Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Elari

“So what’s so important that you-“ I didn’t even get to finish asking as my friends turned towards me. Looks of shock and awe on all of their faces. I froze.

There was something in their looks that made my heart beat just a little too fast. Issi especially looked put out.

“We’ve been doing a little research.” Rowan dropped the heavy leather book into the middle of the table and took her seat. Leaving me and Rivan to just stand there. “And we think we’ve found out something.”

Issi continued to glare at me. Rivan squeezed my fingers.

“Why don’t you take a seat so we can all discuss it.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Rivan start. “That’s sounds ominous. Are we in trouble.”

“Of course not.” Rowan said with a smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Not you anyway.” Issi snapped. “Elari has some explaining to do.”

They knew.

Letting go of Rivans hand I folded myself into one of the chairs with a sigh. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I lied and even to my ears it didn’t sound sincere.

“We aren’t mad at you for lying to us.” Rowan said again.

“I’m a little mad.” Issi hissed.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Rivan asked.

“She’s the heir to the old line of kings.” Issi whisper hissed.

“What?”

I could feel Rivan's eyes on me in shock but I didn’t turn to him or even try and make some excuse. I was too busy looking around. They had chosen a table at the very back of the library. Away from everyone else but I still didn’t want to have this conversation here.

In fact I didn’t want to have this conversation anywhere. I didn't even want to think about it.

“What?” Rivan clutched at my hand. Drawing my attention back to him with a snap of my eyes. “They're wrong aren’t they? Please tell me they are wrong.”

Eyes glued to the table and not at my friends accusing eyes, I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “We shouldn’t talk about it here.” I mumbled.

“It’s safe. No one is around. I made sure of it. We just want to know if it’s true.” Rowan mumbled.

Taking a deep breath that did nothing to settle my nerves or slow down my rapidly beating heart, I lifted my head. “Yeah I think so.”

“You think?” Issi’s voice rose. Causing everyone else to throw glances at her. “How can you not know?” She lowered her voice  to a whisper. “How can you not know that you are a-“

It was my turn to glare at her. She was meant to be my friend but she wasn’t looking at me like a friend and I was tired of it. “I didn’t know my dad. My mom always said he was some loser who just ran off. She didn’t talk about him. I mean I could tell growing up that she loved him.” I said in a rush. “But anytime I asked, she shut down and got sad. I learnt not to ask. It was only when I came here and- well I think I saw him.” That was a lie I knew I had seen and spoken to him. Seen once but spoke to him twice. Not that my friends needed to know about that. I was allowed some secrets.

“But I didn’t know before. I promise you I didn’t.” I turned my attention to the Rowan. “But how did you know? Is it common knowledge?”

She shook her head, her eyes wide in her pale freckled face. “No, it took a lot of reading and me knowing you. And of course there was this.”

Flicking open the book to one of the end pages she pushed it towards me. Suddenly I didn’t want to look but at the same time my eye couldn’t help but drop to the old vellum pages.

Their love will be eternal

Their souls forever entwined

And when the ever Winter meets the flame

The world will -

My head snapped up. “What does the last bit say? It’s all been scribbled out?”

“No idea but it sounds like a prophecy doesn’t it? Your mom and your dad. The king.”

Issi glared, a line appeared between her eyebrows. “You mad king tyrant of a father.” She spat.

I lost it. “What is your problem? I didn’t know. And I sure as hell can’t help who my parents are” I snapped. “And this could be about anyone. It doesn’t prove anything.”

“Turn the page.” Theo said in a whisper. It was the first thing that he had said since we arrived.

My hands trembled as I did. And there was a picture. An old fashioned Polaroid that had been stuck to the pages of the ancient book with yellowing tape. I stared at it with my mouth open because there was my mom. Looking happily at a tall man who had his arms around her and was looking down at-

Me.

That was me as a baby. All podgy arms and legs and wide blue grey eyes.

This was a photograph of my family. And we had been happy. At least they had looked happy.

They looked like they had been in love.

And scrawled in cursive I could barely read was two words.

EVER WINTER

Holy fuck.

“That is your mom isn’t it?” Rivan asked. And I could feel his eyes on my face.

“Yeah.” There was no point denying it.

“And that’s the old rogue king, and the baby is-“ Rowan  tapped my face in the picture. “That’s you.”

I rolled my lips under my teeth to wet them. Not that it made any difference. “Yeah.”

“You’re the kings daughter. You’re family is-“

“My mother is my family and-“

“Bull.” There was the sound of a chair scraping back with an ear splitting sound and Theo jumped to his feet. “Bullshit Elari. Your family is the ever winter. You have murderous blood in your veins.” Wildly he looked around. “I’m sorry, I know this isn’t you fault.” He said quieter. “But I can’t do this. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t even grab his bag as he rushed away. I watched him go. Tears prickled my eyes.

“I should go and make sure he is ok.” Issi left as well. She didn’t even look at me.

“This is hard for Theo. Finding out who you are.” Rivan said and he didn’t sound like himself either. Two of my friends had already left, and the two that were left were looking at me like they wanted to run.

“I haven’t done anything wrong.” I whispered. My voice choked with tears.

“No but your father executed several of his family. The mad king murdered them.”