His Eternal Escape (Book 2 of the Hybrid Series)

~Charlotte's P. O. V.~ Ugh! I was sitting through my dad's lecture again. 'The Catacombs aren't safe.' this. 'They'll collapse on you.' that. Ever since I was a small kid, something has told me to go there. It was like it was calling me. Oh, it wasn't just my Vampyric father either. It was my Werewolf dad and my Dragon dad too who started lecturing me. Mom sided with them! "Charlotte Victoria! Are you listening?!" My dad yelled as I twirled myself in his office chair. He was supposed to be dealing with the Vampyre covens. "Yes, dad," I repeated his words. Words I have heard several times, "The Catacombs aren't safe. The ground or roof could collapse on me and trap me there. But daaad." I whined and leaned on his desk. "It's my birthday today. If you feel it's so unsafe, why don't you come with me?" "You know why. Your mother," I again repeated his words. Mom is never home. "Is out doing damage control since the war of nearly 20 years ago. I know." He relaxed his shoulders and pulled the chair closer to him. "Charlie, the world is full of bad right now. Your mother isn't home because of that bad. What if she did come home early and found you had been crushed." I gave him a look of, 'Yeah, right.' "Aren't we immortal? And didn't N'uramu, I don't know, bless us?" I threw my hands in the air. He pinched his nose. "You are so like your mother when I met her." He grunted. "Strong, stubborn, and cocky." "You mean when you kidnaped her?" Yeah, word gets around even to us kids. "Charlotte. Watch your tone with me, young lady." He used his dad voice on me. It wasn't noon yet, so, I couldn't just fly out of here. "What I did was unforgivable, yes. Even then, your mother still kicked my arse." He pulled down his shirt to reveal a footmark my mom left on him. "The night this happened? She threw me through glass and wood." Yeah, mom is stupid strong. Even now. No one dared come to this realm with bad intentions. The roar in the skies told everyone that my mom was home. That was Viper roaring. My siblings ran passed the door to meet her outside. "Do you want to tell her, or should I?" Again throwing my hands in the air. I was going to get into massive trouble. And I knew it. "Better from me than you, dad," I said in a bored tone. He offered his hand. We left his office as my other two dads entered the meadow. Viper landed and dropped vials upon vials of black liquid on the ground. Viper: They tried to poison Anika with this. Dragon Poison. She pushed the bag of black vials to my dad, Adam. It affected her slightly. She is regaining consciousness. I have to admit, my mom's dragon was like the coolest ever. I have never seen another dragon like her. Pure Amethyst. You can see right through her. "Mom, who is that?" Lily pointed past her. Viper turned her head and roared. Viper: Get back inside, kids! They followed me! My dads shifted into their respective forms as my dad, Matt, took out his dark blade. I heard stories of this Blade. It is supposed to cut into a person's soul. Micah practically had to pick me up as I watched my parents fight this smaller pack. Uncle Quinn wasn't due to return for another 3 days. Aunt Gazelle and Aunt Priscila were out hunting with Sammy and Luke. Then, a burning pain happened. I screamed out as my body felt as if it were on fire. Micah put me down. I couldn't hear his words. Then, I heard him. A voice. It was the same voice that came from The Catacombs. I tried to listen to it. I tried to concentrate. But the pain in my blood wouldn't stop. Until I heard a woman's voice in my head. My dragon? Hydra: Hello, Charlotte, dear. I am Hydra. I am in fact your dragon. She sounded like she came from my dad, Matt's birthplace. The heavy accent. Something I wish I had got from him. Charlie: Hi, Hydra. It's nice to meet you finally. I cannot wait to start flying. Hydra: That won't happen until later tonight. Dragons and Werewolves shift under the midnight sky. She chuckled in my head. Then, she retreated for now. I looked back at my brother and parents. It looks like they won the skirmish. Mom was shifted back into her human form. "Charlie? Are you okay?" Micah asked. "That looked painful, sis. You were sweating a lot." Lily came to me with a wet rag that my dad, Whitney, provided. I wiped my face. "Yeah. It was. I just heard from my dragon. Her name is Hydra." I smiled at this. 