IMPRESS.

[In the process of fixing any errors]

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Family Tradition.

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Omar's POV~

"Why do hate her so much mother? Whenever I ask you, you never give me a valid reason." Princess Cathryn curiously asked, close to falling off the edge of her seat whilst trying to take the Queen out of the bad mood the angry King Creon had put her in.

I was hiding inside of the wall. You wonder how I got here? I searched and found a tunnel that connected to the Queen's thick bedroom walls. Luckily, my body was slim enough to slide through the small spaces.

It seemed that I had entered the tunnels at the right time because the Queen was mid-conversation with her daughter, the princess. I had found a tiny hole in the wall which I was desperately trying to peep through, so I'd be able to get a view of what was happening.

Prince Zachary and Lady Ascelyn wanted me to get as much information on the Queen as possible and it was my duty to successfully complete that mission.

"She is too perfect," The Queen argued.

The same exact time that I furrowed my eyebrows at her excuse of hating Natalya, is the same time that Cathryn craned her neck, cocking her head to the side like her mother was being dramatic.

"Shes too perfect, that's it? So, you hate her because you are jealous?" Cathryn questioned in disbelief, "Rose, Cassandra, and Ella are also beautiful girls. I don't understand."

The Queen sighed heavily, "but Natalya, she isn't just beautiful, she is irresistible, her aura, her vibe, her personality. Her roots."

Cathryn jerked her head and stuck her nose out as she said "huh?" What about her roots?"

I was intrigued by what the Queen was saying- I mean- I could understand what she was talking about. Lady Natalya was a stunning woman, every man desired her. Even I desired her, she was the girl in every man's dreams.

"Yes, she is stunning, I wish I was as beautiful as she is, but I don't understand what part of her personal roots is desirable. She lived a poor life in Icilia before coming to live with us, mother."

The Queen slowly shook her head, chortling as she did. "It only dawned on me recently."

Why was she laughing? I was as confused as her own daughter Cathryn.

Princess Cathryn stared at her mother like she was crazy and incredulously questioned again "huh, what dawned on you, mother? You are scaring me."

"Cathryn, dear darling. You know how your father had Alexander with another woman, well before Alexander's late mother, there was another woman. A woman your father was and still has a heart for til this day. We have spoken of her before, everyone knows the story of the woman I am referring to..."

"Isabella?"

"Yes," she bluntly confirmed, "Isabella," Queen Melisandre then pretended to swallow a bit of bile, to exaggerate her distaste towards the woman she claimed the King still had a love for.

Isabella Valentine (Va-len-teen) was the woman the Queen was talking about, also known as the all-so powerful pureblood Andrea Driarco's grand-daughter.

There had been many stories told about the two.

Andrea Driarco was the first and last pureblood known, she was central to the war of the supernatural centuries ago and was killed by the darkness that her special abilities brought upon her.

Andrea was loved by the most dominant leaders of almost every supernatural group. Oberyn the leader of the witches was said to have deeply fallen for her and King Creon's father who was the King at the time was scarily in love with Andrea, wanted her all to himself and hated anybody who laid eyes on her.

It was said that the alpha of the werewolves and demon king of that century were also fond of Andrea and when it came to decision time, Andrea was killed by her own failure to control the darkness that grew inside of her.

The same exact pattern occurred for her grand-daughter Isabella, although it was clear she had chosen the King over everyone else that wanted her. However, when it was exposed that she possessed special blood just like the Royals and was related to the woman who created conflict between the supernatural, it was said that King Creon went crazy.

Mainly because he believed the death of his father was caused by Andrea Driarco's wrongdoings.

"And... Why do you mention Isabella? This conversation is not to do with father's failed relationships mother." Cathryn groaned, burying her head in her hands out of frustration.

"I know it isn't, it's to do with Natalya..." Queen Melisandre stated in a sinister tone of voice that darkened the mood, "dear, I have reason to believe that there is some relation between Isabella Valentine and the Ascelyns."

