Chapter 14: Truth?
1923 Words
IVY'S POV
Warmth.
Soft fabric. A slow, steady heartbeat. Familiar.
I blinked slowly, my cheek nestled against a solid chest, the scent of cedar and dusk surrounding me.
Raymond.
My body shifted without thought, holding on tighter. His arm was still around me. Protective. Comforting.
Then I remembered.
“Mom?” I whispered, lifting my head suddenly.
Raymond’s gaze met mine instantly. Soft, steady, and—was that relief?
“She’s awake,” he said.
Those two words nearly knocked the breath out of me.
“She—she woke up?” My voice cracked.
He nodded, brushing a stray hair from my face. “A little groggy. But the doctor said she’s alert. Talking. Stable.”
My heart leapt into my throat.
I sat up fully, legs swinging over the couch edge, blinking away the last remnants of sleep. “Where is she? Where’s my dad?”
“He’s with her now. Hasn’t left the room since the doctor came out.”
I pressed a hand over my chest, trying to slow my racing heart. It wasn’t working. “I need to see her. I need—”
“Hey,” Raymond said gently, catching my hand.
I looked at him.
“You’ve been through a lot in the last few hours. Take a breath. I’ll walk you down when you’re ready.”
I looked down at our joined hands. His thumb brushed across my knuckles without thinking.
I didn’t pull away.
For the first time since all of this madness began, I felt… grounded.
And weirdly safe.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” I murmured.
“You needed it.”
“Was I heavy?”
He gave me that small, rare half-smirk. “You hold on like you’ve been doing it your whole life.”
That made me laugh. A small, broken sound—but real.
I reached up and smoothed my hair, which I was sure looked like a literal hurricane. “Sorry if I drooled.”
“You didn’t.”
I grinned despite myself. “Good.”
There was a beat of silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Then Raymond said softly, “She called you ‘Princess.’”
I blinked. “You heard it?”
He nodded.
“I thought I imagined it.”
“You didn’t. She’s powerful, Ivy. More than even your father knows. That bond between you two—it woke something.”
I exhaled slowly, nodding.
Then I stood.
“Come on,” I said, reaching for his hand. “I want to see her.”
He laced his fingers through mine without hesitation.
And for that moment, nothing else mattered.
Not the bloodline wars. Not Diego. Not the prophecy or even the mark on my neck.
Just this.Me and Raymond.
Walking toward the people I loved.
Together.
The hospital hallway had never felt longer.
My steps quickened, heels clicking softly against the tile as Raymond walked beside me, still holding my hand. The same nurses from earlier looked up as we passed—some with sympathy, others with confusion. I didn’t care.
Room 5C came into view.
That’s where they’d moved her. The VVIP unit.
I froze just outside the doorway.
Raymond stopped with me, his thumb brushing my hand again. “Take your time.”
I nodded. Swallowed.
Then I stepped inside.
The room was dim, sunlight bleeding in through thin curtains. Machines still beeped quietly, but softer now—calmer. Normal.
And there she was.
My mom.
Sitting up, propped by pillows. Wires still at her arms. Skin still pale. But her eyes—*those eyes*—were open. Awake. Alive.
“Mom…” I breathed.
She turned slowly.
And smiled.
That small, familiar smile I used to chase after long before the world became complicated. That smile that told me no matter what went wrong, she was proud of me anyway.
“Ivy,” she whispered.
I rushed forward, falling to my knees beside her bed, grasping her hand. “Oh my God—you’re really awake…”
She touched my cheek with her trembling fingers. “You’re okay, Princess…”
“I thought I lost you,” I choked out.
She laughed gently—hoarse and soft. “You? Lose me? I told you… I’d always find my way back.”
“I heard you,” I whispered. “You called me… *Princess*.”
Her smile deepened. “It was always your name, even before you were born.”
I stared at her, confusion flickering. “What do you mean?”
Her eyes sparkled faintly. “There are things your father doesn’t know. Things I was waiting to tell you when you were ready.”
My heart skipped. “Tell me now.”
She glanced behind me—toward the doorway.
Raymond still stood just outside, giving us space.
My mother looked back at me. “You’re not ready yet. But soon, Ivy. Soon everything will make sense.”
I wanted to argue.
But she looked so tired. So… fragile.
So I nodded.
“I’m just glad you’re awake,” I whispered.
She gave my hand one last squeeze, then slowly let her head fall back against the pillow.
“Let me rest just a little longer,” she murmured. “Then we’ll talk. I promise.”
I stayed by her side until her breathing slowed again—deep and even, but peaceful. This time, just sleep.
When I finally stood, Raymond was still there.
Waiting.
I stepped out into the hallway and fell into his chest without a word.
His arms wrapped around me instantly.
