonathan did." I spoke up this time. "Now, where's Alister?"

  The child stepped back, giving us permission to get in while muttering under his breath. At first, neither I nor Allegra gave any attention to the child's rambling. Only when the child took us to a room full of books that we noticed two more individuals. One I had never seen before and another seemed terribly familiar.

  "I know you."

  He looked up from the book he was reading to grin at me. "Absolutely."

  "Are you going to tell me from where?" I gritted out, much to Allegra's irritation.

  "I was from Lady Maria's sireline until Alister freed me and that's Keith." He pointed at the other man who also waved at me with a frown.

  Wait.

  Lady Maria?

  "Sin?" My, my. What a small world. "You're free?"

  "Surprising, isn't it?"

  "Yeah. Where's Alister anyway?" The child coughed, breaking my gaze to look at him. Even Allegra looked at him in question.

  "What are you two staring at?"

  "We were told to talk to a Alister." I gritted out, tired of waiting. I had a little time to entertain a child when the whole Coven was worried about us. Time never seemed this dangerous. Or poisonous.

  The child blinked in surprise. "Exactly. I'm Alister and I'm asking you, what do you seek? Or did you two came here to waste my time? In that case, show yourself out."

  This time, it was me who couldn't hide my shock. Jonathan warned us of Alister's tricks but this? This was beyond my imagination. Even Jonathan was reluctant to meet this child himself. And he freed a vampire from a sireline? Just how?

  "You're Alister?" Allegra asked again with a frown.

  "Yes." The child, Alister nodded. "Now why did you come here?"

  Sighing, I looked away. "I am the one who needs answers. I am known as Darkness-"

  "I know who you are." Alister stopped me. "I know who she is too. All I'm asking is what you are looking for. Answers? They are right in front of you."

  "Well, I don't see it!"

  "Darkness, be careful." Allegra warned but as if I didn't hear a single word, I kept going. Every word dripping with sorrow and exhaustion that I didn't even realize Alister reaching for me until it was too late.

  Until I was standing near a grave with Alister only a few feet away.

  "Where am I? Ali-" My body went rigid to see the rapid change in the child. Who once looked like a boy was now resembling Zed's beloved, Prophesy. The woman went away as soon as Zed was buried in the ground but to see her again, with a cheeky smile on her lips was enough to make me roar.

  "You little bitch!"

  "Do not take a single step!" Prophesy screamed, raising her hands. To my annoyance, I found myself frozen, unable to even move my lips. I stared at her instead, hatred burning through my gaze. Satisfied with her work, Prophesy started talking.

  "I'm Prophesy, Estyn or Alister, doesn't matter which form you found me in. I'm still your superior, Alexei, so, you'll respect me as such. Do you know where we are?"

  How could I not? The grave had a name. A name I called for centuries. Zedkiel Lytton was engraved into the tombstone like my heart was. As if she could see into my head, she smiled.

  "I think you know. Then you also know when your problem started. That's the issue with you people. You have all the answers in front of you, you just don't listen." She sighed, shaking her head. "You want to say something."

  I opened my mouth, trying to talk. To my relief, I could move my mouth but all it left from was thunder. "Don't use riddles, Prophesy. Say what you have to say clearly."

  "I admit your curse had everything to do with Zedkiel. He was going to make you his successor. So, you being dead, nonetheless becoming something hated by the witches would have crushed him. I wanted to punish him through you. How could he not notice his own beloved? How could he love another?"

  For the first time, I wanted to pity the woman. Prophesy was too far gone to really sound sane. "He was tricked, it wasn't his fault. You know that."

  "I know that now." She agreed with another hefty smile. "Which is why I'm going to say this just once. Stop denying yourself, Alexei. You know your shadows are gone, you even look different. As long as you'll weep for them, they'll haunt you. And you being a Darkness? The moment Zedkiel took his last breath, all contempt for him from me was gone. Just as the curse for you. You are free."

  Free?

  I didn't felt free. Instead, I felt more suffocated than ever.

  "And, Emie?" I asked, worry etched into my skin. "What do her symptoms say about her? She didn't feed in days, not even a single soul. She's withering away."

