43.

“Ok, first of all, I’m glad we survived and all, but why on earth was that necessary?” I vented.

“You’re survival is absolutely essential,” Amory was quick to respond. “I’m afraid this war can’t be won without you and your brother,” Amory said firmly, although without actually answering my question.

“Yea, I know; at least I’ve heard that before. But the question I am asking is why was my survival in question to begin with?” I turned to face Amory full on. I needed answers.

“Well that answer is a little more complicated. The short answer is because you look exactly like you’re mother; I’m sure you’ve also heard that before,” Amory paused for only a moment; just long enough for me to give him an encouraging look. “The long answer is because you’re mother happened to be engaged to Lucan before she ran off and eloped with your father, Lucan’s personal body guard. He would like nothing more than to find your mother and make her pay for a lifetime of sins.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise. That wasn’t exactly the answer I had been expecting. A million questions began to swirl around in my mind, but Amory, sensing my confusion, continued with his chronicle.

“Let’s see, I suppose I should start from the beginning. Lucan became king at a very young age because his father, Cedric, died suddenly from the King’s Curse. At that time kings usually waited until they were 100 or so to choose a wife; Cedric had done exactly that, fathered a son and planned on living a long life. When he died, Lucan was only a teenager. His advisors tried to guide him, but he has always been stubborn. His personal body guard was a teenager as well, and although the Royal guard advised him to choose an older, more experienced titan, he refused. You see, a king’s personal body guard is chosen at birth; they are always the same age so that they grow together and learn to trust each other. They are naturally the best of friends. The same was true of Lucan and Justice, your father. Lucan at that time, not having finished school but not wanting to be alone, had a special group of students chosen from all over the world to study with him at the Royal Palace. Your mother was one of those students and I’m afraid Lucan fell head over heels for her the moment he laid eyes on her; I suspect Justice did as well. Your mother was a very special girl; beautiful of course, talented beyond any other Immortal and smart, very smart. So naturally, Lucan pursued her. I’m afraid she saw his faults from the beginning and although she tried to persuade him to find someone else, he was persistent. When all of his attentions came to no avail he finally commanded her to be his wife. You are so much like her in every way that I’m sure you can imagine how she would react to a direct order such as marriage. But like I said, Lucan is stubborn, and blind to all reason, and so he gave her no choice.”

“But why didn’t Lucan try to find someone who actually liked him back?” I asked, confused why anyone would fall in love with someone who didn’t feel the same way.

“There are several reasons I believe; you see Lucan was scared. His father had died suddenly, leaving him the sole heir to the throne. Having no children of his own, and a fear of also dying young he was pressed to find a wife and begin a family. Since the Curse, no King has ever been able to produce more than one male heir. I believe that he is simply afraid of death; even still to this day. He is afraid of his precious bloodline dying. I believe he hoped your mother would cure all of that. You see, she is a very powerful witch; probably the most powerful of her generation. And I believe that Lucan thought with their combined bloodline they would be able to save the line of kings.”

“What does her blood have to do with anything?” I asked, trying to stay focused. I suddenly yawned and realize how exhausted I was.

“She is the daughter of the last remaining Oracle. If you remember, the Oracles were the most powerful Immortals before the King’s Curse. Yes, that makes you the granddaughter of course.”

“But I thought all of the Oracles were dead?” I was really confused now.

“One remains, but I believe his soul died a long time ago,” Amory mumbled the last part, and I saw true sadness in his eyes. But then he continued quickly, “So, with that kind of magic mixed, Lucan was hoping for a super-child. He was hoping to bring back the old magic; the magic that disappeared when Derrick cursed us. Unfortunately though, for your mother, it was more than business that drew Lucan to her; he actually fell deeply in love with her. All of his attempts to win her over failed; and sometime during all of this Delia and Justice fell in love instead,” he shook his head as if frustrated with the memory of it.

“Delia,” I repeated softly, saying my mother’s name out loud for the first time. “So, he killed them?” I asked, terrified of the answer.

“No, he didn’t. They outsmarted him, but he hasn’t stopped hunting them to this day.”

“They’re alive?” I was shocked and stunned. My entire life I had been told my parents were dead. How was it possible they were still alive? And where were they?

“Truthfully child, I don’t know the answer to that question. Nobody has heard nor seen them since I received you and your brother on my doorstep when you were just infants, and even then you were the only proof I had seen that they were still alive. In all likelihood they probably are dead. I don’t how anyone could still be hiding from Lucan after this many years,” he looked at me with such sadness in his eyes that I was not sure I could bear to ask him another question.

“So how did they escape?” I forced myself to ask, remembering my interest in his story and accepting his answers so far.