“I’m okay,” I said softly. “She’s okay.”
He didn’t speak. Just held me tighter.
And I knew, right then, that no matter what came next… I wasn’t facing it alone.
—
The room was dim, filled with the soft beeping of machines and the low hum of the heart monitor.
My mother looked smaller than I remembered—fragile, pale, and yet… somehow still regal. Her eyes lit up the second I stepped through the door, her hand already lifting weakly.
“Mom,” I breathed, hurrying to her side.
My father stood by her other side, gently brushing her hair back. Raymond lingered near the wall, quiet but watchful. I glanced at him briefly before sitting at the edge of her bed.
She reached for my hand. Her fingers were cold, but her grip was still strong.
“Ivy… there’s something I need to tell you before I forget again.”
“Mom, please, don’t push yourself—”
“No,” she insisted, eyes sharper now. “This has waited long enough.”
I looked at my father, but he didn’t interrupt. Just lowered his gaze, jaw clenched.
“Ivy… the day you were born, July 27th, 2002, at exactly 3:33am…” She swallowed, her eyes misting. “You weren’t the only one born that moment. Jade was too.”
I blinked. “I… I know. We’ve always celebrated together.”
She nodded weakly. “But what you don’t know… is *why*.”
Her hand trembled, and I squeezed it gently.
“She was born to my best friend. My twin sister.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Her name was Isadora. We hid the truth. She was hidden from everyone, even my father, he sent my mother away when he found out that she wasn't normal. He didn’t want many daughters. Said it would weaken our name and reminded him of his abnormal wife.” Her voice cracked, and she looked away. “He told me to get rid of her. So… I did the only thing I could. I sent her away and I hope you can find her, both of you.”
My heart felt like it stopped.
“So… Jade is…”
“My niece. Your cousin. Your soul-sister by blood.”
Everything spun.
“I knew we were close… but I thought…”
“You two share more than blood. Your births were a sign. And it’s not just coincidence, Ivy.” Her voice softened. “You were never just human. You sensed that, didn’t you?”
I nodded slowly. “I… I knew.”
She took a deep breath. “Your great-grandmother was Silvana Roe. A White Witch. She married Edward Lavis—”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “The Alpha Vamp.”
“Yes. The strongest our kind has ever known.”
My voice shook. “You need to rest—”
“No. Listen. The bloodline didn’t end. It runs through you. Through Jade.”
I looked over my shoulder. Raymond hadn’t moved. His eyes were locked on mine—steady, waiting.
“She’s your cousin,” my mom whispered again. “More than your best friend. More than just your shadow. She’s your balance.”
Everything clicked.
Everything Nona showed me in the vision. The Plaze Scepter. The Ritual. The bloodline. The name…
“Tasha Cavalero…” I whispered.
My mom’s eyes widened.
“She was Edward’s sister,” I said. “She tried to complete the ritual Nona defeated her in… but now Diego is trying again. He’s gathering blood. *Our* blood.”
“You knew,” my mom murmured.
I nodded. “Nona showed me everything. And the Plaze Scepter on my neck… it means I’m one of the three. Me, Raymond…” I paused, “and Jade.”
Her gaze drifted to Raymond.
“You have to stay with him, Ivy,” she said softly. “He’s not just your protector. He’s your match. The only one who can help you survive what’s coming.”
I looked at Raymond again.
His eyes never left mine.
Something ancient lived in them. Something real.
And in that moment I realized what it meant to be chosen by him.
I swallowed hard.
The room felt too still, like time had decided to hold its breath.
“Stay with him…” I echoed.
Her voice, though soft, was unshakable. “Raymond is not just your protector, Ivy. You two are bonded. And I don’t mean emotionally. I mean spiritually, ancestrally, mystically. Edward Lavis’ blood runs through both of you. You’re tied in ways you’ve barely begun to understand.”
My chest tightened.
Raymond shifted behind me, but didn’t speak. His presence grounded me, solid and constant, like it always had—like I hadn't even realized I needed until now.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “About Jade. About… us.”
“I was afraid,” she admitted, her hand tightening over mine. “Afraid of what you’d become. Of what it meant. I lost my sister for protecting her child… and I feared losing you too.”
“But I deserved to know,” I said. “*We* deserved to know.”
“I know. I was wrong. But I thought if I kept you grounded in the human world, you might be spared the curse of the Lavis bloodline.”
“Its okay, Mom, just get better” I said.
“I’ll be okay, Mom,” I whispered.
My Mom reached up, brushing my hair back. “No. You’ll be *great.* You were born for this.”
She looked past me, eyes locking on Raymond's “Take care of her.”
He gave her a solemn nod. “With everything I have.”
Which made me feel different.
Good different.
Like I still had a support system like always.
- Writer
