The Silver Eyed Prince (Highest Royal Coven of Europe)

by VJ Dunraven

  “What are you thinking?” Elizabeth rested her chin on his chest, peering up at him.

  “I'm just daydreaming.” He shrugged, wishing he could share his thoughts with her, but he knew, she wouldn't understand.

  “About what?” she persisted, lifting an eyebrow.

  “England.” He brushed a strand of wayward hair from her face. “My real home.”

  “You're homesick.” She tightened her arms around his waist when he nodded. “Is all your family out there?”

  “Yes. Mama and Papa, a battalion of aunts, uncles and cousins, and our loyal staff who've been with us for centuries.”

  “What are they like? Your mom and dad?” Her eyes took on a deeper shade of purple.

  “They're utterly enamored with each other even if they're complete opposites.” He chuckled. “Papa is serious and all-business, while Mama is lively and fun. Papa dotes on her and Mama makes him laugh. They're a formidable team and the best parents ever.”

  Her whole face lit up. “And your relatives?”

  “There are legions of them in England and all across Europe. It would take weeks for me to describe them all. But the closest ones I have are my cousins whom you've already met.”

  “What about the ones who work for you?”

  “One of them in particular, General Bradford, who had been my mentor since I was a little boy. He thought me everything about combat and before that, had been Papa's instructor when he was young. He is like a second father to me and my cousins, who also trained under him.”

  Elizabeth stared at him for a long time before she spoke. “Your home sounds wonderful.” She lowered her lashes and began toying with his shirt collar. “I'm sure you'll see everybody again soon.”

  He heard the slight falter in her voice and noticed the sudden melancholy in her mood, which she tried to hide by fixing his collar. He lifted her chin, and saw that her eyes had changed into a glazed shade of blue. She smiled at him, or rather forced herself to. In the silence between them, he felt the turmoil that shrouded her heart like a dark cloud. Elizabeth was afraid of losing him.

  “I want you to come home with me,” he said without hesitation.

  “To England?” Her expression brightened.

  “Yes. Will you come with me?” He now found himself wanting her to, more than ever.

  She straightened and let out a small laugh. “You can't mean that. Your parents will kill you and my mom—”

  “Your mom will come with us and my parents will be delighted to meet you.” And you will finally meet your father. He suppressed the urge to tell her the last part.

  “I’m a Tainted, William. You know how bad, how impossible—”

  He silenced her with the touch of a forefinger to her lips. “It doesn’t matter. I love you and that’s all that matters,” he whispered. Perhaps, the best way to go about revealing the truth is to let her experience it, rather than explain all of its complications. Once they arrived in England, it would be easier for her to understand her destiny. Yes, perhaps he would tell her once they get there. “Will you come, if your mom agrees to come too?”

  She reached out and took the sunglasses off him as the sun faded and the shadows grew. “Yes,” her lips curved slightly at the corners, gazing at him, eyes brilliant and once again, very violet. “I would love to go on a vacation there.”

  Vacation? Didn't she get what he meant? As soon as she set foot in England, he intended for her to stay there!

  She frowned. “You look disappointed.”

  “Oh, no, no. I would be pleased to have you and your Mom as my guests.” Perhaps, this discussion could also wait another day. For now, he was satisfied with their progress. She had agreed to come home with him!

  Chapter 43

  The Courage to Choose Right

  Elizabeth's mother waited with bated breath for Colonel Gunter's reaction after she'd recounted her astounding ordeal. He was seated across from her at the dining table, regarding her with sharp, deep red eyes that made her feel ill at ease.

  “I hope you understand my reasons for not coming back and keeping Elizabeth a secret,” she ventured cautiously. “I am sorry for purposely eluding your search.”

  “I accept your apology, Your Grace, but I fail to comprehend the wisdom behind your decision,” his tone betrayed his displeasure.

