46 #2
“Nothing we don’t already know. This is The Origin of Immortal Species .
” The lycanthrope tapped a finger on the page in front of him.
“I’m not sure if it’s a true story, but it’s the most popular version among immortals.
According to it, many years ago, Earth was inhabited by humans and witches, but they were too ‘weak’ for the immense energy of the planet.
Earth was on the verge of exploding into a ball of fire, threatening to destroy not only its residents but also nearby planetary systems. So, a council was held in the Pleiades.
It decided the Earth would be populated with more species whose existence will absorb this immense free energy. ”
“What are the Pleiades?” Amelia asked.
“A cluster of stars where it’s believed various deities live.” Mikhail knew the story of their predecessors’ origins well, but wasn’t sure if Amelia had heard it all. “It’s supposedly where the god who spawned Earth’s immortal species hailed from.”
Constantine smirked. “Can you imagine that this guy, Gord, came to Earth and his single goal was to screw as many earthly women as possible?”
“Poor thing…” Zacharia rolled his eyes.
Viktor clicked his tongue. “If I were you, I’d be more careful with comments about deities, because they hear everything you say about them. And they might get curious…”
“Really?” Amelia asked.
“Some stories say he was not a deity, but a strong creature from a different planet. I doubt he has a god’s hearing,” Constantine said.
“Then I suggest we call him by a code name, ‘Poor Thing.’” Zacharia grinned. “Just in case.”
“Guys, let’s be a bit more serious,” Viktor scolded them.
“We need to figure out who this woman is, the one who tried to manipulate Amelia into stealing the ring. And you’re wrong about Gord’s task being to father as many children as possible.
He had three offspring, which means he impregnated, at most, three women. ”
“Actually, it was two.” Mikhail’s fingers traced small circles on Amelia’s thigh.
“One human female, who gave birth to his two sons – Sandir and Calan. And one witch – Ana’s mother.
From those three, the other five immortal species emerged.
From Sandir came necromancers and vampires.
From Calan, lycanthropes and manticores. And from Ana, nymphs.”
Viktor ran a hand over his forehead, frowning. “Why are we taking it at face value that the woman who threatened Amelia really is Ana?”
Amelia’s muscles tensed under Mikhail’s fingers. “She had the face of the statue downstairs.” She rose and grabbed the book from Viktor’s hands. “The same face as this.”
Mikhail had seen Ana’s drawing enough times. The first nymph was always depicted with long, fair hair, jade eyes, and the features of a goddess. “Maybe this woman is Ana and isn’t lying that the Mother of Reptilians is her sister.”
“Then why are there no records of a second sister or the reptilians?” Viktor asked.
“Ana must be working with the reptilians,” Mikhail said. It was hard for him to believe that two daughters of a deity had chosen to target him – and independently of each other. After all, he didn’t believe in coincidences.
Amelia glanced at him. “If she’s working with them, why was I being chased by reptilians in the cemetery? It doesn’t make sense. Ana’s goal was to get me back to the Hospital, not to abduct me.”
Viktor nodded. “I agree.”
Constantine leaned against the wall, a thoughtful expression on his face. “How are you supposed to deliver the ring to Ana?”
Amelia closed the book and handed it back to Viktor. “Ana said she would contact me with instructions once I had the ring. In the meantime, I was supposed to leave her progress notes under the bench in the central gazebo in the courtyard.”
Constantine gave Mikhail a questioning look before turning his attention back to Amelia. “And what have you been writing to her so far?”
“That I have made no progress in finding the ring.”
“Who was taking the notes from the gazebo?” Constantine asked.
“I don’t know…”
“Weren’t you curious?” he pressed, which made Mikhail sit up straight.
Amelia regarded the necromancer with a stony expression. “Of course, I was. But I couldn’t figure out who it was. The gazebo is a popular spot for many creatures to rest.”
“If you’d mentioned this earlier, we might’ve caught the intermediary.” Constantine’s voice was calm, his shoulders relaxed, yet there was an unmistakable, silent threat emanating from him.
“That’s enough, Constantine.” Mikhail got up and took a stance next to Amelia. He wouldn’t allow her to feel threatened by anyone, especially in his presence. “I trust Amelia as much as any of you, and I hope you won’t test whose side I’m willing to take if someone stands against her.”
She turned to him. “We’re just talking. No one said they don’t believe me.”
