Chapter 66
“Do you think it will work?” Seraphina’s eyes followed Isobella as she paced back and forth.
Pausing momentarily to face Seraphina, she gnawed at the thumb nail trapped between her teeth before she continued to pace again, the clacking of her heels against the stone floor echoed through the room.
“I…I don’t know. It’s worth a try, anything is worth a try at this point… it’s just…” her eyes shifted to glance at Aurelia flanking Seraphina.
She nodded at Isobella to continue and placed a hand over her stomach.
Isobella’s shoulders relaxed for a brief second before tension shot straight back up into her.
“Does the possible outcome outweigh the risks; Seraphina I don’t know how using the magic will affect the baby. We don’t even know how long is left of your pregnancy, I have been able to sense it for 2 weeks, your pregnancy with the twins was what, barely 3 months? I can sense this child has more power, what if the magic use puts the baby at risk or induces you? Are we even sure Achilles is still alive?”
“Yes.”
Isobella came to a screeching halt.
“I can sense him; our bond is still alive. When my parents were killed, Achilles knew I was still alive despite what the rumours would try and have him believe. He could feel our bond. I didn’t know it then, but he lent me his strength during my years of enslavement. That’s why I carried on living, why I found strength to face each day. He gave me my strength and courage, he always thought it was because of my dragon but, I know it was him.” There was no hesitation in her words, only confidence and determination.
Seraphina closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, her mind raced as her anxiety levels grew and visions of Achilles flashed through her mind.
As she blew out her breath, she opened her eyes as a hardness set into them, she needed Isobella to be onside, to understand how much she needed Achilles back.
“It’s my turn to do the same for him, he needs my strength until we can get him home. Gods only know what Briseis is doing to him. It is imperative that we find him and bring him back, now.”
A wide grin spread across Aurelia’s face as she jumped up from her seat and stretched her arms out.
“Well, that’s fighting talk if I’ve ever heard it!”
Seraphina could see the mixed emotions as they contorted Isobella’s face, she held her hand up palm facing her as Isobella started to open her mouth.
“I will give you my blood, I will write the incantation but, I won’t perform any magic. I won’t even shift if that makes you feel more comfortable.”
Isobella finally let her tension go as her shoulders dropped and she blew out a sigh of relief. Seraphina could see the blood around her thumb where she had chewed her nail right down to the nail bed and tore into her own flesh.
She couldn’t ignore the wave of guilt that washed over her, Isobella was her blood, her family and her friend. She had offered her sanctuary at the manor, a place to live without fear or worry and yet, Seraphina had dragged her and the others into her turmoil time and time again.
As if reading her mind, Isobella’s face softened as she stepped towards Seraphina and cupped her face.
“I would do anything for you, we all would. You never should’ve had the upbringing you had, you never should’ve been confused about who or what you are, we should have been there for you. You have nothing to feel guilty about, nor do I. These are just the cards we’ve been dealt and we have to work with them the best we can.”
Seraphina leant in to Isobella’s touch, a brief smile played on her face.
“I think we should be able to use a variation of the protection spell I used on the Dhampir children. We can’t use locator spells on Achilles but, you could use one on me,” she held a finger up as Isobella opened her mouth to speak.
“I’m not going anywhere in person, you can astral project me. I need to see Achilles; I need to know he is okay. From there, you can use a tracking spell on me and we should be able to find him-“
“-them,” Aurelia’s face was deadpan as her eyes met Seraphina’s.
She could feel her blood still in her veins as Aurelia’s cold and calculating tone stirred a great terror within her.
“We will find *them* and *I* will take immense pleasure in taking that little whore’s life and if I have my way, it won’t be a quick death, oh no, she will be begging for the mercy of my fangs before I even get started with her punishments. On my honour, she will enter the grave screaming and crying and her soul, if she even has one, will remain in a state of fear and torture for the rest of eternity, ” Aurelia’s face twisted into a cruel smirk.
To add to her already growing fear and caution, a harrowing chill crept up Seraphina’s back.
It was widely known that Aurelia had been nicknamed Azrael on the battle field but she looked like no angel right now. No, she looked almost demonic, her blue eyes seemingly turned to ice as her plans for Briseis’ demise ran through her mind.
Isobella gulped past the lump in her throat as she turned her attention back to Seraphina.
“Uhm… I think it’s time we collect your blood and gather the others.”
Still shaken by Aurelia’s promises, she nodded her head and stood to her feet.
“Aurelia can’t enter the alter room so meet us in the study. I will collect a blade and any herbs we might need.”
Isobella pushed her fear aside and with a new found determination, she closed her eyes as she sent her mind message to the others mages.
“We will meet you there.” Isobella began to leave the room before pausing in the doorway.
“Seraphina? The others will be able to sense your pregnancy now if they haven’t already. Our kind is almost at extinction and so pregnancy is usually a cause for a celebration, would you like me to tell them to remain quiet about it until you are ready?”
A soft smile adorned Seraphina’s lips and she nodded her head.
“Yes, thank you. I think Achilles needs to know before I share it with anyone else.”
“Very well then,” Isobella forced a smile before turning on her heel.
Once the echoing of Isobella’s footsteps had disappeared down the hallway, Seraphina let her whole-body sag to the floor as she finally succumbed to the weight of her worries, guilt and ever-growing fear.
Firm hands gripped her shoulders before dragging her up and sitting her on a soft, padded seat.
She kept her head lowered, not looking up to meet Aurelia’s watchful gaze.
“Look at me.”
Seraphina shook her head as she squoze her eyes tightly shut.
“Seraphina, I said look at me!” There was a sternness, an authority in Aurelia’s voice that she could not ignore, her command almost acting as an invisible hand, guiding her chin up against her will.
“I understand that you are worried and you are frightened but, Seraphina you are strong! Where is the girl that stormed the De-Buccleuch manor and burned her foes alive? Where is she hmm? You have so much to fight for! A son who adores you, a babe in your womb, a fated love who would walk to the end of the earth for you and a family who will do whatever it takes to protect you-“
Aurelia’s words were jabbing at Seraphina’s heart, with each blow she took, her shoulders seemed to straighten back ever so slightly.
“-and if thinking of what you have does not motivate you, think of what she has taken! She took your babies, Afriel and Charmeine never even got to take their first breath!” Aurelia’s ocean blue eyes shone like jewels under the film of tears that were threatening to spill.
Her words cut through the guilt, the self-pity, the fear and blew on an ember within Seraphina, now was not the time to be weak, now was not the time to shed tears of sorrow. Now was the time to fight, to avenge and to protect those around her.
With closed eyes, she clenched her fists at her sides before rising to her feet. With the familiar burning in her chest, she knew her eyes would’ve turned silver by now.
Aurelia’s words came to an abrupt stop as she was pinned by Seraphina’s gaze.
“You are right. Now is not the time to be crippled by fear. Instead, I will allow my fear to fuel me, along with my love and my pain. I have lost too much, Briseis has taken too much from me. Not again, not anymore. I am Princess Seraphina, I am the future Queen, I am a Mage, I am a Dhampir, I am the dragon, I AM A DEMI GOD AND I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!”