Demon, Guardian, The Fallen, Oh My mates! Esmerelda's Story

Chapter Two

Esmerlda’s POV

I looked around me and noticed first that I was outside the castle grounds. Near the clearing in the forest where we tend to hold the sentencing of those who committed such heinous crimes that we cannot allow them to live. I was shocked because we don’t typically come out here often. I think in all the years my parents have ruled this kingdom they have only sentenced five wolves to death.

I went to step forward realizing that I was standing in the middle of the clearing where the sentenced faced their punishment. However the moment my feet tried to move I realized that I was chained to a pole. That had never been there before. What the hell now? I thought to myself as I struggled to get out of the chains with no success.

I started to scream out, “Help me! Somebody! Please! There must be some kind of mistake!”

I don’t know how long I had been calling out for no one to hear me, when I heard a twig snap. My head shot in that direction and what I saw made my blood turn to ice in my veins. My father’s Alexi and Ethan stood there. Faces hard with hatred in their eyes. Behind them my brothers stood. Dimitri looked as if I was worse than dirt on the bottom of his shoes. Ares looked as if he were torn. There was hatred in both of their eyes though Ares seemed softer than Dimitri somehow.

“Esmerelda! We have come to carry out your punishment.” Daddy Alexi spoke in a harsh tone. I’ve heard him use it before as he has had to give judgments like this, but this is the first time I have heard it directed at me.

My mind raced and I couldn’t fathom what I could have done for them to want to kill their first born daughter. My mouth spoke before I could stop it, “Daddy? What are you saying? What is going on? Why am I chained up here?” I started to cry.

The hatred in his eyes seemed to intensify as soon as I started to speak. His response cut me to the core. “You are no daughter of mine. I didn’t sire or raise a daughter who murders their own mother for more power. You know what you did. You killed your mother by stealing her magic from her when she was vulnerable. This whole time we thought the threat was after you when you really were the threat this whole time. Now you will pay the price for your greed!” Daddy spoke.

I looked towards my other father Ethan and his face mirrored Alexi’s. My brother’s wouldn’t even look me in the face now. I didn’t do anything though! It wasn’t me! I said as much but it landed on deaf ears. I was soon dragged by guards with hard faces who once smiled at me. I was forced onto my knees with one guard on each side holding me where my chest was wide open.

My father Ethan stepped forward and knelt down in front of me. The look on his face screamed anger and hatred, but something in his movements didn’t sit right with me. I looked more closely and saw it. A shadow in his eye. I turned quickly to look at the others and there too in Daddy Alexi’s eyes a shadow as well. Same as my brothers. The guards though didn’t. I had a feeling they were just following orders.

The question is who wants me dead this much to possess my family? I didn’t get to think too much more on the subject when Daddy Alexi came forward and quicker than I could see coming, jammed his clawed hand right into my chest and grabbed hold of my heart. The horror and shock in his eyes the moment he pulled his hand out with my heart still beating was the last thing I remembered.

My eyes clear out and I stagger back away from Daddy Alexi and straight into Grampy’s arms. My wrist throbbed painfully and I looked up at Daddy Alexi. I saw shame and regret in his eyes as he stared at my red wrist, which was already starting to bruise. I whispered with so much fear to Grampy and said, “Please I don’t want to die! Keep Daddy Alexi away from me. He’ll kill me.” over and over again.

“Baby girl?” Daddy Alexi said in a raspy whisper. As if he were hurt by my words and actions. “I’d never hurt you.” He said in a hoarse voice.

“But you did. I saw it. You ripped my heart out of my chest!” I sobbed out.

“I don’t know what you saw, sweet girl, but that wasn't your father. Alexi would rather die than let anyone hurt you. Even if he did your brothers and I would never let anyone hurt you.” My father Ethan said with a frown marring his face.

“But you all DID! YOU WERE STANDING RIGHT BESIDE HIM WHILE HE CARRIED OUT MY PUNISHMENT! STOOD THERE WHILE HE RIPPED THE HEART FROM MY CHEST! I FELT IT ALL!” I scream, unleashing a protective shield around me and Grampy making everyone stumble back from us.

“Please! I didn’t do it. I didn’t hurt her. I wasn’t hurting Mom! It was my magic. My magic was becoming whole again. I didn’t hurt her. I helped her! Please don’t kill me!” I begged over and over again. I just couldn’t calm down or relax.

Grampy was trying to calm me down, but I was too far gone and couldn’t listen to what anyone was saying. It wasn’t until a new set of strong arms that were able to break through the barrier of my protective shield that I could start to calm down. I was pulled into even stronger arms and a larger chest. I felt more protected, but something felt different. I looked up and realized it was Grandpa Ares and that meant Timby was near!

I pulled my head back and looked around frantically. Once I spotted him having a discussion with Ares and Dimitri I quickly pulled away from Grandpa Ares and ran straight into his arms. He wasn’t even looking as I was running up to him, but at the last minute he turned and caught me in his arms, holding me tight to his chest as he took a deep inhale of my scent as I did the same to him. My legs wrapping around his waist on instinct.

It only took me a matter of seconds once being in Timberlink’s arms for my mood to stabilize, and for me to realize that I was reacting to a vision of what could be. I looked towards mom and then back at everyone else. They were now staring at me like I was a wild animal that could attack at any moment. I couldn’t blame them. I was acting like a lunatic, but that was my first vision that had anything serious in it. Usually my visions are of menial things like what was going to be for dinner, or how to avoid getting into trouble when my brothers and I wanted to sneak extra cookies. This vision though, it was so real. I felt my fear, my hurt at the betrayal, my death. I felt it all.

