87. "RITUAL THAT BREAKS THE BOND".

My breathing becomes irregular, each breath harder than the last. I take a few steps back, my hand pressing against my chest, feeling my heart beating frantically. Alaric's revelation, the weight of what my mother planned, and now, the truth about my origins—it's all too much.

"I... I am Elijah's daughter?" The question escapes my lips before I can fully process it, a trembling whisper that cuts through the silence between us. Alaric stands before me, his eyes filled with concern and something I can't quite identify—is it fear? Resentment?

The idea pounds in my head, making everything seem surreal. How can I be the daughter of the man who has been the source of so much pain and conflict in our lives? How can I carry the blood of someone like Elijah in my veins?

My thoughts whirl, uncontrolled, and I feel panic beginning to take hold.

"I can't... this can't be true," I stammer, struggling to maintain composure. Every part of me wants to deny, to escape from this reality that feels so cruel.

Alaric takes a step towards me, his hands outstretched as if to calm me, but I hesitate, pulling back even further.

"Nyra, please, calm down." He tries to approach again, causing me to retreat once more.

"You... you always knew, didn't you?" My voice falters as I look at him. He knew, yes, he knew without a doubt, which is why I came here.

Alaric hesitates for a moment, a glimpse of conflict crossing his face before he decides to speak the truth.

"Yes, I knew," he finally admits, his voice low. "When I found out about you, it was initially part of a plan... a sacrifice I thought necessary for my freedom."

I feel like the ground has disappeared beneath my feet. "So all of this..."

"Wait, let me explain," Alaric interrupts, raising a hand to ask for patience. "It changed, young lady. When I saw you, when I tasted your blood for the first time, something in me changed. It was no longer about the plan or the sacrifice. Something inside me, something I thought was long dead, awakened. I started to feel again, to care again."

I see the sincerity in his eyes, and despite the shock and pain, a part of me wants to believe him, wants to find some solace in his words.

"You're saying that... your feelings are genuine?"

"Yes, young lady," he confirms fervently. "I can't deny that initially you were part of a plan to rid me of Elijah, but that changed. You changed everything, Nyra. And now, none of that matters anymore. Not the way it did before."

The revelation is a bitter balm—painful, yet somehow relieving. "And what about the bond with Elijah? Does he know about this? Does he know that your plans were always to break that bond?"

Alaric hesitates for a moment, stepping away from me, visibly unsettled by the topic.

"Elijah always knew about you, always knew he had a daughter with Elysia, your mother's true name. She was the daughter of the Orion Clan leader, one of the greatest clans that served him for centuries." Alaric stops by the window, gazing out at the landscape before him. "He was never a man to love, but rather dark, always seeking power. Your mother never had the initiation ceremony, as leaders' daughters were always part of sacrifice, for his power."

Alaric adjusts his posture, clearly seeking the right words to explain the complexity of the real reason for us having this conversation.

"When your mother fled, Nyra, nobody knew she was pregnant except her bodyguard, who was part of the Orion clan and helped her escape. At that time, I had no idea that a woman could carry a child of a vampire. All of that was just legends and rumors to me."

He looks outward, through the window, as if trying to visualize the past.

"Years later, during one of my travels in search of a concubine who could help me break my bond with Elijah, a woman stopped me. She spoke of a legend that could aid me in freeing myself from the vampire I deeply loathed."

He turns back to me again, his eyes heavy with memory.

"This woman said I would need to find a 19-year-old girl, someone who could be the key to my freedom. Desperate for any possibility of escaping Elijah's control, I consulted a witch who revealed to me about the legend, showing me a painting. It was he who located you, Nyra. You were the woman of the legend."

I feel my heart beat faster, each revelation adding weight to the reality of my destiny.

"So, when you found me... you were seeking the key to your freedom?" Alaric nods slowly, his expression pained.

"Yes, that's what I thought at the time. But, Nyra, since I met you, since all of this began, my perspective has changed. At first, I was blinded by my need to free myself from Elijah, but the more I got to know you, the more I realized there was something more between us beyond prophecies and destinies."

He takes a step toward me, his hands gently holding mine.