  “Colonel, I didn't have a choice. If you were in my position, you would've—”

  “I would've done things differently,” he ground out. “Did you ever stop to consider the consequences of your actions? Your failure to return devastated the King and impaired his ability to rule the hierarchy. You threw the entire Highest Royal Coven of Europe into panic and exposed its vulnerability to its enemies.”

  “I did not wish for my people to go to war for me!” she exclaimed, put off by his reprimand. “The Duke of Northern Peninsula has threatened an invasion if I returned. He swore to kill my husband and annihilate our entire clan. His army is large and spans continents. I've seen evidence of it myself while in captivity. Colonel Gunter—,” She swallowed hard, her eyes misting. “I could not sacrifice my family and my people for my own salvation.”

  “And so you decided to go on the run.” His eyes narrowed. “Your fears have driven you to abandon your husband and your domain in the hopes of avoiding conflict. Do you realize that by doing this, the battle you tried so hard to prevent was only but delayed?” He leaned back in his chair and shook his head in a show of exasperation. “The Duke's men are onto your daughter. It will only be a matter of time before they discover your true identities!”

  Elizabeth's mother stared at him in horror. “How did they track us here?”

  “At this point, it doesn't signify,” the Colonel said curtly. “What's important is your safety which at present is highly compromised. You have no idea who you're dealing with. Did you think that by fleeing, the Duke would simply give up the chase? It only provoked him to obsess on the pursuit and made the hunt more challenging. The first rule of combat, Your Grace, is never to underestimate the enemy.”

  She sat speechless and with a sense of dread, began to second-guess herself. Was the Colonel right? Was she a coward for taking matters into her own hands, knowing it was the easiest way out? Should she have returned no matter how dire the circumstances were, and trusted the European Army to protect and defend them with the superior skill and valiance they were well known for?

  As she pondered increasingly on everything, her certainty on the soundness of her decision at that time began to waver in light of the Colonel's perspective. Perhaps she should've faced the Duke's threats with the courage worthy of a Queen, but instead, she fled with her tail between her legs and abandoned all that was dear to her, destroying her husband's honor and dragging her daughter away from the life that was rightfully hers. She took away every hope her people had, of finally witnessing the Purification after more than two hundred years.

  So many relied on her and she failed them all.

  Her hands began to tremble. The consequences of her actions filled her with a profound guilt that rattled her into a state of extreme disgrace. In her single-minded determination to avoid confrontation, she neglected to invest considerable thought in the situation and allowed fear to cloud her good judgment.

  She lowered her lashes to hide the tears that had welled in her lids, unable to bear the penetrating gaze of the Colonel's intelligent eyes.

  Colonel Gunter drew a long sigh after a moment of silence and stood up. “Forgive me if I had lost my composure. I wish you trusted us—, your own army, to protect you. We were there, you know, me and my men, the day you escaped. We finally located and raided the camp to rescue you, only to find that your captors were as surprised as we were to discover that you'd slipped away.

  “But we didn't lose faith. We believed you would find a way to contact us for help, but you never did. My men and I searched tirelessly with the hope of aiding you, but you never resurfaced. I knew you were alive. Your trail was fresh and we were always
a step behind. If you wanted to be found, you only needed to stay right where you were. That was when I realized you were deliberately evading us. As an Officer and Commander of the good men who risked their lives to rescue you because of their allegiance to the crown, I found it a great insult that our own Queen had little confidence in her loyal subjects.” His angelic countenance hardened. “Pardon my vehemence, but I do not take insults lightly.” He picked up his keys on the table and turned to leave.

  “Colonel Gunter—!”

  He paused to look at her, his hand on the doorknob. “You said you didn't have a choice, but with all due respect, Your Grace, you did have a choice,” his voice brimmed with patent disapproval. “You just made a bad one.”

  Chapter 44

  Twin Flames

  with Sister Mary Clarendon

  Elizabeth sat between Ben and Lela in History and Religion. She should be thankful that William had escorted her all the way to her classroom today, but instead, she was still in a state of shock long after he'd declared I love you with a kiss, loud enough to stun everyone who was watching in the Tainted wing.