  Prophesy scoffed, laughing in disbelief. "Again, you don't listen. Her soul is bound to you just as her curse is bound to her mother's sins. I'll never forgive Keisha for what she did but Emeline? I admit, she didn't deserve what happened to her. I freed her from her curse, Alexei. Think of it as a token of admiration from me. And as for Lana, the girl only thrives when she is a Reaper. It's not a curse for her but a gift."

  "We were all worried for days and you couldn't have told us the reason in person? Not even a phone call?" My irritation had Prophesy tasked in amusement.

  "You did come to me, did you not? I know everything, Alexei, just as I know there's a light coming into your life."

  In spite of being angry, I let out a chuckle. "You and your riddles, Prophesy. You always manage to make it twisted enough to make me want to kill you. What's up with those two anyway? Sin and Keith?"

  "None of your business." We shared the same understanding before her breath hitched in real pain. The first sign of some kind of sanity in her gaze. "I thought I knew what true insanity was but I was wrong. I can't live as Estyn anymore, it reminds me of him all the time. I have lived many lives but Alister is the only form I can tolerate. When I free you from this illusion, all I ask from you is to keep my secret safe."

  I could do that. For Zedkiel. For her.

  Hence, I nodded in agreement without wasting another moment. And when we were back in the real world, I was already in the Coven manor, staring at Emie who was being scolded by a furious Lana. Seeing the unusual scene, I couldn't help but invite myself into the conversation.

  "What's happening?"

  Emie looked surprised but pleasantly healthy than the last few days. She even put on some weight drastically, much to my shock. As if she wasn't sick at all, she beamed at me with a giddy smile. "Lex! I thought you were out with Allegra. To meet some-what was the name? Alister?"

  "I was." Apparently, Prophesy literally sent me back to the manor. "And I have some good news. We got the answers, little soul."

  Before she could even react, Lana pointed at me. "Speaking of answers, why did no one send her to a gyno or a witch! We could have known it days ago if someone did. Days! You saw how she was after the demon-No, I won't take that dreadf
ul name. You talk to her, I'm out."

  Confused, I watched Lana storm off. "Do I even want to know?"

  Emie opened her mouth once and closed it immediately, her face breaking into a sweat. Just when I started to think of the worse outcome, she opened her mouth. "When you were gone, pain suddenly erupted everywhere, I thought my stomach would tear itself. 5132 called for a witch immediately who did some tests on me. Turned out...um...there was something stuck in an odd place in my womb. A fetus."

  My world literally stopped.

  "I'm sorry what?"

  Even she looked out of breath. "It means I am still pregnant."

  "How could this happen?" I wanted to be happy, I really did. But I was also there when she was in a puddle of blood, blood belonging to our child. "I-Is this a joke, little soul? Then it's not funny."

  "It's not a joke!" Silent tears trailed down her cheeks which she wiped hastily. "I was with child, Lex, with triplet actually. The reason I bled heavily was because I lost the other two. Believe me, still, now, I don't know what's happening. The witch told me the child was cloaked by someone more powerful than us. That's why when Allegra looked me over, she couldn't detect the surviving one. Again, I am sick and tired all the time. All the symptoms are here!"

  I couldn't just stand there anymore. Dropping down to my knees, I hesitantly reached out to touch her belly. There was another life now. My child. My light?

  "A child you say?" I murmured, shock still evident in my voice. "Little soul, you've no idea what you've given me. No fucking idea."

  EPILOGUE

  "Can you be anymore slower!?"

  Zach yelled out at the Coven members who were bringing flowers and helping the grooms with the suit. Where I was going all out with black, Mikhail chose to go with more of a softer color. But the excitement was the same for everyone since we decided to have the wedding at the same altar even if Mikhail, Lana and Zach were going to have a private wedding right after this one anyway.

  Mikhail suddenly cleared his throat, getting the attention of both Zach and me. "Have anyone heard from 5132 since yesterday?"

  "No." Zach grumbled, brushing back his hair. "And, don't even think of meeting her before the wedding. It's bad luck."