His Eternal Escape (Book 2 of the Hybrid Series)

Chapter 3: Riftyn

~Charlie's P. O. V.~

I had to sit down. These caves were long and some kept crumbling before we could enter them. My mate, who I am pretty sure doesn't have a name, kept walking with me. He would occasionally protect me from the rubble. I leaned my head back and thought about how stupid I was to stop following my wolf dad.

Unknown: Are you alright?

"Yeah. Just tired. And feeling like an idiot." I facepalmed myself. "I shouldn't have left my werewolf dad's side."

He sat next to me. Unknown: Do not blame yourself for following my voice. I apologize if it seemed scary to you. It was not my intention.

I looked up at him. "Why did you say those things?" My morbid curiosity was getting the better of me.

Unknown: I have been alone down here since I was born. No communication with anyone. I thought, at the time, calling you my love would have been more flattering.

I shook my head. "It was terrifying." I sort of laughed. I sighed and looked up at the cracking ceiling. "By the way, do you have a name?"

He laid next to me and curled his tail in. Unknown: Why do you ask?

I gave him an irritated look. And sort of grunting in frustration, I was getting irritated. "Because just calling you 'My mate' doesn't seem appropriate now."

Laying his head on the ground, he gave out a gruff in response. Unknown: I have thought of names. But I was never given one. Not that I could remember.

Scooting closer to his head. I leaned against his neck and ran my hand through my hair. "What names did you come up with?" Okay, I am way more than just curious now. I was like that cat analogy. 'Curiosity killed the cat.' And all.

Unknown: Leslie, Kyle, Harry, Harold... None of them worked for me. He sounded upset about that. I started to think of names. I don't know many guy names. But there is one that I always liked. It was from a book. The book was called Knight of Damascus. The main character had fallen for this one knight in shining armor. His name was Riftyn. He was strong, smart and very handsome.

Looking at my mate, he was kind of like Riftyn. My knight in shining armor. He did save me from that collapsing tunnel. "I have one that I think fits you."

He lifted his head and turned to look at me. Unknown: I would like to hear it.

I stood up and got close to his eyes. "Riftyn." I smiled at him. "Don't judge, but he is my favorite character from a book I love to read. Knight of Damascus. Riftyn was the main character's love interest." I sat back down in front of him. "He was her knight in shining armor. Just as you are mine." I blushed a little.

Unknown: Hm... He took a moment to think about it. Riftyn. It has a good sound to it. I love it. Riftyn it is.

I giggled, proud that I could give my mate his name. "Riftyn. Well, since you are my mate, it will eventually be Riftyn Aradace. Oh." I smiled more. "I love how that just rolled off the tongue." He touched his head to mine.

Riftyn: I will always treasure this name. Thank you, Charlotte.

I rubbed his scaly cheek. "Charlie. I prefer Charlie." I looked around and up to the ceiling. Wait a second. I know where we are. This was the meadow. I stood up and looked back at Riftyn. "May I climb on your back?" He moved his wing for me. I got on his back and stood up to touch the dirt above us. "I know where we are." Looking back down. "Can you dig your way up?"

Riftyn: I could try. Perhaps it's not that deep. I got off of him. He stood up and got on his hind legs. He started to use his horns to dig through the dirt. I got under him if this went sideways. I knew it! I have been able to smell the old scents from last night. I should have tried this before. He was making progress. A little bit of sunshine was starting to come through. Get on my back, Charlie. I am getting us out of here. No arguments here. I got on his back. He folded his wings over to protect me before jumping high into the ground above us. We broke the surface. Unfolding his wings, he took us up higher in flight. I was laughing and holding on to him. You may want to mindlink your family now.

Right. Mom?

Mom: Charlotte! Oh, thank heavens. Are you alright? I know that I was mad at her for being gone all the time. But I am a big momma's girl.

Me: I am okay. The voice I was hearing was my mate.

Mom: Your mate? How is that possible?

Me: Riftyn said to ask great-great grandpa and grandma that. He has been sealed in the catacombs since he was a baby apparently.

Mom: The Moon Goddess and Dragon God said as such. She sounded annoyed. I am just glad you and your mate are okay.

Riftyn soared for a little while longer. When we landed, all of my family was there. Micah and Caleb rushed to me and hugged me. Lily started crying a little when she saw that I was safe. My daddy held me and let me cry into him as I babbled about how scared I was when the tunnel collapsed on me. My dad was making sure I didn't have any scratches or bruises before he told me to never do that again. My father looked pissed before he pulled me into his bear hug. My mom hugged me tightly too as she looked me over.