“The same way we just did. They planned it very carefully. They must have practiced for months, maybe years, but they were eventually able to dismiss their magic and survive. They were the first Immortals to ever be able to live without magic. They conditioned their human bodies then to withstand the flight and one night they simply left. The wedding was planned and preparations were made, and then one night, when court was being held here, without a word to anyone they just left. Justice’s mother was a shape-shifter, one of the old ones, when she discovered her son missing; she shifted to look like your mother and played the part of Delia until she believed they were given enough time to escape. When Lucan discovered what she had done he had as many shape-shifters as he could get his hands on, executed gruesomely until she finally came forward. Once she was dead, he lifted the decree from execution to exile; but that is only part of the hell shape-shifters have lived through over the millennia. Your parents seemed to have disappeared forever, when about one hundred and fifty years later, you and Avalon showed up on my doorstep. Justice actually left you with Angelica and she brought you to me per their wishes, informing that you were twins and that you were theirs. At that time they were still alive, but that was sixteen years ago. I do know she was healthy enough to bare twins, something that hadn’t been done since before Derrick was king.”

“And Lucan would kill me just because I look like my mother, although he thinks she’s dead?” I clarified.

“I am certain Lucan believes they are alive; I don’t doubt he has never given up his search. If he were to uncover that you were Delia and Justice’s daughter, he would not only have you tortured, but most likely use you to bait out your mother and father. If he ever found out you had a twin brother, then I’m afraid all hell would break lose.”

“Why? Why does it matter that Avalon and I are twins?”

“Twins have always been rare within the Immortals, but since the King’s Curse they have been non-existent. With the old magic twins were unparalleled for strength and power and on top of that they have a telepathic connection so they work together flawlessly. I have yet to see yours and Avalon’s true abilities, but the fact that you are twins is proof that you have all four types of magic in your recent genealogy, which is a miracle in itself. The interesting part is, you do not have the old magic, you have a new magic, something Immortals have never seen before. You are a rare and precious commodity Eden, something Lucan would do anything to possess…. and use,” Amory spoke with awe in his voice, and I found myself embarrassed by all of these facts. I was not sure if I wanted to be the secret weapon in a war I didn’t even know if I agreed with yet, for either side.

“How do I have all four types? I thought intermarriage was forbidden or whatever?” I asked, changing the subject a little.

“Let’s see, your grandfather was a witch and an Oracle; your grandmother was a medium; they also married in secret, but she was later killed because of it. Justice, you're father, was a titan and his father a titan, but his mother was a shape-shifter; something nobody knew until the fateful shift that began it all. That’s all four types and Avalon too; but your strongest traits are witch and Avalon’s are titan, although we try to make him play up his other ones. If he were to appear like a titan, people would be suspicious why he isn’t with the Guard,” I laid back on the grass, unable to sit any longer and listened to the melodic tone in Amory’s voice.

“Ok, so now I understand why I shouldn’t have interrupted the trial. But why didn’t you tell me all of this before? If I would have known this, I wouldn’t have gone to all of the trouble of exposing myself. And dream walking to? Why didn’t you tell me that was real?” I whispered quietly, rubbing my eyes to keep them open.

A million stars lit up the night sky; I pondered for a moment that although I was half way across the world this was the same sky I looked up to when I was home in the middle of America. The night was still cold, but the magic buzzing steadily through my veins kept my blood warm.

“I couldn’t tell you this before because I wasn’t sure if you would be able to hide it from Kiran. I was afraid that if he found any of this out that it wouldn’t matter if you came to Romania or not. I have been waiting for Kiran to discover you this entire semester and turn you over to his father, but I’m afraid I underestimated him,” Amory said with almost curiosity in his voice. “And the dream walking, I hoped it was harmless. I was afraid that if you knew too much, that if you protected yourself from Kiran too much, that would also make him suspicious.”

“What do you mean?” I asked through another wide yawn.

“I think that Kiran has always known, or at least he’s known for some time. I’m not sure how he would have recognized you, but after his reaction in the courtroom I am almost positive he is aware of your identity,” I perked up a little by Amory’s answer. If he knew this entire time, why didn’t he ever say anything to me? Does that mean he was trying to protect me this whole time?

“So he knew who I was, but didn’t tell his father? What does that mean?” I rubbed my eyes again, determined to keep them open.

“I think it means he had the same reaction to you that his father had with your mother. He’s obviously hoping for a different outcome,” Amory replied, laughing a little.

“Star crossed,” I mumbled.

“What’s that?” Amory asked, although I was sure he heard me.

“Nothing,” I answered quickly. “If you were so afraid of Kiran finding out about me, then how come you had me enroll at Kingsley?” my questions would keep coming as long as I could stay awake. I finally had someone giving me answers, I was not about to give up now. But then I yawned again, and realized it was only a matter of time before I was able to fight my exhausted body.

“I never would have had you come to Kingsley had I known that Kiran would be attending. But by the time we got the call about his arrival, you were already on your way to school. I had intended to intercede, but I couldn’t get to you before your run in with Kiran in the lobby of the Administration building. After that I had to hope for the best and protect you as best as I could. Kiran’s interest in you however, made me a failure as it turns out,” I expected Amory to be disappointed in what he considered a failure, but he sounded more entertained than anything.

“Why do you think he never told his father?” I asked again, not entirely sure what to think of the whole story. I closed my eyes, promising myself that I would stay awake and listen even if my tired eyes were shut.

“You said it best Eden…. star-crossed,” and then I found the sweet surrender of sleep beneath a wide open Romanian sky.