  This time, however, no one had dared make rude comments in his presence. His bold show of affection and protectiveness seemed to have silenced even the nastiest gossips.

  Nevertheless, the disapproval in the air had not changed. Antagonism was thick and palpable, especially as soon as the Prince had left.

  “Hey, have you guys seen Chad?” Carlos asked from his seat behind her.

  “No,” Elizabeth said over her shoulder.

  “Haven't seen him either,” Ben said, arching an inquiring eyebrow at Lela who shrugged and shook her head.

  “I don't like this.” Carlos looked around. “If looks could kill, we would be toast by now. We sure could use having Chad with us, if you know what I mean.”

  “Sshhh. Stop stressing and just chill.” Lela darted her eyes at Sister Mary Clarendon who had just entered the classroom.

  “Good morning.” The Sister placed her things on the teacher's table and faced the class. “Last time, we talked about the theological theory of our Etiology. I believe we ended with an open question from—,” She peered down at her notes. “Mr. Joe Wayne?” She looked up and pointed at the red haired boy sitting between Bart Hammerstein and Oscar Lynch. “Could you please refresh us?”

  “Uh, sure.” Joe scratched his head. “I wanted to know what happened to the male who was left in the sacred land.”

  “Ah, yes.” Sister Mary Clarendon nodded. “The Omni condemned him into a creature of darkness and forfeited his gifts of the mind, beauty and prowess, reducing him to a disfigured, repulsive looking creature.

  “The male lived a solitary life, but he faithfully pleased the Omni by nurturing the sacred land even in the darkness. He hunted for food conscientiously, never taking more than what he needed for sustenance. Eventually, the Omni was satisfied with his devotion and decided to give him another chance.

  “He entrusted him with another lamb which he tended diligently. He never desired its blood for sustenance and even kept it in his dwelling so no harm could come to it.

  “One morning, he woke up to a loud crash and found that the lamb had knocked down the large container of water, flooding the floor. The lamb was on top of the table, feasting on the grains he had harvested to feed it for the week. It had also destroyed the garments he had painstakingly sewn.

  “But instead of flying into a rage, he simply set the animal on the floor and started cleaning the mess. This happened not just once, but many, many times. The lamb was notorious for pillaging its food, ruining everything within its reach, forcing the male to double his efforts in growing grains, and fixing his things. However, he did it without complaint and loved the lamb like his most precious possession.

  “The Omni was impressed,” Sister Mary Clarendon continued. “One night, the male came back from hunting and found a young lady in his dwelling. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, with eyes the color of amethysts and sapphires, and hair the hue of fire. He immediately drew back from her presence knowing how revolting he appeared, but the young lady went to him and took his gnarled hands in hers.”

  Sister Mary opened a thick leather-bound book and read from a marked page. “Do not shy away from me,” she said, “for I am the lamb whom you have loved unconditionally in spite of my shortcomings.”

  “But aren't you afraid of me?” he asked.

  “No, for I see not your face, but your heart,” she said. “The Omni has re-established the sacrosanctity of your blood through the forgiveness of your transgressions which he has granted.”

  “The moment he heard that, a transformation began within him. He felt his vigor restored, his mind sharpen and his body no longer contorted. He looked at his hands and touched his face. Once again, he was strong and handsome.

  “You are as beautiful as your spirit and as vital as your pure blood, my beloved with the faithful heart,” she said.

  “I am Willahelm,” he said.

  “And I am Elisha, the Pure One,” she answered. “You are my Twin Flame. By reuniting us to restore the indomitability of our bloodline, the Omni has promised to reinstate the Gift of Dominion to our children for as long as they fulfill the Divine Providence.”

  Jared waved a frantic hand from the far corner.

  “What is it, Mr. Crowe?” Sister Mary Clarendon peered at him.

  Sister, what exactly does the Gift of Dominion entail?” Jared asked.

  “Well, it necessitates the physical and mental superiority of the dominant clan. This is vital for them to fulfill the Divine Providence: to act as protectors to the delicate balance of nature, and maintain the peaceful co-existence of all creation.”