"What started as a selfish quest for freedom has turned into something I didn't expect: a true connection. I began to feel differently about you, to want you to love me in return. You changed everything, Nyra."

My emotions are in turmoil, trying to digest the truth. My mind is confused; this isn't what I expected from the conversation I decided to have with him.

"And now?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"Now I fight, Nyra. It's the only thing left for me now," Alaric says firmly. "I want to confront Elijah, not just as an attempt to break a bond, but to protect something that has become infinitely more important to me— you."

I lower my gaze, letting the tears stream down my face, breaking the facade of strength I tried to maintain. Alaric's words resonate within me, deep and sincere, and a new wave of emotion hits me.

"Do you really think we can defeat Elijah, after everything he's done, after everything he is?" Alaric gently lifts my chin with his hand, causing me to meet his gaze.

"Young lady, I believe we can. It won't be easy, and there will be risks, but now we have each other. You're not just the key to my freedom; you've given me something to fight for, something more valuable than my own life." His words warm my heart, even as fear and uncertainty linger.

"And what about the bond? What about the power he holds over you?" Alaric sighs, a shadow of concern passing through his eyes.

"I am still bound to him, that's true. But since I've been drinking your blood, I maintain a control I've never had before." He touches my face, sliding his thumb along my cheek. "I've been trying to reach out to the witch I know, but I haven't been successful for some time."

While Alaric's words still resonate within me, a sudden memory crosses my mind, bringing a gust of hope.

"Wait, Alaric. I think I know who can help us break the bond," I say, my voice gaining a more determined tone.

"Who?" Alaric looks at me curiously, hope sparking in his eyes.

"My mother's diary," I reply, remembering that I brought it with me. "I brought it to your room earlier. My mother knew a lot about magic and rituals. There might be something in there that could interest you."

Quickly, I walk over to the table where I left the diary earlier. I open it carefully, flipping through the pages filled with handwritten notes and drawings. Alaric approaches, looking over my shoulder, equally interested.

"Look here," I say, pointing to a section describing a complex ritual. "Anna and I found this ritual in the diary... it's a bond-breaking ritual. But it's not a common one. It requires something specific to work."

"What does it require?" Alaric looks at me, raising an eyebrow, waiting for my response.

"The blood of a pure vampire and the blood of a vampire who has rebelled," I explain, showing him my mother's detailed notes. "The diary describes that these components, when combined in a specific ritual, have the power to break even the strongest bonds imposed by ancient magic."

Alaric absorbs the information, his gaze alternating between the diary and me. "This... this means we need Elijah's blood and my blood," he concludes.

"Not necessarily his." I break into a wide smile, looking directly into his eyes. Turning my body to face him, with only the diary separating our bodies.

"What do you mean?" Alaric looks at me confused, clearly trying to follow my reasoning.

"Since I am Elijah's daughter," I say, remembering the shocking fact about my origins. "That makes me part pure vampire. We could use my blood instead of risking everything trying to obtain his."

Alaric hesitates for a moment, concern evident on his face.

"Young lady, this is dangerous. Are you willing to risk yourself in this way? Using your own blood in such a powerful ritual could have consequences we cannot foresee."

I inhale deeply, feeling the gravity of my own suggestion, but determination solidifies within me.

"If this can give us a chance to break your bond without facing Elijah directly, then I'm willing. We can't afford to pass up the opportunity to try something that might work, so you wouldn't be at risk."

Alaric walks over to me, takes my hands, and looks into my eyes, seeking certainty in my decision.

"Young lady, if you're sure, I'll stand by your side. But who will perform this ritual? Anna?" I nod, looking directly into his eyes, a glint shining in mine.

"Since I came here, Anna has been practicing magic. I trust her," I say, feeling a mix of pride and apprehension about her involvement with something clearly dangerous.

Alaric hesitates for a moment, weighing his words in response.

"I know Anna practices. And by the way, she's quite powerful, even more so than your mother, one might say. But involving her in this could be dangerous. She'll be at the heart of the ritual, and magic entails many things, and we vampires can exert total influence over them. If Elijah finds out, it could jeopardize everything."

I lower my gaze to the diary in my hands, wondering if this is truly the best alternative, if I had the necklace. I could use the blood it holds, but Elijah has it.