Chapter 25

KALIM'S POV

Matilda took me to wherever we were headed to on her bike.

"What you just did was stupid, you know that?" She ranted like she was my mom then she cooled off.

"How are you faring?"

I looked at her through the side mirrors. She was focused on the road.

How dare she ask me when she knew just the answer!

"Yes! When Legolas is dead."

The bike swerved left sharply almost throwing me out of the bike. My reflexes took over I held on tight to Matilda.

"Where is Orvinus?" Matilda demanded, her bike slowly pulling up to a magnificent mansion.

I touched my pocket to feel the skull as reassurance that it was still there. I was so not giving it to her.

"It's with me. Where it belongs." I got down from the bike first and headed for the house. Beside me was a limousine which the ancient, Meshach had taken. They were inside already. Despite trying to keep my rage intact, I could not help but admire the building structure. The two-story building was painted gold that gave it a shout out.

The doors were made of tempered glass and reminded me how stereotypical evil people lived large. The door mirrored my image making me wonder if Legolas had ever looked at a mirror and wonder why he was alive.

Guards were positioned at the door but opened them at Matilda's arrival. I joined her and went in.

I was hit right away by the cold air the air conditioner provided and goosebumps appeared on my skin.

"Are you cold?" Matilda genuinely asked but I shrugged off her attempt of kindness.

" Miss Matilda, the dinner has begun." A servant dressed in a white shirt and loose black pants said.

A quick glance at him and I knew he was human. I wasn't aware that some humans knew about the existence of the supernatural.

"Do humans work here?" I asked while trying to catch up to Matilda. We marched to where the dinner was taking place. Around were maids and manservant bustling right and left like it was some auction happening.

"Yes! They've sworn to secrecy." Matilda replied when we finally arrived at the doorway of the dining.

The room was dim. The only lights provided were the candle lighting. The table was big enough to accommodate at least a hundred people and I could tell this was not the first dinner that was thrown in the room. I took my seat next to Matilda and tried looking at my shoes to avoid the watchful eyes of some unfamiliar people who stared at me.

I had no idea, there was going to be many people.

I could see Legolas looking at me the corner of my eye. He was expressionless but I knew it was a cover he was just putting up. Servants came in to serve. My plate was soon filled with Lyonnaise potato. The sliced pan-fried potatoes and thinly sliced onions were sautéed in butter and parsley making my mouth water.

Everyone began eating and Meshach started the conversation.

"Word has spread out Legolas in other territory that the vampires have taken refuge in the one place that should be hell to them.

Legolas dropped his fork and faced them, briefly turning in my direction to see what I was up to.

"We are still fishing them out. It's a big place." He said.

Meshach and the other two celestials were not buying it.

"So we learned you wanted to sign a treaty with them. Why? if we may ask." They said in unison, digging back into their food.

Legolas coughed slightly and adjusted his tie before speaking,

"I was trying to befriend..."

"Them!" Meshach who seemed to be the most active of the trio spat."That is not Kingly. Deceit is not the way of the Fae."

Their small talk was making me cringe, and even more with Legolas' lies.it was painful I had the instrument to his destruction but had to wait for him utter lies.

Matilda was busy getting bored by a young handsome who would not just shut up, adding to my tension.

It was building. I could not stop it.

"What if they are just misunderstood!" I blurted out.

This caught the elders' attention and they faced me like they had found a new roast.

"Who?" Meshach asked, licking some melted butter off his lips.

"Vampires," I answered.

The old showed his signature smile, that exaggerated wide-toothed grin.

"Why child? What makes you think so?"

My throat tightened when my opinion was sought for with Matilda looking at me with concerns and Legolas sending silent death threats at me.

"I have once had a friend that we're vampires." I said, framing my words together nice and slow."They don't seem bad. In fact, maybe we're the bad ones." I continued turning to Legolas. Wanting him down and cold as marble.

"What makes you think that?" Another elder asked, rapt in attention.

"Our ancestors cursed them. They are only living what we have to them."

The elders nodded solemnly and spoke,

"You haven't heard their side of the story.

Flashback

Falco Gilbert stood naked and petrified knowing she had caught him this time. The woman he had been in that act with was on the bed desperately trying to hide her nakedness.

"I trusted you." The golden-haired woman spat, a finger pointing right to Falco who was begging profusely." I gave you everything."

"I know Peliel." Falco pleaded, trying to hide his shame by throwing a blanket on."I'm sorry. Just give me a second chance."

Peliel was having none of it. She had sacrificed her home for him and all she asked for was his love and body but he couldn't give her just that. He was going to pay.

The wind began to pick up and blow with great intensity. Peliel's eyes glowed luminous gold, matching her hair color.

The woman Falco was cheating with saw this happen and proceeded for the door which shut almost chopping off her hand before she could withdraw it.

"Falco! What is going on?" She yelled, begging she survived this.

" Punishment!" Peliel's voice boomed.

"I curse you both. From now on, you hall warmth to survive. A craving you can't satisfy. You would beg for death but it would not come. Everything you love will wilt before you and for your lies, you shall be unable to keep secrets from those you love." The golden woman uttered.

"Please." Falco wept while the other agitated woman feel on her face, trembling.

"It is final. I bind with the heavens, the earth and beyond."

Falco began to scream and soon enough though other woman joined in. Their features twisting into that of a beast. They had transitioned, a shadow of their former self. All that Peliel could see were monsters.

***

The elders finished their tale abruptly, almost like there was still more to be told.

I could still not see the sense in what they just said. Vampires were plagued because their ancestors cheated.

"Why couldn't she just curse him with death or blindness?" I queried.

The main course had been finished and the servant began to pick up the filthy plates and serving us dessert, custard.

"You see Kalim, Peliel sacrificed the realm of the idyllic for her then human lover when the fae's decide to leave earth discovering it was too dangerous to stay but was frustrated when he betrayed her love yet again," Meshach said but I was yet to be convinced.

"Why didn't she revoke the curse?"

"Nature wouldn't let her without a costly price. Her life would be on the line. She begged her sister to let her back home but she was refused unless she completed three selfless tasks. She did and she was given a ticket back home."

The story was bewildering. She caused monsters to roam the earth and she was forgiven. Wow!

Now it was time for the question I wanted to ask from the beginning,

"So where do faeborns come from? I mean if faeblood are part fae and humans. What are faeborns?"

Legolas stood still and I was enjoying his discomfort. Matilda would have reacted the same way but she was far too exhausted to even give an expression apart from the tired look she wore on her face.

"Someone's been digging deep into fae history." Meshach complimented.

"Well, Peliel's descendant are faeborns. She was the only Fae stranded on Earth. She fell in love again with another man and had children. After the completion of her three good deeds. She ascended, however, her children were rejected since they still had mortal blood flowing in them. They were known as the Ravaii, ancient Fae language for descendants of nature."

No! Peliel was my ancestor? My breathing quickened and I began to feel light.

"I have to go," I muttered.

"Wait..."

Before Meshach could persuade me otherwise, I dashed out. I needed to think. My breath was quickening all the way out and it almost like the world was mocking me.

I fanned a cab and got in. Telling the driver where I was going to. I removed the skull from my pocket and hugged it like it was a teddy bear.

There were many things yet to be known but I was not sure I was willing to know them yet. Yes! Not yet.