Chapter Twelve
Lilith
As Adrian and I stood before the door to the witch’s hut, my heart was beating inside my throat, making it increasingly more difficult to breathe. I was filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Then suddenly, after what seemed to take forever, the door opened with a slow creak, revealing its interior.
The dim light from within spilled out onto the forest path and our feet. Standing in the doorway was the witch herself, Lorna, oozing mystery and wisdom. Her presence exuded an air of ancient knowledge, and her eyes held a depth that seemed to peer into the very soul of those she encountered. There was no smile on her face upon seeing us, no mark revealing whether she recognized us or not.
She was dressed in flowing robes that seemed to merge seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Her hair, long and silver like the glow of the moon itself, cascaded down her back. Her skin bore the intricate lines of age, etched with the memory of all the things she had seen in her lifetime. She seemed the same as the last time I saw her, and yet, different. I couldn’t explain it. Luckily, I didn’t need to, because she stepped aside, allowing us in.
“Welcome,” she said simply, as we entered.
The doors closed behind us with a loud noise this time, resembling the sound of sealing one’s fate. The interior of the hut was an eclectic mix of artifacts, herbs and curious objects. Little by little, my memory recognized the shelves, the cauldron, the windows, the table where I sat ages ago, seeking her help. I recognized the jars of herbs and potions, the hanging dried plants and roots. The scent of earth and magic permeated the air, filling the space with an otherworldly aura.
When she and I locked eyes, I could see an understanding on her face that seemed to stretch far beyond our presence in that moment.
“It has been some time since I last saw you, Queen Lilith,” Lorna spoke with a soothing, ageless melody that provided comfort. “Tell me, why have you come to seek my council once more?”
Adrian and I exchanged a glance, our hearts unified in this quest for answers. His eyes told me to explain everything. “We are here because of a mysterious scroll, one my father has been holding onto, which I now found, after his death.”
“My deepest condolences,” the witch bowed her head solemnly. “I have crossed paths several times with your father. He was a good man.”
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a pang deep inside my heart. In all this commotion, I did not even have enough time to mourn the death of my father properly. Being reminded that he was no longer with us was still an open wound that hurt horribly.
“Tell me more about this scroll,” the witch inquired, as she gestured at us to take a seat at her table that rested in the very center of the room. Once again, memories flooded my mind and I remembered why I was here the first time, how I almost lost Adrian then.
“It contains references to a hidden past. We wish to know if there is any truth to these words, and if so, what we should do,” I explained as best as I could.
Lorna nodded in understanding, her presence calming and reassuring. “I see… to unravel such mysteries, I will need to see the scroll myself. Have you brought it here?”
Adrian retrieved the scroll from his backpack and carefully handed it to the witch. As she unrolled it, her eyes seemed to trace the text with an intimate familiarity. Both Adrian and I watched in silence, waiting to hear what she would say. Suddenly, a faint furrow appeared on her brow.
She inhaled deeply before speaking. “The scroll speaks of a kinship between Adrian and Constantine. To verify such a claim, I will need to use my ancient powers of insight and knowledge.”
The witch closed her eyes, her hands hovering over the scroll, and began to chant a soft, melodic incantation. The room seemed to hum with a subtle energy as she delved into the hidden truths of the scroll. When she opened her eyes, it seemed that she had come to certain conclusions.
“The scroll’s claim is not without merit,” we listened to her words. “But I cannot be certain without comparing their essences.”
“Our essences?” Adrian frowned. “How are you going to do that?”
She gazed at him. “Something that is essentially yours. Blood, piece of skin.”
“Hair?” I asked.
“No,” she shook her head. “Hair is dead. It cannot show what I need to know.”
“So, you need my blood and Constantine’s to know for sure?” Adrian asked something we were both thinking.
“Yes, that is right,” Lorna nodded calmly.
Adrian got up, shaking his head. “Then, we’ve come all the way here for nothing. We don’t know any more than we did when we started.”
I turned my gaze to Lorna. “We need to bring you Constantine’s blood?” I asked incredulously.
“That is a suicide mission,” Adrian scoffed. “You know that, right?”
Lorna didn’t say anything, although it was obvious that we were desperate for her guidance. Silently, she rose from her seat, her movements deliberate and imbued with a sense of knowledge that we were not privy to. She walked to one of the cupboards, her steps whispering against the earthen floor. From within the cupboard, she retrieved an old, ornate jar containing a dark, mysterious liquid.
With utmost care, she placed the jar on the wooden table between us. The liquid within was almost ebony in hue, its surface appearing as though it held secrets that spanned centuries. The jar itself was adorned with intricate symbols and carvings. I wondered what they all meant, but I possessed no knowledge of whatever language they were written in. The only thing I could be sure of was that those intricate symbols were a testament to the significance of the jar’s contents.
As the witch seated herself once more, her eyes bore into the jar, her expression a blend of reverence and purpose. We watched with a sense of anticipation, understanding that what lay within the jar held the potential to further illuminate the mysteries of our quest.
“This…” Lorna started, speaking slowly, giving us time for the words to fully settle, “is the blood of Constantine’s grandmother.”