Mikhail’s gaze remained fixed on the necromancer. He knew Constantine was protecting the interests of the Hospital, but he needed to be sure that if anything happened to him, his friends would ensure Amelia’s safety – just as they had done while he was imprisoned.
Constantine’s lips curled into a sour smile. “She’s right. No one said we don’t trust her.”
Viktor jumped up from the sofa and positioned himself as a buffer between them. “We’re wasting time when we should be focusing on the essentials. We need to figure out exactly who Ana is and find her intermediary.”
“If we catch the intermediary, Ana will know we’re onto her deal with Amelia. I assume that’s not quite our goal,” Zacharia said, after having perused the library’s contents for the last few minutes.
“True. Ana needs to believe Amelia is on her side.” Viktor glanced down at Mikhail’s hands. “Didn’t your father say anything about this ring when he gave it to you?”
Mikhail thought about the golden lion’s head, now hidden once again above the arch. “Just that it’s a family heirloom. But as I mentioned earlier, I suspect the ring has saved my life more than once. Almost like it contains magic.”
Mikhail remembered the feeling of power settling in on him the first time he’d grasped the band.
His blood had sizzled with enthusiasm as if he’d been proclaimed king of the world.
The truth was, he’d been overjoyed with pride that his father had chosen him for the honour.
After his family’s death, he’d taken it off and never thought of wearing it again, feeling the opposite – unworthy.
For Amelia, however, he’d been ready to take it out once again.
“It’s certainly not an ordinary ring if Ana claims it can stop the Mother of Reptilians,” Amelia said.
Zacharia skimmed the book he’d pulled from the shelf. “If that’s the case, the Mother of Reptilians should be just as interested in the ring as Ana is, yet we’ve heard nothing about her searching for it.”
“This story is dragging on too long.” Out of habit, Mikhail raised a hand to push his hair back and encountered the shorter edges.
He let his hand drop back down. “I’m growing impatient.
I want to know more about these reptilians, but they seem to have vanished again.
If I’d caught that guy in the cemetery…” His jaw tightened at the mere mention of that man.
“He would’ve been a good starting point,” Zacharia noted.
“I’ve got an idea…” Amelia murmured. “That reptilian wants me, right? If I go somewhere he could find me—”
“Absolutely not,” Mikhail cut her off before she could finish that absurd idea.
Her eyes widened. “You haven’t heard my full plan.”
He didn’t need to. “You want us to use you as bait to lure the reptilian, and when he comes, we’ll catch him.”
“Well… yes?”
Mikhail gritted his teeth. “My answer is still a firm no.”
Zacharia leaned back on the sofa, surveying them with narrowed eyes. “The last time, the reptilian failed to abduct Amelia. This time, he’ll bring reinforcements.”
“So will we,” Amelia said, addressing Mikhail rather than the hybrid. She truly believed he would take such a risk.
“I wouldn’t mind getting up close and personal with a representative of an unknown species,” Constantine chimed in nonchalantly, as if he genuinely approved of this reckless idea.
A crease appeared between Viktor’s brows. “You do realise it’s quite risky? You could get hurt.”
“That’s why we’re not doing it.” The thought of Amelia falling into the reptilians’ hands twisted Mikhail’s stomach. The last time he’d managed to prevent her abduction was not because he was stronger or smarter than the reptilian – but by pure luck.
He put an arm around her waist, but she pulled away.
“I want to do this,” she insisted.
“No, Amelia.”
“But, Mikhail…”
“And since we’re all gathered here, let’s discuss the matter of your missing mummy.
Turn the entire world upside down if you have to, but I want it found.
You’ve all been to the temple, so I expect a solution from all of you.
” Mikhail couldn’t suppress the anger rising in his chest once again.
His gaze landed on each of his friends, who moments ago had been ready to support Amelia’s idea.
“And I also hold you all responsible for leading Amelia to the temple. Did it not occur to any of you that she’s new to this world and might not know some things are off-limits? ”
“That’s not true, Mikhail.” Amelia stepped in front of him as if to divert his attention from the others.
Viktor intervened in a gentler tone. “Mikhail, the results from the genetic tests gave us important information…”
Mikhail glared at him over Amelia’s shoulder. “The results from the genetic tests show nothing different from what we suspected – that the disrupted regeneration was caused externally.”
“Yes, but they prove it. It’s one thing to rely on hypotheses and another to have solid evidence.”