  Jared rubbed his chin. “Sister Mary, does that mean the offspring of Willahelm and Elisha are a superior breed than any other?”

  “Precisely, Mr. Crowe. Their ideal match resulted in blood so pristine, it carried all the inherent traits the Omni had bestowed on each parent. These traits undergo Recombination in the mother's womb, creating a Perfect Genetic Code passed on to the offspring.”

  “Sister?” Elizabeth raised her hand to get her attention.

  “Yes, Miss Hamilton?”

  “I was just wondering—,” Elizabeth stood up. “Which breed carries the Perfect Genetic Code?”

  “Not a breed, Miss Hamilton.” Sister Mary Clarendon inclined her head and tapped the marker on her palm. “But rather a clan. The Highest Royal Coven of Europe up to the second generation are the direct descendants of a Pure One and her Twin Flame.”

  Elizabeth sat back in her chair, pondering on this new information. If that was the case, then, William and his cousins were direct descendants of a Pure One and her Twin Flame! But how can that be when there have been so many generations before them? She pursed her lips in puzzlement.

  “Sister Mary?”

  “Yes, Miss Weber?” The Sister nodded at Jill.

  “What if they fail to fulfill the Divine Providence and fall from grace like the female?”

  “Excellent question.” The Sister pointed the whiteboard marker at her to emphasize her approval. “The Omni is a wise God. As a reminder of the consequences that will befall them if they chose the wrong path, the Omni embedded an evil entity in each one that emerges whenever they engage in violence or destruction.”

  “Does this mean we all have an entity within us?” Jared asked.

  “Yes. Although Tainteds like you only have a partial link to our ancestry, it is still part of who you are.”

  “The Entity—, what is it like?” Bart Hammerstein asked.

  “It emerges with wild eyes, long claws and pointed canines, much like what humans portray as Vampires. It is very dangerous and hostile to other living creatures.”

  Bart swallowed with an audible gulp. “But how do we contain it again if it comes out?” He darted his eyes at Carlos, who mouthed a silent “Boooo” and shook his forefinger at him.

  “By learning to di
scipline ourselves against its cravings. One must have a stronger will than the entity to overcome it, otherwise it will take over and you will never regain your true self.

  “A good example is the self-control exercised by our Defenders during battle. In the face of violence, they invoke the evil entity and use its ferocity to aid them in combat. Afterwards, they command it to withdraw, restoring their higher self. This is something I hope all of you will learn.”

  Elizabeth remembered the ferocious image of Chad when he attacked Bart Hammerstein. Was that the manifestation of the evil entity within each of them?

  The bell rang, signaling the end of the period.

  “We will begin our discussion on History and the Royal Coven of Europe next time,” Sister Mary Clarendon called over the commotion of students piling towards the doors.

  Chapter 45

  An Assassin in Love

  Sir Henry stood up from his chair behind a large mahogany desk, as Colonel Alexus Chadwick Gunter, alias Chad Alistair, entered the administrative chambers. He was dressed in full military regalia of silver, black and blue, adorned with several medals on his chest and silver eagle epaulets on his shoulders. His presence dominated the room with the grim air of a dangerous assassin on his way to interrogate his hostages.

  Sir Henry cast a worried glance at Richard, who was standing next to him. Together, they had been expecting the Colonel's arrival with much apprehension since they received his request for an urgent meeting.

  “Sir Henry. Mr. Stapleton.” The Colonel took each of their proffered hands with a firm grip and a single handshake.

  “Colonel Gunter. Please have a seat.” Sir Henry gestured at the chair across from him. “We are honored to finally make your acquaintance.”

  The Colonel ignored his attempt for an amiable start and remained on his feet. “I wish I could say the same, but at the moment, I am quite aggravated by the both of you.” He flicked sharp scarlet eyes at Richard, then back at Sir Henry. “You withheld critical information from General Bradford that could've enabled him to appoint suitable protection for Elizabeth.”