What the-

"Wait- What did you just say!?"

It seemed Princess Cathryn shared the same reaction as me, I drew that conclusion from when I witnessed her bounce off the edge of her seat, stand up and bend her back whilst jerking her head forward in a whole load of shock.

"I have reason to believe Natalya and Alaric Ascelyn are the children of Isabella Valentine, why you ask? Well, because all of the evidence just seems to join up the dots."

"What evidence?" Cathryn blinked furiously in a mind-blown state of awe.

Queen Melisandre smirked whilst sipping on her glass of blood, "well darling, please allow me to explain."

Derek's POV~

"See you on the battlefield," Zac growled at the Black Witch's veiled face and whipped away from her before speeding away once again.

Alaric exhaustedly sighed at Prince Zachary stubbornness of being unable to come to reasonable terms with the witches, that stop him from not being able to stand in a room with them for longer than five minutes.

I subtly gestured that some of the boys Douglas and Terrence go search for the prince before we decide to ditch this place and head for the Shadowlands.

"How has my sister possibly fallen for a man she only met recently? It makes no sense, I know her, and I know she isn't that naive," Alaric interrogated the black witch after having received no answers from Oberyn or Kace Titan.

The black witch hummed in amusement, "oh my gullible Alaric, your younger sister has been paying the demon king secret visits for a long time, it's tragic that you are only finding out now. How could Natalya have not told you."

My jaw dropped open the same time that Alaric's jaw tensed. The other boys were glancing at each other, feeling the awkward atmosphere, which had risen and that I could also feel. Chris held onto a long-winded whistle that indicated the awkward sphere.

"She has been doing what!?" Alaric spat.

I pulled my bottom lip in between my teeth and anxiously watched Alaric grow with fury, "that sick King is probably trying to turn my little sister into a monster like he is!"

"You are right, you are very late dear, rumour has it that Lady Ascelyn is the devil's wife now," she sniggered underneath her stupid veil and we all squinted our eyes furiously at her, "good luck trying to get your sister back Ric."

The black witch passed him what looked to be a ruby stone and said, "this will open the portal for easy travel back and from Icilia and the Shadowlands. Only six of you may travel through the portal at one time."

Easy we only need five of us anyway. Zac, myself, Alaric, Chris and Xavier would do the job best, we knew Natalya the most.

"What do you suggest we do?"

The black witch sinisterly laughed again, "why would I help the enemy?"

"Because there was a time we had mutual respect, and I know you wouldn't abandon me and Natalya," Alaric suddenly softened his voice as well as eyes, lightening the mood and removing the tension that was once strong.

The black witch seems to fall for Alaric's plea for help when he states, "we aren't enemies."

"My dear Ric, unless you can get another girl that is as beautiful as your sister, you have no hope... We sent Evelyn to spy on her and haven't heard a single word back, so I don't know what you plan on doing."

Alaric was in mental conflict, eyeing the portal stone in his hand and then the Black Witch, "I will get her back, I know it."

"Good luck with that," the witch's eyes glimmered purple as a bit of laughter laced her speech. "Whatever you do, don't force her, she's safer with him than she is with Zac."

Why was Natalya so important to the witches? It made no sense, she was just a human girl with shocking beauty... Unless they were trying to piss off the prince, there was no other reason I could think of.

And if the witches wanted Natalya as desperately as we did, why were they oddly calm that King Preston had her in his hands.

Something wasn't sitting well with me... Was this a trap?

Were the witches in secret alliance with the demons? And if so, was our 'said' alliance with the demon king and his people a lie. In fact, was Preston Sterling playing both sides, the witches and vampires in order to seek the crown for himself?

It seemed that having Natalya on your side put you in the lead, but what did that mean then... Was Natalya special? And if yes, did that make Alaric special in the same way too. Well, something tells me we are heading towards a massive trap by entering that portal.

