by VJ Dunraven
She placed a trembling hand on his cheek and with her other hand, caressed his hair with her fingertips, the way she used to do, a long, long time ago.
He turned slightly to touch his lips on her palm and smiled at her. Her whole being soared with the certainty of what she needed to say—, what she owed him to hear for the last fifty years.
“Not for a moment, not even for a single breath or heartbeat, did I ever cease loving you.” She pressed her lips between his eyebrows, lingering in that familiar manner that she knew had always pleased him. “You have always been the one, my true love, and I've been such a wretched—” She swallowed the fresh sting of tears as guilt gnawed at her once more.
“Ssshh ... darling, don't—,” he lifted her chin and she saw his eyes had glistened, “let's not dwell on the past anymore. It's over and done with. What's important is you're here. Will you stay and marry me?”
She gazed at him lovingly and exclaimed, “Yes!” in elation, throwing her arms around his neck, feeling the burden lift off her shoulders.
He showered her with tiny kisses and they laughed and cried. Finally, he stood up and retrieved something from a hidden compartment in his desk.
“What's that?” Catherine wrapped the chair throw around her and sat up as he walked towards her.
“I never had the chance to give you this.” He produced the most exquisite diamond ring she had ever seen.
“It's magnificent!” She covered her mouth with her hands.
He grinned and cleared his throat, dropping on one knee.
“A-are you going to do a formal proposal—,” She chuckled. “Au naturel?”
“I like originality.” He winked, and then declared his honorable intentions in the strictest protocol, notwithstanding the fact that he was in his birthday suit.
Chapter 51
The Legend of the Pure One
“Are you all packed and ready to go tomorrow?” Prince William glanced at Elizabeth as they parked in his reserved spot at Darian Hall.
“Pretty much.” She thought of the few things on the bathroom counter that she could easily fit in her luggage before they left. There wasn't much to bring; she only needed enough for a two-week stay. Her mother, on the other hand, was bringing luggage as if she was moving permanently to England.
“Are you excited?” He opened the door and laced his fingers through hers as she stepped out of the car.
“I am. I can't wait.” She darted her eyes at the two strange men from yesterday, who materialized out of nowhere and began to follow them up the steps to the main foyer. “Do those guys work for you?”
He looked over his shoulder and nodded. “I told you I would have my men look after you so no one harasses you again.”
“You didn't have to do that. Chad takes care of me,” she said, before she realized that she probably shouldn't have mentioned it, judging from the gloom that instantly crossed his face.
“Well, Chad is not here now, is he?” he snapped, as they reached her classroom.
She glanced at Chad's empty chair at the far corner. “I guess not.” She sighed, crestfallen, after spending the entire ride to school looking forward to seeing him again. “I don't know why you're so touchy when it comes to Chad.”
“I'm not touchy. I'm annoyed.” He glared at her.
“Why?” She knitted her brow. “What did Chad ever do to you?”
“Chad, Chad, Chad!” He swore under his breath. “I'm bloody sick and tired of hearing that name!”
“What's your problem?” her voice rose a notch.
He drew a deep breath and pursed his lips. “Look, Elizabeth. I don't want to fight, okay? We're leaving for England tomorrow and I just want to relax and enjoy the trip with you. Let's not argue. Let's just focus on having a great time, all right?”
She exhaled audibly, crossing her arms on her chest and nodded.
“Come here.” He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and kissing her on the lips. “I love you,” he whispered, looking into her eyes. “I'm so happy you're coming home with me.”
His heartfelt words made her feel sorry for her insensitivity to his feelings. He might never own up to it, but he was obviously crazy jealous about Chad and she knew that could only mean one thing: that he loved her more than he cared to admit. “I love you too.” She smiled, touching his cheek.
“I'll see you later.” He kissed her soundly once again.
“Today, we will discuss the Highest Royal Coven of Europe.” Sister Mary Clarendon underlined the subject on the whiteboard with a marker. “We all know that this coven is the most powerful, presiding over all the Ruling Royal Covens in every continent that form the Hierarchy. However, before its establishment many millenniums ago, the descendants of Willahelm and Elisha struggled with the savagery of some members of our kind.