'My mate. My beautiful mate has been revealed.' Said the voice. It was a male's voice. I knew where it came from. I looked at the ground. "You gave us all a scare, Charlie. Glad you're okay, though." Caleb crouched down and gave me a drink of water. "I don't remember receiving my wolf or dragon in that way." Mom crossed her arms and looked concerned for a moment. "Actually, Ana. That's how it is for everyone. I think you were different because the pain was reflected in that volcanic area you created. Instead of bodily pain, it was elemental pain." My dad, Adam, said. "Yeah. When I got Fang, I went into a coma for a week. It was that painful." I swear, my mom is a freak. My dad, Whitney, got clothes for them. Ew, that is an image I will never get out of my head now. Seeing all 4 of my parents naked. I shielded my eyes. 'She's close. I can sense her. A vampire dragon.' "Charlotte? Baby, are you okay?" Mom came over to me and helped me up. "I'm fine." I pushed her away. "Just a headache." I lied to them. I know mom has the power to read thoughts, but she never once used it on me. "I'm going to lie down until tonight. Tell the royals that I will join them after the feast." I left my family in the meadow and went to my room. It held a gorgeous double door with a dragon holding a rose in it's mouth as the rose drips blood. 'She's closer now. My mate. My one true love.' This voice is getting harder to block out. I wanted to ask the gods here, but I knew they were busy. Instead, I just took a melatonin and went to take a nap. ~Anika's P. O. V.~ Charlie has always been the most independent out of my kids, but to push me away? "She hates me, doesn't she?" Micah came and hugged me along with Caleb and Lily. "No, mom. She hates that you're away all the time. Truth be told, so are we." How did my boys get so tall? They tower me now. Micah let go and looked at his fathers. "We love you all, but we only have 1 mom. And 3 dads." He stated while chuckling. "Angel, we are all starting to struggle." Whitney said to me. "It's hard watching you leave for weeks on end. We get it, you're basically the leader of all mythic kind, the gods even said so." He hugged me from behind. "He's right, babe. You come home even more exhausted than when you last left." Adam held onto Lily. "The gods cannot expect you to solve everything in a short amount of time." Matthew kissed my hand. "Short? It's been over 20 years, Matt." Caleb came over and put his hand on my head. Damnit, son. "Mom. Listen to my dads. Charlie is struggling with the fact that today is her birthday and an attack happened. Then, there's The Catacombs." I looked up at my son with anger. "She's been going back in there!?" I yelled. "It's not f*****g safe!" Lily, Micah and Caleb backed down. "Boys, go to your rooms for now. You too Lily. I need to talk to your fathers. All of them." They nodded and left. Once I knew they were out of earshot, I looked at my husbands. Not with anger, with worry. Something is down there. I don't know what. "My love?" Matt touched my cheek. "I can't explain it, guys. I feel something down there. I told you a lie when Charlotte first discovered them." I led them to our bedroom where it was soundproof. I closed the doors and locked them. "I have felt an uneasy presence down there. I haven't had time to investigate it. I hope whatever it is, Charlotte isn't involved and she is just curious about them. Matt?" I looked at him. "I know your power by heart. It's artic cold. But this? It's like, hell itself froze my body in place. And Whitney?" I pulled my men to the bed. "I remember the night I met Fang. His wings beat like an EMP. The sound I heard? It was enough to shatter my ears. Like what N'uramu did during our fight." "A chilling presence with an ultrasonic soundwave?" Adam asked. I nodded. "Why didn't you say anything before?" "Because it was just me who felt it. Even Quinn didn't feel it. Or Lycaon. I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me." Adam and Matt rubbed my legs while Whitney went behind me and started rubbing my shoulders. "My queen, if it was that urgent to you, it should have been discussed." Matt sounded disappointed in me. "He's right, Anika. If it's for our daughter, you