Nothing was adding up here and it made me jump to the conclusion, that maybe it wasn't because of the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, and demons that nothing was making sense. But, Natalya...

Something about her had always intrigued me from the beginning and the fact nearly every supernatural creature leader is after her, has me wondering...

"Okay Derek, Chris and Xavier you are coming with us. The rest of you go back to the castle and make sure everything including IMPRESS is in order and continue to search for the Nixonited-ink stake.

I need one of you to find Cassandra Pierce and bring her to us," Alaric instructed.

I wondered what his plan with Cassandra was...?

"Got it, Ric," Dario said as the rest of us nodded obediently.

If Natalya was with Preston, chances could be the nixonited-ink stake was also with him...

"Actually Alaric, may I speak to you..." The black witch demanded more than asked catching Alaric and everyone else's attention, before the witch added, "alone, please."

Ok then...

Alaric's POV~

"You said it yourself, I am not an enemy to you and your sister," The black witch Aeliana quoted my words of earlier after having lured me to a private room, far away from everyone else.

"I understand that," I nodded my head, taking her word for it.

"You have to know that I was good friends with your mother, I cared for her like she was my own, I promised your late-greatest grandmother Andrea that I would always be there with her family until the end," The black witch reminded.

I cocked my head to the side, arching my eyebrow as if challenging her promise to our great-grandmother since she was fighting for the other side. "How come you are fighting against us then if you claim that you promised our grandmother you'd protect us?"

The black witch's eyes flashed a royal purple and she urgently clasped her gloved hands around my arm, "Alaric, your sister is in grave danger. The prophecy shows that a powerful Ascelyn sacrifice will be the thing to restore peace."

"A powerful Ascelyn, how does that link to my sister? If a sacrifice is unavoidable and is to take place. I would rather me than my sister," I protectively exclaimed, tugging my arm out from her hands.

"It has to be Natalya. Between the two of you, she inherited the most from your late grandmother's special pureblood," Aeliana slowly created a little more distance between herself and I when my eyes sparked in curiosity.

"Yes but that does not mean my sister doesn't need protection, she is human... She is nothing like our grandmother Andrea, there is no darkness inside of her," I defended and Aeliana patronisingly giggled.

"I tell no lies dear, Natalya is more powerful than you know, her darkness is her greatest strength," Aeliana the black witch adjusted her veil as she continued to explain to clear my confusion.

"Her beauty, it's hypnotic and that's what attracts people to her, that's what makes them fall so easily. Then comes fire, the deadliest of them all, the same element that killed your parents," Aeliana paused and I waved my head questioning if she would continue...

"Why have you paused?" I asked, and she cleared her throat and smoothly answered, "no reason, I am just gathering my thoughts and that is all."

I squinted my eyes. Weird.

"We've also recently found out that she can manipulate the wind, turn people into living ice cubes and shield herself from any eye but the eye of a shadow demon, the black witch finished and I rolled my eyes.

I know my sister has abilities, almost more than I can on my fingers but that didn't change the fact she was the purest human in Aeralin.

"You are definitely lying to me, aren't you? My sister's the most innocent girl I know, nothing about her screams darkness."

"Alaric, I tell no lies. Didn't you find it weird that so many men, especially Lords and Knights were interested in your sister? You may not see it, but she has a dark aura and irresistible beauty about her. It doesn't help that her personality is both in a good and evil light."

I continuously blinked, trying to process every single detail the black witch was throwing at me. "And what happens after the sacrifice?" I asked, my voice coming out hesitant because of the pure awe I was in.

"A peace is restored, but it isn't clear what that is yet. All I know is the vampires and witches are fighting the wrong war. The real war is against the demons. Ashira, our leader after Oberyn, she had a vision recently. A vision that told her that King Preston has been plotting something behind our backs," the black witch's purple orbs dimmed as she glared.

"King Preston is planning to take Asten?!" I yelled out accidentally and the black witch covered my mouth with her gloved hand, "don't shout it out, shadow demons creep their way into our walls. We need to be cautious."

