HEIRS: THE PRINCESS AND THE HUNTER

Chapter 1 - Please, Please, Please

Aurora D´Angelo

“Dad!” I protested. He is being unreasonable. What can happen to me in the human world? I am powerful enough to fend for myself, I have been since I was kidnapped as a baby, and I will always be. Especially now that I have a body that can handle such an amount of power. Yes, I grew up awkwardly, like I had development problems, speech problems. They even checked me out to find out if I was not on the spectrum. As if I were human! It was ridiculous, I was just too powerful for that tiny body… Plain and simple, there was nothing wrong with me. Well, there is only one thing wrong… An overprotective father who is not listening!

“Aurora, I said NO…” My father said, and I huffed. Unfortunately, once I was past that development stage, I became untamed, opinionated, and independent… three things that didn't suit my father — Matei D'Angelo, the King of All realms, the GOAT, the most powerful man in this realm. Don't get me wrong, he is a good man, he has never been a tyrant, and he will put himself on the line for every single soul under his command, especially his family. He has sacrificed so much that it is hard for him to allow me some room to breathe…

“I am not a Lycan… I didn't shift a year ago… I don't see why I can't pass as a human!” I protested, trying to sound convincing. Yes, I was not a Lycan, I was something else, something rare, more powerful, and completely new. I was a Lycan-Angel, and the only reason I didn't shift last year, when I turned 18, was that being a hybrid angel, I would be able to shift at 21… I knew that because my supernatural side had revealed it, and I was not dumb enough to tell them… I have always been the quirky member of the family. I didn't care if they thought I was defective and couldn't shift.

“Because, honey… all of your physical traits scream supernatural, and after the last conflict with the humans, a conflict I led, well, you can't go there…” He had a point; I was the daughter of a man who, in a single night, kicked the human realm's butt, took a stand, and forced them to negotiate peace and commercial treaties. He was the man who took many humans captive and used them as bargaining chips to get what our world needed out of them… Yes, he was the man everyone in the human realm feared; if they only knew, he was a mushy-sweet guy… when it came to his family.

I knew I was risking myself, but for some reason, I knew my destiny was calling me to be there. I have always wondered if there is any good in humans. Many nights, I have dreamed about being there. When I was a little girl, I dreamt of a boy. Now… I have seen the shadow of a man, and I have the feeling that my mate is there… Maybe a supernatural trapped, maybe a human… I don't know, and I don't care. The only thing I know is that if I stay here, I will never find out.

So, when the college program opened up, I didn't hesitate; I applied to be part of the exchange student program between California (a progressive place in the human realm that was open enough to build a program with us) and Central City. I was smart enough to apply under a different name — Isla Smith. I waited to be accepted, waited for fate to play out, and it did.

“I know you won the scholarship, but going there and owning D´Angelo's last name will set a target on your back,” he said, and I nodded.

“But they didn't give the scholarship to Aurora D´Angelo-Tyen; I won the scholarship as Isla Smith…” I was so frustrated, he didn't see my point of view, maybe he didn't want to see it… But I took care of the threat of being a D´Angelo.

“Alright, and how does a girl named Isla Smith pass like a human looking the way you look?” he challenged me. He was trying to take every excuse in the excuse book and use it. Safety, my looks, the way I handle myself, the unknown, whatever… he was using them all like bullets.

“You know what, father? You are trying to piss me off…” I sighed. “I am not a Lycan, I don't have a Lycan… I can pass as a human… I am more like mom…” I said, maybe I was revealing a bit too much, but under the circumstances, I had to press forward. I was not yielding, not on this, not when my soul knows that is where I should be.

“I know, and you are amazing and powerful, beautiful and terrifyingly smart…” he sighed, “but it is too risky…” he said, and I sat slumping on the chair.

A knock on the door broke our stare contest. I was done with him, I was going to see whether he liked it or not… I was 18 years old, about to turn 19, and in the supernatural world, that is an adult. My mother walked in with a tender smile. She said, “Hey, what is going on? Marcus heard noise in the office, and told me to come play referee…” she said and sat on the empty chair beside me.

