CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
28
Elara
Banishment? More like torture.
“Are you freaking out of your mind, Elara?” Mom snapped, pacing the room like a caged tigress. Her finger flew to her chin, digging in with a ferocity that made me imagine it was mine she was gripping, not hers.
Back to the present. In response to Mom’s question, was I out of my mind? Freakishly, yes. Xul hadn’t been joking when he’d mentioned ‘banishment.’ Sometimes, it was hard to tell when he was serious, and when he was simply toying with me.
I remained silent as she launched into a tirade, her curses mostly aimed at the air, some even lost on her own ears. You’d think, with the gravity of my situation – the so-called “banishment” – I’d be feeling a pang of guilt, a desire to lower my head in shame. But all I could think about was how Xul had discovered my secret.
Sneaking into the mundane world was forbidden for a reason, and I knew it. Chimera City had its boundaries for a reason, and I had crossed them. But I had a mission, a secret one that I couldn’t share with Mom, the council of elders, Aric, or even Lord Draven. They wouldn’t have understood. This was my own personal quest, a chance to prove myself to Mom, the council, and most importantly, to myself. I was hunting Victoria’s reincarnated soul, a task that fueled my determination.
I’d only gone once, disguised in a way that almost made me forget I was a vampire.
Chimeran men found my form alluring, and if I were a true killer, I would have drained them dry.
But unlike most vampires, I had control. I’d been managing my bloodlust for years.
The question now was, how did Xul find out? Was he spying on me, as he always seemed to do? That was the answer I desperately sought.
“Elara, are you even listening to me?” Mom’s voice cut through my self-absorbed reverie. I blinked, jolted back to the present. Mom had already stopped pacing, her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed.
Mom rarely needed to repeat herself. I gave a curt nod. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mom. I heard you loud and clear...”
“Clearly not, Elara,” she countered, her voice laced with exasperation. “When I said...”
“That I’m a freaking lunatic and an idiot? Got it.” I finished her sentence, knowing exactly where she was going. I knew Mom all too well, sometimes. Other times, she was as unpredictable as Aric.
Mom let out a frustrated sigh, her hand flying to her forehead as she rotated her head in disappointment. We stared at each other, locked in an unspoken battle of wills. Finally, she broke the silence. “Don’t just stand there, Elara. Go fix what you’ve done.”
“And what exactly did I do again?” I replied, a touch of sarcasm creeping into my voice. I wanted to burst out laughing, but I knew Mom wouldn’t appreciate it.
“This isn’t a laughing matter, Elara,” she snapped, catching the hint of amusement in my eyes. “You’re facing banishment, for Christ’s sake!”
“You don’t honestly believe Xul would banish me that easily, do you? It’s not a big deal, Mom.” I shrugged, feigning nonchalance.
“Elara, when will you take anything seriously? Sneaking out to the Chimera City outskirts without a word to anyone, only to be discovered by Master Xul, who, curiously enough, seems aware of your clandestine magical studies – and you think this isn’t a big deal? My dear, this situation you’re embroiled in is fraught with peril, and that makes it a very big deal indeed.”
My mother’s voice trembled with worry, her brows furrowed in concern. I could tell she yearned to delve deeper, to question how I’d managed to leave the Vimic estate undetected, even from her (though I knew she’d never condone it). But her anxiety eclipsed her curiosity.
“Mom, I am taking it seriously,” I assured her, attempting to project a calm demeanor. “But not overly so. Lord Draven is the king, and he’s the one who decides my fate, not ‘Prince Xul,’“ I added, emphasizing the title with a touch of sarcasm.
“That’s precisely why I fear you’re losing your mind, Elara,” my mother countered, her voice laced with concern. “Remember Morwenna, the young servant who now works for Lord Draven? She trespassed on the Vimic estate and barely escaped with her life. But there was also that group of humans who attempted the same, and they weren’t so fortunate. Your situation is different, Elara. You left the Vimic estate without informing anyone, without an invitation. And yet, you seem to believe the consequences won’t be severe. I know Lord Draven wouldn’t hesitate to issue a death warrant, especially considering how he’s already purged half his servants…”
“Lord Draven wouldn’t hand me a death sentence so readily,” I countered, searching for any loophole. “He holds the final say in banishment, not Xul.”