“During the Early Dark Ages, unscrupulous Deimons were on a rampage, freely feasting on humans. Our population was increasing in alarming numbers and the majority was Hellions or Vampires—, humans infected with venom. Most of them were cast-offs by greedy Deimons, who bit and discarded them alive without finishing them off.”
“Sister Clarendon?” Jill raised a hand.
“Yes, Miss Weber?” The sister pointed her marker at the girl sitting next to Carlos.
“Did some of those Hellions come from the clan of the fallen female who was killed by King Eadmon?”
“Indeed, Miss Weber.” Sister Mary Clarendon dipped her head in acknowledgement. “The noble sons and daughters of Willahelm and Elisha saw their wastefulness and chaotic ways, and realized that if they did not take action, humankind would be eradicated and become extinct. If that happened, our feeding would shift towards wildlife, which would likewise eventually reach exhaustion in no time. Consequently, our species would reach the point of starvation and ultimately turn against each other for sustenance through cannibalism.
“In the end, our lives would degenerate to the survival of the fittest—, until we, ourselves, would also be in danger of extinction. You have to understand that we are all part of a symbiotic relationship with other species on Earth. We need to preserve each other in order to keep the balance of nature and survive.” The sister wrote Divine Providence on the board and underlined it for emphasis.
“Every heir to the crown of the Highest Royal Coven of Europe inherits the task as enforcer of the Omni's will: To act as protectors to the delicate balance of nature and maintain the peaceful co-existence of all creation. Because of this, they must ensure that their breed is of the utmost quality so they are strong enough to exercise dominion—, which brings us to the legend of the Pure One.”
“The Pure one?” Jared, who was sitting behind Lela asked. “Like Elisha? The lamb that turned into a maiden?”
“Correct, Mr. Crowe.” Sister Mary Clarendon nodded. “If you recall, the Omni promised that he would reinstate the Gift of Dominion to Willahelm and Elisha's children. For as long as they fulfilled the Divine Providence, the Omni would continually reunite them to restore the indomitability of their bloodline. Fortunately, Willahelm and Elisha's descendants have been diligent in satisfying the Omni's Will, hence, the Omni kept his word. Every hundred years, he sends down a Pure One to revitalize their bloodline through her offspring with her Twin Flame, optimizing their breed into the perfect, fittest specimen capable of implementing the Divine Providence.”
Elizabeth raised her pen. “Sister, if the Omni sends a Pure One every hundred years, does that mean there are many of them in existence?”
“Good question, Miss Hamilton, but no, there can only be one Pure One in existence at a time. Now, don't get confused. Yes, there have been many Pure Ones sent by the Omni over the centuries, but their ability to procreate offspring with perfect DNA only lasts until the arrival of the next Pure One.”
Elizabeth twirled her pen between her fingers. So, that was the reason why William and his cousins were first or second generation descendants! A female parent or grandparent was a Pure One!
“Sister Mary?” somebody called from the back row.
“Yes, Mr. Johnson?” The sister pointed to Ishmael.
“Were the other covens aware of the existence of the Pure One?”
“Oh, yes. The Pure One is documented in our history for thousands of years. It was a known fact that a Pure One conceived by a European Royal every hundred years made the reason for the Highest Royal Coven’s superior strength and indomitable powers possible. According to history, the Pure One has the most immaculate blood, an innocent who is untainted by wars, conflict, or evil. She has a destiny when she turns eighteen. There is a Royal Prince, her Twin Flame, who is destined to be her mate. Once they find each other, their union shall bear offspring of the purest bloodline, who in turn shall pass on their prime pedigree to their own children, and so on, up to the second generation.
“This is called the Purification, a process of renewal that renders the descendants of the Highest Royal Coven of Europe as powerful as their predecessors.”
“But what about the third generation and onwards?” Ben asked. “Are they still as strong?”