should have come to us." What? Now they're all disappointed in me?! f**k. I hate making them mad at me. "I know that look, no. You aren't going to get away with that." Adam pulled me up from the bed and passionately kissed me. "We have missed our queen." I heard pants dropping and clothes being thrown off. "Lying to your kings, however, is punishable." He whispered seductively. It made my body shiver. Matt caught me from behind, "How should we punish her, gentlemen?" I heard their thoughts. Oh, my. So many ways. Their kisses trailed my skin. Adam and Matt worked together to take off my clothes. Whitney must have said something to them through Mind Link. Matt picked me up over his shoulder and lay me down on top of Whitney. "Having all three of us enter that delicious body of hers," Whitney answered for them. That is how my first night home lasted. We finished our nooky time with moments to spare as other Royals began to show up. Even Quinn had to be there with Gazelle and Priscila. I hugged my brother. "Did you seriously have s*x before hugging me?" I laughed at his response. "Damnit, Ana. You're worse than Zell." Matt, Whitney, and Adam exchanged brotherly arms with Quinn while I hugged my sisters. Who then hugged my husbands. I greeted the other royals, including my grandparents. My dad, Nathaniel, came in with his new bride in tow. I didn't like her very much. She always seemed stuck up. "Anika, Quinn!" I hugged my dad. "Daddy. How was the trip?" I asked. "Long. Being your father granted me several amounts of headaches while on the road. Not all of it is good. Some still think you and Quinn should have been killed." Tch. Typical. I mean, she should have. I hate that little whelpling of yours. I smiled a fake smile at Yvonne. "Yvonne. How are you?" I forced myself to act friendly with her. Quinn noticed the strain. "I have been okay, I guess." She scoffed and flung her hair back. Walking away from us. Talk about rude. "Yeah, I don't like her either. Dad, she's kind of a bitch." He said to our dad. "She thinks I should have died. And don't tell me I don't know that. You know my powers." He held up his arms in surrender. Then he came and hugged us both again. "I'll talk to her," He said. But Quinn and I were not having it. "No." We both said in unison. He looked surprised. "Dump her ass, dad. She's bad for you. I can hear her thoughts loud and clear. She wants to take back this realm for you. By killing me." I said I didn't like her and I know why. She's been plotting to kill me since the day we met. "Alright. I hear you both. I will end it after Charlotte's shift." The sun set an hour ago, it was about 4 more hours until Charlotte was supposed to make the shift for the first time. I told my guests that Charlotte would be meeting us in the meadow. We ate and conversed. The kings I met the first time I arrived here were in attendance. Lily, Caleb, and Micah hugged their grandparents from their draconic side. Adam's parents shortly after. Again, all 3 hugged them and began to talk their ears off. I wished my mom were here. She would have loved these children and spoiled the crap out of them. "I miss her too, sometimes." Quinn took my hand. "I may not read minds, sis, but I can read your expressions." The dinner went by smoothly and then we all adjourned to the meadow. There, Charlotte was already waiting. ~Charlotte's P. O. V.~ I woke up an hour ago, the dining hall was too f*****g loud. I took this time to go prepare myself. I would be naked in front of all royalty tonight. I wonder how mom felt. How Uncle Quinn felt. 'My beauty. So, close. Yet so far.' I turned around and saw nothing there. This voice is starting to freak me out. I held myself close as I watched the moon rise high into the sky. 'She's above me. I can feel her.' I began to panic and scoot away from that spot. I was picked up by my dad, Adam. "Honey, shush, shush, shush. What's the matter?" Could I tell them? Not yet. I saw mom close her eyes. Anika: Charlie. You can tell me, honey. I will tell them later. Just think about it, sweetheart. I looked at my mom and nodded. Charlotte: It's a voice I keep hearing, mom. It keeps saying my mate, my beauty, my anything. It's scaring me. Yet, pulling me back to The Catacombs. Her eyes opened and went wide. I didn't even notice that I was crying. Anika: Do you want me to investigate it? Again, I nodded. Okay, I will start to look into it. Are you well enough to do this? My dad wiped my tears and kissed my forehead. I nodded. "You can put me down, dad." He put me back on the ground as the others gathered. My grandfather came back with a collapsible doorway. I went behind it and undressed. 