The cracking of bones made us all turn to Riftyn. And O.M.G. He was f*****g hot. Long pitch black hair. Silver eyes with a red tint to them, a body that could grind all kinds of meat and his complexion was better than mine. Woo. He almost looked like Jason Mamoa. "Might I inquire some clothing?" He covered his very well endowed self. Oh, and his voice was sexy too. "It is very awkward standing here in front of my in-laws inappropriately."

Micah rushed back inside. "I got you covered, bro. Be right back."

Caleb handed Riftyn his shirt. "Sorry I can't do more than that." I looked at my dads. They had to turn my mom's gaze away from my mate.

"Riftyn, right?" Lily went up to him. I eyed my little sister. "Like in Lottie's book! Riftyn the knight!" I relaxed a little. That's what she is on?

Riftyn chcuckled. "How old are you, Lily?"

She crossed her arms. "16. I hate being the youngest child." And yet, she's acting like one.

He kissed her hand. WHA-! "H-Hey!" I was starting to get jealous of my sister.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lillian." Right on queue, Micah comes back with sweatpants, sandals and boxers. "Thank you kindly, Micah. And thank you so much for the shirt, Caleb."

My mom came up to him after he put on the clothes. "Riftyn. Charlotte said you were sealed down there since you were a baby. How is that possible?"

Oh, great, now the interrogations. "Lay off, mom. He's just started to adjust to talking to me." Riftyn came over to me and pulled me to him.

"Queen Anika, I do not know how myself." He looked at my mom. "I just know that I didn't start growing until Charlotte was born. I remember down there from my early years because I am half dragon. And half Vampyre." He looked at my daddy when he said that. "It was my mom who was the Vampyre and my dad was the dragon. I was sealed beneath the castle. That is my earliest memory. I remember red and purple gowns. And golden circlets upon two people. One male and one female. And then, the entrance to the tunnels was barred off from me. I could see through it but never escape it."

My daddy looked furious. "Do you remember your mother's name?" Riftyn shook his head. "Blasted!" My daddy waved his hand and froze a tree. It was so cold that it immediately broke. I haven't seen daddy this angry before. "If I had to guess, I know your mother." He took off towards the castle in a rage. Seeing my daddy angry frightened me.

"I'll go talk to him." Lily suggested, and went after my daddy. She's braver than me.

My dad sat criss-crossed on the ground. "Matt is usually the cool-headed one. I wonder what happened."

My father shrugged and picked up a piece of iced tree. "My guess is, he and she have history." Throwing the piece back into the forest. "Or that they were enemies once." I liked that better. I hated to think that dad was with other women before mom.

Micah leaned against another tree. "We shouldn't speculate about dad's old life or whom he may have been with. For now, let's just welcome Riftyn into the family." Why did my brother have to be the wise one?

~Matthew's P. O. V.~

That horrible witch! If it is who I think it is, then I will have her head. He was a baby. A f*****g baby. I had to leave the area before I hurt my children or my wife. Or hurting Charlotte's mate. I got back to my office and sat in my chair. I had to have her hunted down for this. Add to the fact that she had royal dragons seal him away.

"Daddy?" Lillian came into my office. I sighed and looked at her. "Who is the she?" My youngest sat in my guest chair and waited for me to respond.

Charlotte gets her aggressiveness from Anika. Lilly gets her tenderness from her mother. "Someone very bad, sweetheart."

She nodded. "Is she part of your past before you met mom?"

I sighed and looked at my daughter. "No. Not in that way." I got up and knelt to her. "This woman is older than your grandfather, Vladimir. She is the only Vampyre in existence that diablorizes other Vampyres." She tilted her head in confusion. "Eats other Vampyes."

"And that is a bad thing. Right?" Oh, how innocent my baby girl is. I nodded.

"Yes. Dracula may have never existed. But she does. She is the prompting for that tale."

Lily's eyes widen as she processes this. "Lilith?"

Now I was the one confused. "How do you know that name?"

She stood and took my hand. "Come on. You and the rest of our parents are getting out of touch, daddy." She led me down to her room. I remember when Nathaniel built this for her. She is the only pure dragon to be born. Biology speaking, she is Whitney's. Her door's decor had a golden dragon on it that was holding a bouquet of lilies in it's claws and a scroll in its mouth. It was an ode to her name. She opened her door and I was flabbergasted. Posters of boy bands were plastered everywhere. She had 3 compact discs playing different songs. Her room was a mess.

"Young lady, what in the gods and goddesses' names is this?" I picked up a dirty sock from the doornob.

She looked at me as if I had asked the most ridiculous question. "Hello, teenager." She turned on her television and turned on that infernal PlayStation. She moved to where a video game popped up. "I looked into the lore of Lilith from this game. Diablo 4. She is the main antagonist of the game."

Coming through her room was like walking in a war zone. "I see." I had to step where I could. "After you show me this, you are to clean your room. Am I understood?"

She sighed and groaned. "Fine." She went to the beginning of the story where I saw the most awful thing happen.