So yeah, I didn’t blame them. I was acting kind of crazy. I would have probably loaded myself onto the crazy train and fast tracked all the way to crazy town for an extended stay in a deluxe padded room. I shook my thoughts off and looked at everyone once again. Now that I was calmer it looked as if everyone else was calming down as well. I slowly slid down Timby’s body to stand on my own two feet. I turned so I was facing everyone.

“What happened Izzy? Are you ok princess?” Grampy asked. His face showed concern as he was talking to me, but I noticed that out of the corner of his eye he was keeping Daddy Alexi in his line of sight. My chest tightened, because of me, my Grampy was suspicious of his basically adopted Son.

I thought about what I was going to say and just thinking about the vision had my body trembling again. I was starting to breathe faster remembering how my family had looked at me. The hatred. “Hey baby girl. Look at me.” I heard a smooth deep voice. It’s familiar yet foreign all at the same time. I turned towards the voice and my panic stopped mid stride. I was lost in those light brown eyes. Like molten milk chocolate. It was as if the world had stopped, and only those eyes mattered.

I was lost in their depths. Feeling as if I were swimming in the swirls of brown. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but I had never felt like this towards him before. It felt weird and off because he was my brother. Timberlink. I shook myself out of the spell his eyes had put me under. I gave him a soft awkward smile.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. As I released the breath I turned back to my fathers and Grampy. I said, “When I first walked into the room with Grampy I felt a pull or a calling or something, wanting me to go to mom. I was in a trance-like state. I felt my body moving, but I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” I stopped to take a deep breath and then continued, “When I touched Mom’s head I felt my magic returning to me from Mom. My magic was rejoicing in being whole again. I wasn’t hurting Mom. I promise. I don’t know how I know this, but I just know that Mom having my extra magic was hurting her somehow. It was too much for her to handle anymore.” I then explained everything in my vision, “After what I saw I know there is something else going on here. Something dark and sinister. In my vision all of you had a kind of shadow in your eyes. It was dark and menacing. Definitely not good. Before I came back from the vision the last thing I do remember was the look of horror and shock in your eyes Daddy.” I looked into my daddy Alexi’s eyes and saw so much sorrow in them.

Daddy Alexi was about to speak when suddenly envelopes started to appear out of nowhere floating in front of the recipients. I could see it was Mom’s handwriting and I looked around at everyone else and saw that they all had the same expressions that mirrored my own. Shock and confusion. We all ripped into the envelopes at the same time and I saw a letter from my mom.

My Dearest Esmerelda,

I wanted to tell you how much I love you. How proud of you I am, in the woman you are becoming. Please know that I have always and will always love you, Esmerelda, no matter what I do or say when I wake up.

Please don’t try to cure me. I placed this curse on myself to protect you. In due time it should dissipate, and hopefully when it does you will be safe with your mate.

Do not cry for me. I will always be with you princess. You were always born to save the Fallen. Never forget your destiny. I love you.

Love,

Mama

I felt the paper crumpling in my hands as I read the words she wrote to me. My tears fell freely down my face. She did this to herself to protect me? From what? What could she possibly be protecting me from that required her to harm herself? I looked up and saw the different emotions reflecting off of everyone in the room. I was curious what everyone else's letters said. Did they mirror mine? Or did theirs give more explanation.

I looked towards my fathers and saw that they had pain in their eyes and something else I couldn’t name. Whatever it was, I didn’t like it. I looked at my brothers and they all had the same determined set to their jaws. They met my eyes and I saw there was some sadness there, but more importantly I saw anger. I gasped a little and started to step back until I heard my brother Dimitri’s voice ring in my mind. ‘We aren’t angry with you Imzy. We’re mad at the situation and the people behind it. We will protect you sis. I promise we won’t ever hurt you, and if we ever do you can kick Ares in his junk.’

I stifled a giggle when Ares turned to Dimitri with a pained and horrified look on his face. He exaggeratedly turned to me and covered his privates as he said out loud, “Please Imzy remember that I am your favorite and it’s Mitri you want to take revenge on.” Ares theatrically starts to push Dimitri my way, and I couldn’t keep it in any longer and burst out into laughter.

Everyone stared at us for a minute before they quickly started to join in the laughter. Dad (Ethan) came over and wrapped one arm around my shoulders and another around Dimitri and said, “I don’t know what you kids were doing, but thank you. I think we all needed that laugh right now.”

“Yes. This is what your mother would want right now. Everyone living their lives normally as if she were just away on a trip to the outer territories. In fact that is what she told your father and I in our letter. That we were to make sure everything continued as normally. Including your parties for your birthday. So let’s do as your mother asks and not dwell on her condition now that we know she will come back to us.” Daddy Alexi said. His voice seemed to be more chipper than before, but I could still hear the pain it tried to hide.

So that is what we were going to do. We would honor my mother by following her wishes. Something still wasn’t sitting right with me. Like everyone knew something that I didn’t. I would figure it out one way or another, and I think the best way is to see what was in their letters. Knowing mom though she probably put a spell on the ink or paper to only appear to the recipient. If that was the case I had my work cut out for me trying to figure what is being hidden from me.