'She's ready. I smell her skin.' I had to push through this. "Remember, sweetie. Think of your dragon. Push her to the front of your mind." My dad, Whitney, called out. I had to open the door and have the royals look at me. I hate this tradition. 'So, did I. I tried to abolish it, but I was outvoted.' Mom said to me in my mind. I thought about Hydra. I pushed her to the front of my mind. The pain from earlier returned. I started screaming as I felt my bones doing all sorts of weird s**t. It felt like hours before I felt the pain subside. When I opened my eyes, I was standing on all fours. My mouth felt dry as hunger boiled in me. "Matt? Is she what I think she is?" My dad, Adam, questioned. "If by a Vampyre Dragon, then yes. Charlotte." Hydra stuck her nose in the air and growled at everyone. "Charlotte! Control her." I tried but she was bloodthirsty. My fangs dripped saliva on the ground. I knew I was half Vampyre. But unlike my father, I never felt the hunger for blood or the burns from the sun. A roar came from Viper. Viper: Hydra! Stand down! She listened to mom and closed her mouth. Then, she gave me back control. Charlotte: She's stupid bloodthirsty. My throat feels dry, mom. 'There she is. My perfect mate. I can feel her clearly now.' I shook the voice out of my head. Anika: Go hunt the wildlife. Hydra pushed and prodded to kill the others. I wouldn't let her. We took to the sky as I made her hunt the larger wildlife. To be perfectly honest, the taste of blood was invigorating me. 'The time to claim her will be soon.' The voice reached me here?! Hydra lost focus and stopped flying. We ended up crashing into the massive lake mom created in her big battle. I took control and emerged from the water panting for air. Charilie: The f**k is going on? I covered my head with my claws. Hydra? Who is that? Hydra: I do not know, Charlie. I cannot sense him either. That's just great... This voice in my head. It's calling me. Just like the catacombs. Charlie: Keep an ear out, then. By the way, Hydra... I let my voice become furious with her. The f**k was with your bloodlust?! And at the family?! The hell was wrong with you?! Hydra: I am a Vampyre dragon, Charlotte. I need blood. Charlie: Not our family's blood. And not the other members of royalty. Hydra: Fine. They smelled delicious is all. The strawberry and whipped cream smell coming from mother and grandfather. The rose smell coming from our vampyric father. The honey smell coming from our draconic father and the winter berries coming from our wolf father. I couldn't resist. Charlie: It's amazing that you smelled each of their blood. Seriously, though. No eating the family or the people. Got it? Hydra: Fine. I'll only feed on animals. Lame. Charlie: Thank you, Hydra. Finally getting out of the water, we went hunting again. Draining the blood of many ferocious types of animals, and seeing the sun rise, we finally went home. Landing on my balcony, I spotted a note. It was from mom and daddy. I don't mean to keep getting into trouble when it comes to the catacombs. I just feel connected to them somehow. I opened the note. Charlotte, Your mother and I are going to investigate the catacombs first. You may join us after you have rested for a bit. If you need help finding us down there, ask your father, Adam. His nose will lead you to us. We have already informed Whitney that he is in charge for the day and your siblings are in the entertainment center. Sleep well, my daughter. We love you The catacombs. Fine. Sleep first, then I will join them. I wonder why daddy went instead of dad or father. I will probably get the answer when I do join them. I took a deep breath and hopped into a shower before heading for bed. 'My sweet mate. She smells of blood. How wonderful.' Although, with this voice in my head, I couldn't sleep. Taking more sleeping gummites, I made sure I just passed out for the day. Once my head hit the pillow, I fell deep into a hard sleep.