"And your mother let you play this?" In the very first scene you see bodies being mangled and blood.

She shook her head. "No. Grandpappy does." Nathaniel?! I pinched the bridge of my nose. "See?" I looked at the screen and the woman looked close to the Lilith I know. For the most part. "She's a demon lady. Like one of the lords of hell kind of lady. Her followers feed other people her blood and they end up being sacrifices. The blood of Lilith is seen as falling rose petals."

A clearing of a throat made us turn to see Caleb standing there. "What is it, son?"

He shook his head. "Not for nothing, dad or Lily, but Charlie did just find her mate and you two are in here playing Diablo 4."

Lillian set down the controller and went over to him. "We weren't playing it. I was showing daddy-"

I cut her off. "Gather the family, Caleb. Everyone needs to hear what I know. Meet me in the library." Both of my kids nodded. Lily took my hand.

She smiled up at me. "It's going to be okay, daddy." I hugged my daughter. I do not approve of that game, but it doesn't seem like it affects her. However, I will have a talk to Nathaniel about violent video games later on.

Reaching the library, I sat down on the couch and rubbed my head. Lilith. He and I haven't met face to face. But our armies have. We were on opposite sides when it came to the war. She agreed with the mutts that humans and my father had no right to live. Letters of threats and demanding my surrender poured in every day when she joined the war. Alyssa and Jacklyn would bring me those letters. Could she be behind Yellowstone's threats? Part of me wishes she wasn't. Most of me feels that she is.

"Matt?" Anika came and sat next to me. "Babe, are you okay?"

Whitney and Adam sat across from us. "That was rather extreme back there, Matt. I have never seen you like that." Whitney was concerned. Thankfully, he had no reason to be.

Adam held a piece of an iced over tree. "Yeah. I agree with Whit. That was out of the normal for you."

I sighed and leaned forward. Riftyn, Charlotte, Micah, Caleb and Lillian took their seats. "First off, Charlie. I am happy for you. Another Vampyre Dragon is rare. Born as, is even more so. Like your mother and your uncle. Most dragons that become Vampyre Dragons are bitten by a Vampyre. Riftyn? You had better take good care of my daughter." He held her close. "What you saw back there was me losing my temper. The woman in question and I have never met." I heard Anika let out a breath she was holding. "She was part of the war many centuries ago. I had heard rumors of her being impregnated by another immortal being. I did not think of it at the time. Even more rumors had spread that she gave the baby up for adoption in a kingdom far away. I looked into these rumors." Turning my attention to Riftyn. "They were true. However, their timeline was off. By quite a bit." Everyone was holding their breath. "I thought that the baby had died thousands of years ago. And that she was reintroducing these rumors to win the war."

Anika stood. "Wait, wait, wait. So you're telling me that Riftyn has been here longer than my dad?"

Nathanial spoke up. "It's true." Everyone turned their attention to him. "Aradace Castle was conquered by my grandparents. I think it's time that I told all of you everything this castle holds. After your grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great grandparents are here."

We all looked so confused. "Grandpappy? How long do dragons live for?"

He sat down and opened a book he had been hiding. "Dragons are what came from the meteor that created the world as it is today." He paused and showed us a picture of Pangea. "The Dragon God came from that meteor." Oh, bullocks."We live longer than any other immortal being."

Charlotte stood and started to pace the floor. "S-So, when Grandpa dies, we will be the last to remember him?!" Nathaniel nodded. "That is so unfair." She crossed her arms.

"Aren't all of your family made up of immortal beings?" Riftyn asked.

Anika shook her head. "No. Quinn and I were raised by a human man. His name is Jacob. He is still a father to us. And their grandfather."

Riftyn snapped his fingers. "Right. I smelled human blood 20 years ago." We all looked at him with curiosity.

"My dad wasn't bleeding," Anika slowly said. "And neither was Peter or Klein." Anika looked at me with worry. "There was another human?"

We all rushed out to where the battle took place. Anika and Adam shifted into Pearl and Jasper. I'll never get tired of seeing her as a wolf or dragon. Charlotte and Riftyn, along with Nathaniel, shifted into their dragons. Lily, Micah, Caleb and I ran as fast as we could. Riftyn took the lead.

Riftyn: If I remember correctly, the smell was around here. Hydra and Draco were circling while Riftyn was hoovering.

Through mindlink, I heard Anika scream. Pearl: No! I quickened my pace. When I got there, Anika was on her knees and crying. "Why did she come here?" It was the headless body of a woman. One I do not recognize. "Gene." Anika sobbed. "This was the outfit she wore the last time I saw her."

"Wasn't that your secretary...?" Adam stopped and covered his mouth. "Wait, if she died the same night you took Anika... The hell is going on?!" We were all thinking the same thing.