I exchanged a glance with Adrian, our surprise evident. How on earth did she come into possession of something like that? I was afraid to even ask, yet I knew that we needed to continue along this path, because that was the only way to find out the truth.
“Her name was Seraphina, and she was a powerful figure among her kind.”
I couldn’t even begin to imagine the storm of emotions that was brewing inside my husband. On the surface, he was endeavoring to remain calm, but I knew that there was a whirlwind in his mind as well as heart.
“How… did it come to be in your possession?” Adrian asked, unable to keep his mouth shut about this.
“Seraphina’s blood had always been a carefully guarded secret, hidden away in the darkest recesses of history,” Lorna explained, although this explanation awakened even more questions. “I helped her one time. She was riding through the woods, when she fell off her horse. As it turned out, it was an assassination attempt by one of their enemy vampire clans. Her horse was enchanted, and when it arrived at the designated place, it threw her off. She fell on her head, lingering between life and death afterwards for many days. Fortunately, I found her just in time, and brought her here. I tended to her until she was well enough to go back home.”
Adrian interupted. “You stole her blood?”
“Adrian!” I exclaimed in shock.
She didn’t like the sound of his words. Not one bit. “I have never stolen a single thing in my life, young vampire. So you’d best watch your tongue and who you accuse of what.”
Adrian didn’t say anything to that. He looked down at his feet, and Lorna continued.
“I asked for some of her blood,” Lorna clarified. “Vampire blood is known for its healing properties. I am a witch. I need all the ingredients of this world that I can find.”
She took the little jar into her old, withered hands, turning it, inspecting it closely. “I have never used it, though. Never had the need to.”
“Is it still good?” I asked. “Will it give us the answer we need?”
She lifted her gaze to meet mine. “You’d best hope it does, Queen Lilith. Because like your vampire husband said, the other option is a suicide mission.”
She got up again, taking a small bowl and a clean knife, handing it to Adrian. “Here,” she said. “Just a little will do.”
Adrian didn’t hesitate. I watched with concern as the blade met his skin, causing a small, deliberate cut. A few drops of blood welled up, as he allowed them to fall into the bowl. His face was expressionless, as we all focused on the dripping blood.
“Enough,” Lorna instructed, handing him a clean towel.
“It’s fine,” Adrian murmured, wiping his hand against his pants, leaving a bloody mark. “Now what?”
“Now, we mix the two bloods,” she explained, opening the jar that contained Seraphina’s blood. She hesitated before pouring, as if regretting losing this precious ingredient.
Finally, the two bloods merged, and the liquid immediately began to react, swirling and changing as Seraphina’s blood absorbed Adrian’s, turning even darker. It was a profound and undeniable revelation.
The witch’s voice held a quiet but unmistakable certainty as she stated the following words. “The merging of these bloods reveals the truth: Constantine and Adrian share the same mother.”
The gravity of the revelation hung in the air, filling the room with a profound sense of understanding. Adrian and I exchanged a look that conveyed a mix of fear and realization. We had uncovered a familial connection that transcended the boundaries of our knowledge, a bond that would alter the course of our kingdom’s history.
The scroll’s prophecy and the mysteries it held now took on an even deeper significance. We had unlocked a key to our past, and the implications of this shared ancestry were far-reaching, promising to reshape our understanding of our family and our kingdom. But worst of all, it was the revelation of a new fear.
Did Constantine know this already or was it a secret from him as well? If he didn’t know yet, what would he do when he found out? There were millions of a questions, and not a single answer.
“Adrian?” I called out to him, because he seemed completely lost in time and space. His body was here, but his mind was not. “Adrian?” I called out his name again. This time, he heard me, but his eyes were vacant.
“The truth you have uncovered is a profound one,” Lorna felt the need to interfere and I was grateful to her for that. “It will undoubtedly shape your future, and the future of all those around you. You must consider the implications carefully.”
Adrian didn’t say anything to that. He still just sat there, looking as if his mind had gone to a different place, leaving his body behind.
She continued, offering her sage advice. “The scroll’s prophecy hints at a destiny that is intertwined with your kingdom’s fate. To fulfill that destiny, you must delve deeper into its secrets and embrace the legacy of your shared bloodline.”
“Embrace it!?” Adrian frowned, as if awakened from a deep, long slumber. He got up quickly, and the chair raked against the brick floor. “I am not like him! I will never be like him!”
“Adrian, Adrian…” I rushed over to him, taking him by the hand. “No one is saying that. Of course you’re not like him. Just… please, calm down, please…”
My words barely reached him. Before I could say anything else, he rushed out of the witch’s hut, not even bothering to close the door behind him.
“I’m sorry,” I looked at Lorna, feeling helpless.
She shook her head. “It is a hard truth he found out today. Let him be. Do not push anything, for it will bring no good.”
I knew better than to push anything with Adrian, but at the same time, I couldn’t allow him to just rush outside like that, on his own, with God knows what on his mind. I had to be by his side to make sure he was alright, to make sure he didn’t get any crazy ideas.
I lifted my hand in a wave goodbye as I was leaving the hut. I could hear the witch shout after me. “Good luck! You’ll need it…”