“No, and not nearly as gifted. The further the lineage goes the more the breed deteriorates in quality. This is due to the introduction of DNA from other bloodlines that marry into the clan, and are not direct descendants of a Pure One—, even if they are European Royalty or Nobility. However, all is not lost for the third to the fifth generation. The pedigree could still be salvaged by marrying a first or second degree direct descendant of a Pure One.”
“Why as far as the fifth generation?” Bret Kline asked. “Aren’t the fifth generation called Descendants of the First Water, and no longer considered Nobility?”
“Good observation, Mr. Kline. You are right. However, Descendants of the first water are children of Nobility and heirs to their rank, who still carry a significant caliber of good genes.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips as she chewed on the subject. Didn't Chad mention that he was a Fifth Generation Descendant? If so, then his parents are Nobility, which means he is European! Then, why on Earth did he say he's from Mansfield, Connecticut, and talked with an American accent? She twirled her pen between her fingers more rapidly.
“Sister Mary, I'm just wondering—,” Lela said, “if the other Covens knew of the Pure One as the source for the Highest Royal Coven of Europe's powers, wouldn't they be interested in her?”
“Precisely, Miss Ikeda. She is so rare and serves such an important purpose that the enemies of the Highest Royal Coven seek to hunt her. They believe the only way to defeat the Coven is to prevent the Purification, which will eventually weaken their bloodline. So to ensure her safety, the Pure One is sheltered beyond measure. Her identity is kept secret by her parents and even she doesn't know who she is, until it is time for her to fulfill her destiny. Once she marries her Twin Flame at eighteen, she is kept at the palace, bearing her children in confinement until the next Pure One comes. Yes, it might sound like a dreary existence, but it is necessary. You see, even though she has the most powerful blood, she has a fatal weakness—, her pure heart. Her gentle nature renders her incapable of defending herself in battle, which makes her an easy target.”
“Sister, have there been any attempts on a Pure One?” Julie Anne asked.
“Yes, once.” Sister Mary Clarence paced between the rows with her hands behind her back. “It was the year 1894 and King Edmund Aldrich the eleventh, the reigning ruler at that time, was getting worried about his son, Prince Edmund Royce the twelfth, his sole heir to the throne of the Highest Royal Coven of Europe.
“Prince Edmund Royce had just turned one hundred-fifty years old and was still unmarried. Many Princesses were matched to him, but none of them captured his attention. The King was anxious that he would never marry and the succession to the throne would be put to a standstill. Then one day, the Prince's first cousin, son of King Edmund Aldrich's younger sister, came for a visit. With him, was his wife Princess Mary and their newborn son, whom they wanted to present to the King. His wife’s beautiful young cousin by the name of Lady Elizabeth Gwendolyn also came with them.
“Upon seeing Lady Elizabeth Gwendolyn, Prince Edmund Royce declared that she was the woman he was going to marry to the utter shock of the King, his cousin and the royal court. Everyone was even more astonished to discover that Lady Elizabeth Gwendolyn was a Pure One and Prince Edmund Royce was her Twin Flame, whom she had been searching for. Yes, Mr., Guerrero?” Sister Mary Clarendon pointed at Carlos.
“How did they know she was the Pure One?”
“The legend says, “She who is born bearing the Black Pearl of Hope and the Mark of the Gods, will descend to find her Twin Flame.” Every hundred years, there is one European royal female holding a black pearl in her hands at birth. When it is time to fulfill her destiny, a distinct mark on the back of her neck appears.”
“W-what is the mark?” Elizabeth’s heart began to pound.
“A perfect circle.” Sister Mary Clarendon traced a circular pattern with her forefinger in the air. “Otherwise known as the Mark of the Omni, the All- Powerful.”
Elizabeth gasped, feeling the distinct outline at the back of her neck with her hand that was undoubtedly their subject.
“Is anything wrong?” Ben whispered next to her. “You look like you've just been hit by a flying fetus.”
“I-I'm fine,” she mumbled, unable to recover from the blow that had just been delivered, as she grasped the truth of her identity.