“Mom…” I said and slipped her into the envelope containing all the information about the university, the program, the scholarship, and my admission. She took her time reading it, then looked up and met my dad's eyes. Yes, they were having a silent conversation… and it got on my nerves.

“That is what we are talking about!” Dad said, and I knew she would end up teaming with him.

“Sweetie, it is dangerous,” she said, and I huffed.

“Not you too…” I rolled my eyes and then sighed. I could see where they were coming from, I could understand they were worried, but I needed this. I must go.

“I applied as Isla Smith…” I mumbled as if that made a difference. I could tell she was already on his side, and I was losing the battle.

“I can see that was a very smart move,” Mom said, surprising my father and me. I could tell he was upset about her words. Words that gave me hope.

“So, can I go?” I said, and she took a deep breath. She paused; she was deep in thought.

“You look every bit supernatural. Your turquoise eyes don't look human; your aura is strong… your hair, well, isn't a common color for a regular human. We can color your hair, but there is nothing we can do about your aura or eye color… I am sorry, honey…” Mom said. I could tell that the way I looked was something that would make me stand out in human town… but I had a couple of tricks under my sleeve, I was not worried. Instead, I decided to negotiate, calmly, as an adult… conceding to their worries.

“So, if I had a different eye color and a dim aura, would you allow me to go?” I asked, and Mom sighed.

“If you go as Isla Smith, and are willing to suffer what every human college kid goes through? Maybe?” Mom said, and I could tell that my father was using his mind link to rant about the opening she had given me.

“What are you doing?” I said,

I waited, and by the end of their conversation, I could tell my father, thinking that whatever they had planned was foolproof. I could see in his demeanor that he believes he has won this argument.

“So, again… if I look human, and use the name Isla Smith, will you let me go?” I asked, and Mom nodded.

“I think so, yes…” My father said, and I smiled.

I couldn't help but jump out of my chair, excited, he had already said yes… “Thanks, Mommy, Daddy,” I said, and my father sighed.

“How are you going to manage to look human, honey?” Dad said, and I took a deep breath. Have it your way, Daddy… I am breaking free from this gilded cage…

I smiled; it was wild and wicked… and my father gulped. Mom looked nervous, and I took a deep breath.

“Easy, Daddy…” I closed my eyes and summoned my powers. My eyes turned from turquoise to gray, my silver/white hair turned into a sandy, ashy blonde. My features remained, but I dimmed my aura to the minimum, to a human level… My father and mother gasped; both were rendered speechless.

“There…” I smiled, “Or do you want me to go with a ginger hair color…” I said, and my father sighed, knowing well that I had won.

“Well, f**k me…” he mumbled, and I almost laughed.

I smirked, and my father took a deep breath. “Since when do you know you can do that?” My father crossed his arms before his chest, feeling I had set him up on this one.

“I don't know, maybe since I turned 10?” I said, and my father looked at my mother with an amused look.

“Sweetie, your dad and I don't like to be played…” Mom said, while my father nodded.

“Please, please, please, pretty please…” I said, “You promised.” I turned to my mother and then my father.

“How long can you hold all this?” Mom asked.

“The longest I have dimmed my aura was a month…. After that, I needed a break…” I said, and Mom nodded.

“Alright,” Mom said, and Dad gave her a glare. “We gave you our word, even if you tricked us, we are going to trust you,” Mom said, and I nodded eagerly. At this point, I would agree with them to turn into a duck, not that it was possible, maybe, I have not even tried it.

“So, is it a yes?” I asked,

“Yes, with conditions,” Dad said, and I clapped excitedly. I know that their conditions will suck, but I will take them as optional guidelines, after all… I am an adult.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I jumped up and down, excitedly, and kissed my dad's cheek.

“I love you, Mom and Dad…” I smiled. I knew that my future awaited me on the other side.