78. LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

I'm in my room, pacing restlessly. I recognize that man as the same one from the visions my mother had, the one who caused her suffering. His features haven't changed at all since then.

But what is he doing here, in Alaric's castle? And how do they know each other? These questions echo in my mind, making me even more restless. I need to understand what's happening, but I don't know where to start.

I open the door to my room, coming face to face with Zion and his serious expression, which only turns enough to look at me.

"Zion, I thought you were going to bed," I murmur, glancing at my sister sleeping peacefully in the bed. I step out of the room and close the door slowly.

"No, sleeping will be the last thing I do now. Danger is in the same territory," Zion responds, his deep voice echoing in the corridor. The seriousness in his tone only increases my restlessness. What is happening here?

"I need to talk to Alaric, is he where I can go? Since from what I see, you'll be here guarding all night." I bite my cheek inwardly, looking into Zion's eyes.

"He's in the library, you can go there." Zion is straightforward in his tone, leaving me intrigued.

I take a deep breath, leaving Zion behind; he seems to be isolating himself after our return. I start walking towards the library, which is in the same wing as mine. The corridors are wide and silent, and I feel a slight shiver run down my spine as I approach.

Upon entering the library, I am met with rows and rows of shelves, filled with books that seem to whisper ancient secrets. I begin to wander the aisles, searching for Alaric among the gaps in the shelves, but he seems to have skillfully hidden himself.

With each step I take, my frustration grows until a specific book catches my attention. It's partially hidden among other volumes, but something about it irresistibly draws me in.

I approach and pick up the book, feeling its familiar texture beneath my fingers. It seems to pulse with a subtle energy, as if it's waiting to be discovered. The pages are dark, as if made of ancient paper. I delicately run my fingers over them, ready to delve into the content.

A gentle breeze brushes against my face, subtly swaying a strand of hair. Before I can continue exploring the book, I sense Alaric's presence behind me. His lips graze my ear as he whispers, his voice laden with mystery, "This book is more than it seems at first glance, young lady. It holds ancient secrets that can reveal many things."

His closeness quickens my heart, and I turn my face to meet his intense gaze.

"Just as you need to tell me many things, starting with this man who is here in the castle," I retort, feeling the urgency for answers weigh upon my body.

Alaric walks over to the table near the large window and sits in the chair, intertwining his fingers, watching me closely.

"Always so eager for answers, young lady. You don't need to know who he is, not now," he responds, his voice more controlled than usual.

My expression hardens as I stare at him. "I know who he is, Alaric," I reveal, seeing surprise flicker in his eyes. "His name is Elijah."

There is a moment of silence as Alaric processes my words. His lips tighten into a thin line, and a gleam of intrigue shines in his gaze.

"How do you know his name?" he asks, softening his voice, but the tension that settles between us is as palpable as the weather outside.

I lean my hands on the table, bending my body towards him, never breaking the intensity of my gaze upon his.

"I know his name because... because he has been in my visions, Alaric," I confess, feeling a knot form in my throat as the words spill out.

Alaric's gaze intensifies; he untangles his fingers, placing his hands on the sides of the chair, surprise taking over his face.

"Elijah... he was in your visions? But why didn't you tell me this before?" he questions, his voice heavy with something else, something I can't quite identify.

"I didn't know how to deal with it, Alaric. And... and I didn't know what it meant until now," I admit, vulnerability weighing heavily with each word. "But I need answers. I need to know why he's here, what he wants."

Alaric stares at me for a long moment, his gaze piercing as if he's reading every thought in my mind. He sighs, nodding slowly.

"How did you start having these visions?" Alaric asks, his voice gentle as he stands up and walks slowly towards me. For a moment, I avert our gaze, feeling the weight of the necklace around my neck. Should I mention that this necklace is related to the visions I've been having for some time?

"Was it you who gave me this necklace?" I ask, my voice wavering as I meet his gaze so close to mine.

He looks at the necklace I hold, shaking his head before returning to meet my eyes. The silent denial leaves me unsettled, a strange sensation forming in my chest.

"This necklace is not like the others; normally, I would gift one with a pink ruby, this one is red, as if there's blood inside. Was it because of it that the visions started?" Alaric questions, his voice soft but laden with concern.

I feel a shiver run down my spine as I stare at him, trying to comprehend what is happening. The weight of the necklace in my hands feels more intense now, as if it's carrying secrets I'm even more unaware of.

"I... I don't know," I murmur, struggling to find the right words. "But since I started wearing this necklace, the visions have become more frequent and intense."

"What happened when you traveled with Castiel?" I ask, taking a step towards him to shorten the distance between us. I can't help but be close to him; it's as if I need to be near him, yearning for his touch that hasn't come yet. Since the moment he managed to bring me back, after showing signs of distress, but becoming completely different when using my sister to force my decision.

"You were in danger, weren't you?" my voice comes out almost as a whisper, but the words are firm. "I saw someone holding your neck, threatening you."

"Not exactly, tell me about these visions. How did you see Elijah?" Alaric responds, but the tone of his voice changes, becoming huskier.

"The visions... they started when I began wearing this necklace," I begin to explain, holding the object in my hands as if seeking comfort in it. "It seems to have belonged to my mother, whom I just found out was a mystic."

"But what does that have to do with Elijah?" He questions, looking again at the necklace, furrowing his brows in intrigue.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the truth I'm about to reveal. I step away from Alaric, walking towards the bookshelves, delicately running my fingers over them.

"My mother and he had some kind of relationship, something similar to ours. If I can even label what we have as a relationship," I confess, letting the words echo in the tense silence of the library.

Alaric remains silent, leaning against the table, crossing his arms over his chest. I pause beside the bookshelf, looking at him, waiting for some word, but none comes. He just stares at me with a gaze so penetrating it makes my body weaken.

"Your sister is also a mystic, young lady," he finally says, his voice deep and firm, without hesitation. "And she knows much more than you imagine. The only difference is that she is pure, born to mystic parents."

I'm stunned by the revelation, unable to fully process what I just heard. How does Alaric know about my sister? And what else does he know that he hasn't told me yet? Questions swirl in my mind, but before I can form a response, Alaric continues.

"But now is not the time for more questions," he says, his voice sounding like a gentle command. "I need you to be careful with Elijah... He is pure, a vampire who was born that way, so he possesses many powers, and one of them is manipulation."

A chill runs down my spine as I absorb his words. I know I need to stay away from him, but I wish to understand the reason behind all this protection, and how it involves Alaric, my mother, and me.

My eyes widen as I recall the last vision, where my mother appeared pregnant, and the question escapes my lips: "Is it possible to get pregnant by a vampire?"

Alaric places his hands on the edge of the table, staring at me, the muscles in his arms tensing, veins bulging, emphasizing his seriousness.

"Only pure vampires can impregnate a woman, whether she's a pureblood vampire, human, or mystic," he states firmly, without hesitation, conveying the gravity of the situation.

A whirlwind of thoughts floods my mind as I try to assimilate this information. If my mother had a relationship with Elijah, does that mean he's a pure vampire, hence her pregnancy? But where could that child be? Did my mother even have it?

Questions pile up in my mind, but before I can express any more doubts, Alaric continues, his expression serious, as if he knows something more.

"You know more than you're letting on, don't you?" I question, moving close enough to stand between his legs.

He scans my face with his gaze, pausing for a moment on my lips before returning his attention to my eyes.

"Perhaps, young lady," he responds, his voice soft and enigmatic. He remains in the same position, not moving a muscle towards me, and I wonder why he seems distant from me, after all the desperation to have me back?