“Now, to continue,” Sister Mary Clarendon said, shifting Elizabeth's attention back to the discussion. “After Prince Edmund Royce and Lady Elizabeth Gwendolyn married, Prince Edmund Royce was declared King of the Highest Royal Coven of Europe, succeeding his father who was happy to retire.
“Everyone waited for the new Queen to conceive, but years passed and decades came and went, and still—, nothing. The European Coven was confused with this unusual length of time. Their bloodline was getting weaker and they were getting impatient, yearning for the Purification. Then finally, after a century, Queen Elizabeth Gwendolyn became pregnant. The Highest Royal Coven was overcome with joy. To protect her, they put her in seclusion at the Royal Palace. Only the Royal families could come to see her. King Edmund Royce stayed by her side.
“Queen Elizabeth Gwendolyn was almost two months pregnant when the King of Australia, King Tristan the Twelfth, and his cousin, John Drake, the Duke of Northern Peninsula, paid a visit. King Edmund Royce was particularly fond of King Tristan. He was a close ally, a good man, and a friend. On the other hand, his cousin, John Drake, was ambitious and cunning.
“Unbeknownst to the Kings, John Drake coveted the power and status of the Highest Royal Coven and had been organizing his own underground army. That morning, while King Edmund Royce and King Tristan were in repose, he abducted Queen Elizabeth Gwendolyn with the threat of harming her unborn child if she didn't cooperate. By sundown, the Highest Royal Coven realized what he had done and deployed the European Royal Army to search for them. King Edmund Royce was devastated. Equally, the good King Tristan was riddled with guilt for introducing a traitor into the palace and pledged his own army to search every corner of the world to bring the Queen back.”
“Did they ever find them?” Carlos asked.
“No. That was seventeen years ago and to this day, no one knows where they are or what had happened to the Queen and her unborn child.”
Elizabeth began making calculations in her head. So many things couldn't all be a coincidence. Seventeen years ago—, that was in 1994, the year she was born. The black pearl, the mark on her nape, Elizabeth Gwendolyn—, her mother's name, her father's absence—, which her mother never satisfactorily explained . . .
“What about King Edmund Royce?” Debbie Parks asked, startling Elizabeth back to the discussion. “Whatever happened to him?”
“He was so disheartened that he went into seclusion. King Tristan frequently visited and consoled him, but to no avail. It was a sad, dark time fo
r the Highest Royal Coven of Europe. Eventually, after four years, the Supreme Royal Council asked King Edmund Royce to step down and crown his successor. By this time, the Queen was presumed dead and her title had been relegated to Duchess.”
“K-King Edmund Royce—” Elizabeth swallowed the mass that bunched in her throat. “I-is he still alive?”
“Yes, but nothing much was heard from him after he retired.”
“Who succeeded him?” Bret Kline asked.
“His first cousin, King William James the Thirteenth, who visited in 1894 with his wife and newborn child, whom we now know as Prince William Erik the Fourteenth, sole heir to the throne.”
Elizabeth covered her mouth as a sudden onslaught of nausea churned in her gut. All at once, the pieces of the puzzle comprising her life fit into place. She had just discovered that she was the Pure One and undoubtedly, she was the unborn daughter of King Edmund Royce at the time her mother, Queen Elizabeth Gwendolyn, was abducted. Prince William, obviously, was her destiny—, her Twin Flame. He had come to America specifically to find her.
Her mother and the school administrators apparently knew this all along—, which accounted for that private meeting with Sir Henry and his Councilors. It was all a set-up. Everything was premeditated, manipulated, and intended to produce the outcome that everyone—, including the Prince, had anticipated.
As for herself, she knew nothing except the lies she'd been fed. Every single freaking thing was a fabrication from her identity, to the love she so foolishly thought Prince William reciprocated, which turned out to mean nothing—nothing, but a fulfillment of his obligation. To make matters worse, she suddenly realized in dismay, they were second cousins! She vaguely recalled what her friends told her, about how European Royals intermarried only within their clans to preserve their pure breed. Royals are zero percent human, Ben had said, human stuff does not apply to their equation.