Chapter 16 My Blood
I needed to find out what it was so I could learn to control it. I could keep it a secret. So I picked up another book, bigger than all the others. Its cover was black and red, a mixture forming an ivory color. There was a large, eye-catching drawing in the center.
It was a circle, and inside the circle was a drop. Next to it was the symbol of a lightning bolt, both symbols separated by a curved line. The whole drawing was in red. I ran my fingers around the symbol, finding it strangely familiar.
I opened the book and came across the title. Hybrids. So that symbol on the cover was the symbol of hybrids. Maybe that's why it seemed so familiar. Had I seen it at some point in my life? I started flipping through the pages and became confused. I flipped through everything quickly, and the frustration increased with each page seen.
Blank. The book was completely blank. There was nothing but the title. I sighed in discontent. Was that all I had? Just a blank book? What kind of joke was that? Why would they keep a blank book?
"It's a forbidden book, Your Majesty." I hear a deep voice behind me.
I stand up quickly, dropping the book in fright. I see Richard a few steps away, and I calm down. I see his bandaged hand and lower my gaze in embarrassment. I bend down to pick up the book, and Richard hurries to help me.
Richard picks up the book and places it on the table. His attention returns to me, looking at me attentively.
"How's your hand?" I ask worriedly, staring at the bandages.
"Don't worry, I heal quickly. Soon I won't need the bandages anymore." He replies with a gentle smile.
"I'm so sorry about that, Richard. I spoke to Conrad, explained that nothing happened. That you were just helping me. There was no need to act so roughly." I say sincerely.
"No need to apologize. If it were me, I would react the same way. Maybe much worse." He says with a smile and an intense look.
I look away and move further away from him, bothered by the way he was looking at me.
"I was just curious to know more about my people. I wanted to know the basics before the presentation party." I invent some excuse for having that book in my hands.
"I understand, Your Majesty. It's good to know you're interested in your people, but this is the wrong book." He says, staring at the book about hybrids.
"Wrong?" I ask, wanting to understand the reason for his negative expression.
"Hybrids are forbidden in our kingdom. They are too unpredictable, too strong, and not subject to alpha authority. That's why they were banished a long time ago. They weren't trustworthy. King Conrad's grandfather was responsible for the expulsion and extermination of the hybrid species."
"Extermination?" I ask, my mouth agape.
"Most people believe the hybrids were completely exterminated," he replies, shrugging.
"But don't you?" I look at his expression, which seemed thoughtful.
"I don't believe that such a well-structured people were defeated so easily. It's like believing that King Conrad could easily be replaced by any old wolf. No. Royalty is something structured," he explains his thoughtful point, while running his fingers over the symbol of the hybrids.
"Do you believe they still have structure? Enough structure to return?" I ask, looking at him curiously.
"I don't know. But if they had structure, they would have many advantages."
"Why do you say that?" I ask curiously.
"We know absolutely nothing about them," he replies while flipping through the blank book. "You can't fight against something you don't know," he states the obvious.
I sigh wearily, understanding his thoughts and agreeing.
"But there's no need to worry about that, Your Majesty. We are structured and strong. We will overcome anything that comes against our kingdom." Richard speaks confidently, proudly.
I nod briefly, staring at the book on the table.
"Only hybrids can read it, right?" I put the puzzle together.
"I believe so, Your Majesty," he replies, looking at me curiously.
I continue staring at the book. If, like Richard, I couldn't read anything, does that mean I'm not a hybrid? Could these strange things just be a figment of my imagination?
An extremely fertile imagination, I think.
"Do you need help with something, Your Majesty?" Richard's voice brings me back to reality, and I see him looking at me attentively. "My father was the guardian of the kingdom's books; they came here after his death. But he taught me many things," Richard says, drawing my attention.
"I'm sorry for your loss," I say sincerely, and receive a grateful smile in return. "Do you have any books about the history of our Kingdom? One that perhaps includes the history of hybrids?"
"The former king forbade any mention of the hybrid species. Perhaps some enchanted books speak of it, but they are not under our control." He explains, and I nod with my head down.
"I understand. I appreciate your help and apologize once again," I say, pointing to his arm.
"It was a pleasure to see you again, Your Majesty," Richard says, and I simply return his smile.
I saw that my questions had made him thoughtful. But I had no choice; I needed answers. I needed to understand what was happening so as not to harm Conrad. If I was truly a hybrid, what would they do if I were discovered?
Conrad could be seen as a traitor, who brought filthy blood into the royal family. Everything he had achieved was at stake. I couldn't risk it. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him because of me.
I hide behind a column near the library and wait for Richard to leave. Only when he leaves do I go back in and grab the book. I quickly climb the stairs and lock myself in my room. I still had some time before Conrad returned, and I had to figure out how to read that book.
"There must be some secret," I whisper to myself, flipping through the book. "Reveal your secrets!" I say louder, addressing the book.
"Great try," Harper teases me in my head.
"Try better," I say impatiently.
"It's a book full of secrets, Maya. Do you really think you'll read it with simple words?" she asks me.
I become thoughtful. Harper was right. I needed to think like a hybrid. What would I do if I only wanted hybrids to read that book?
"I would demand confirmation," I say louder, concluding in my thoughts. "I would demand proof. I would demand hybrid blood."