"Apologises, I am a little taken back," I held my hand against my chest, "and let me guess, he wants to use my sister as a weapon?"

The black witch shook her hand, "he genuinely loves your sister and demons don't tend to fall easily so you know the love is true. That dark aura I talked about is meant to be tamed by Nixon, but it seems the Nixon is feeding it, and this is making Natalya more and more desirable. Preston is a malicious person, he manipulates and can easily pull others to see things from his perspective... And his demon eye is more twisted than any vampire's."

"But, will he use her as his weapon?" I sternly asked again.

The black witch thought hard, "he wouldn't force her, but Natalya is as in love with him as he is her. They may even be soul mates. Even without manipulation, Natalya would feel a need to protect Preston and I think he is starting to know that."

It relaxes me that she is safe in the Shadowlands but discomforts me that she is needed for a sacrifice to achieve peace. "He wouldn't hurt her and that is fine with me. But, the problem is Prince Zachary-"

"He cannot come face to face with the demon king again, because when they do. The war will begin Alaric. It has been proven from past events that Natalya and Zac are as compatible as Natalya and Preston, she may not know it now, but she will want to defend them both on the battlefield because no matter the torture Zac put her through, she will find herself thinking of him still."

"And why is that?" I crossed my arms, realising that there seems to be a tradition for the women in our family to fall in love with a Beaumont (the royals) family tree.

"There is a continuous prophecy that's to do with your late grandmother Andrea's pureblood and its special connection with royal blood. It is said to have been created the moment Andrea fell for the King a long time ago. It seems to affect certain women in your family tree. Like your sister," Aeliana stated and I nodded, absorbing all this information like a dictionary.

"What is it that we can do to stop my sister's sacrifice?" I snapped back to reality with the biggest query that had been bugging me.

"It is impossible to avoid but I will try and find a loophole. In the meantime, keep the demon king away from the vampire prince and try and get your sister to see the light again because right now I am afraid she is heading straight into the dark."

Challenge accepted.

I will do anything to protect my sister, absolutely anything.

Natalya's POV~

"Natalya, my name isn't really Alex Silver," my breath hitched in my throat as I narrowed my eyes at the empty wall opposite me, my back to the source of the voice, "it's me..."

That bitch.

"Evelyn."

A scary adrenaline rushed throughout me when I clenched my fist and I was only seconds away from pulling the trigger on my abilities when I decided to turn to face the traitor and channel my upcoming outburst.

"You bitch!" I venomously spat, narrowing my eyes into slits at the witch.

Furiously shaking my head, I stormed towards the dumbfounded witch who wore a convincing disguise. Pfft, Alex Silver, my ass.

Evelyn must've clocked that I was moments away from blowing her head off her body because she started to back up and lift her hands in surrender with her brows knitted in confusion.

"Whoa, Natalya chill it's me," Evelyn yelled in a hushed manner, "what has gotten into you?"

My necklace sparked green and caught it in the same second that I looked down and momentarily snapped out of my rage.

I had Evelyn cornered against the wall when the darkness in me screamed for me to kill her. But before I could lift a finger, my necklace vibrated against my skin as force prevented me from hurting her with my ability.

"You think you're sly, don't you?" I squinted my eyes and enclosed my hand around her neck.

Evelyn sucked in a breath and appeared alarmed. "Sly?" "Natalya, what are you talking about?"

I sickly chortled with a psychotic smile, "I know about the notes, I know that you and the witches were the ones who were threatening to expose me if I didn't do what you said."

I knew what I had said had touched a nerve because Evelyn swallowed nervously, unable to meet my angry eye. She faced down and mumbled, "I don't know what you are-"

"YES!" I yelled, abruptly cutting her off, "YOU SURE KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!"

Evelyn frighteningly jumped at my madman of a voice and slightly widened her eyes, shocked. "What has he done to you,"