My mother sighed, a weary sound that mirrored my own anxieties. “You seem to forget, Elara, that Master Xulin sits on the Witches’ Council. He’s their leader, and his words carry immense weight. If he has enough sway to influence the council, they could vote to banish you. Once a third of the council votes against you, even Lord Draven and I won’t be able to convince Master Xul to overturn it.”
My other options evaporated like morning mist. Damn Xul. He had his brothers and the council on his side now.
His cryptic words echoed in my head. I guess I was destined to learn the hard way, as always.
“Do you understand now, Elara?” my mother asked, her voice softer now.
My hand flew to my forehead, mirroring my mother’s earlier gesture. How could I have been so blind?
“So, I’m being banished?” I whispered, the weight of the word settling heavily on my shoulders.
“You could always plead with Master Xul to reconsider,” my mother suggested.
“Plead? Me? To Xul? Absolutely not!” Begging was the last thing I’d do for him.
“What choice do you have, Elara?” my mother’s voice was laced with steel, “banishment, most likely.”
I winced at her words.
Mom started. “I don’t understand what made Master Xulin act out like that. He’s usually so quiet, never lashes out unless something truly sets him off...” And unfortunately, I happened to be the one who had unwittingly triggered him.
My mother’s gaze held mine, unwavering. “Elara, you must fix this mess. Antagonizing the second brother of the Vimic family is the last thing you should do. He wields immense power and influence, second only to Lord Draven himself. Even Lord Draven respects him. You know there will be consequences for your actions.”
Her voice softened slightly, but the message remained clear. “Be an obedient girl and rectify your mistake. Plead with Master Xulin. He might revoke his words and offer you mercy. I know he’ll be inclined to forgive you, considering your past...” she trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air. We both knew what she meant.
I couldn’t decide what was more bizarre: the way she kept addressing Xul as “Master Xul” while I barely used even “prince” or “mage,” or the way she’d insist on using his full name. I only used “prince” when respect was absolutely necessary, especially when his brothers were around. Those “Brothers of Sin” could be a real pain in the neck.
Of course, Xul used to be my mother’s master, the one who taught her magic. If he was her master, then I supposed he was technically mine too, but I refused to acknowledge it.
But the weirdest part? Asking Xul for mercy felt as strange as our entire relationship before I ended things. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was truly over me. He watched me, I had no idea for how long, and who knew if he knew my secret? Did he know Morwenna was supposedly Victoria’s reincarnation? He watched everything, so I guess he must.
Yes, my mother was right. I could be both obedient and disobedient, depending on the situation. But mostly, I was...obedient.
“Elara...?” My mother’s voice broke into my thoughts. I realized I had been lost in them again. My mind flashed back to her. “Let’s go. The other brothers are waiting, and so is Master Xulin...” I promised myself that if she called him by his full name one last time, I would...
I hesitated for a second.
I couldn’t go back, especially knowing the Brothers of Sin would tempt me with blood.
Some of them would literally drink from their human servants, a scene I couldn’t stomach.
And my mother at the other hand, wouldn’t do anything to stop them. Well, she never does anything. That’s why she annoyed me so much, all the time.
So, I shouldn’t go...but I should go, no, I shouldn’t...
As I wrestled with the conflicting thoughts, my mother decided to add to the pressure. “And also, if this works, I’ll lessen your burden a little...maybe I’ll even remove the magic bangles from your wrist!”
My face, previously dull, lit up instantly at her words. What a manipulative way to trap me.
“Really?” I asked, almost with skepticism. My mother was notorious for her lies, and sometimes it was hard to trust her at all.
“As long as you promise to apologize to Master Xul and he accepts it...”
Got it. Apologize and hope he accepts. Still, a deep torture for me to do.
“What if he...doesn’t lift the punishment?”
“Then you can kiss your powers goodbye...”
No. Not my powers.
I let out a shrug. “Fine, mom.” I had no choice. Losing my powers was a nightmare. Even with the bangles on my right wrist, I felt utterly useless without them. Sometimes, when my mother’s words annoyed me, I’d disappear, but now I couldn’t vanish myself thanks to this damn magic bangles.
“Fine...” I repeated, this time under my breath. All I had to do was apologize to the guy who wanted to ruin me, and everything would be back to normal. Normal. I hoped. Because nothing seemed normal to me anymore.
Everything will be fine, Elara, I told myself.
Completely fine.
Absolutely fine.