CHAPTER 276: _NO RUNNING FROM BLOODLINES

"What?" I blinked, my hand slowly dropping from my forehead when I heard Caroline’s report.

Her eyes glinted with determination under the dim lighting of the Hallway as she glanced around before grabbing my arm.

"We need to go somewhere private." She whispered as she pulled me with her.

She was heading in the direction of my room, and that was the last place I wanted to head to right now.

"Caroline, wait." I froze, forcing her to pause in her tracks. I let out a sigh before continuing. "I know a spot outside where we can talk..."

.

.

We walked out of the mansion and headed toward the inner gardens in the compound, ignoring the guards who kept watch. I noticed the judgmental looks they gave me, but I couldn’t care less.

Not right now with everything going on in my head.

"We’re here," I spoke up when we finally got to the destination, turning to face Caroline, whose face was scrunched with uncertainty. "So, are you with the letter in question or...?"

"Are we sure this is a safe spot to talk, ma’am?" She queried, causing me to roll my eyes.

’Girl, calm down. You aren’t yourself right now.’ Sirena spoke up in my head but I gave a mental scoff.

’Yeah, that’s the point. I want to be left alone. Who knows if my magic awakened in some weird way that gave Lord Ryker access to possess that poor maid?’ I spoke worriedly, folding my arms in front of my chest. ’I’m avoiding people for their own good.’

"Caroline, are you about to share some secret tea recipe she left behind? Is the letter really that serious?" I asked with a deadpan tone, my voice laced with sarcasm and frustration. "Just tell me what it is or show it to me."

Her shoulders dropped the second I finished saying all that, the seriousness in her expression turning to concern.

Crap...

"Are... Are you okay, ma’am Odessa?" She asked, her voice hesitant. "I know the scene with the maid might’ve been... Traumatic. But—"

"Might?" I repeated, flinging my arms into the air. "Caroline, come on. If you don’t have anything to say, I’m sorry but I—"

"I... I tried to keep it safe. But..." Caroline sucked in a breath and suddenly blurted, "The letter got torn! It... It got torn but I still remember what was in it."

I furrowed my brows, tilting my head.

The garden was silent apart from the chirping of night birds and crickets, and an owl even hooting once in a while from a nearby apple tree.

"How did the letter get torn?" I questioned, staring straight into her eyes and watching as she tried hard to avoid my gaze.

That look in her eyes.

It was as if she...

’Yep. She’s definitely hiding something.’ Sirena completed my line of thought for me.

Huh...

"It’s... It’s a long story." Caroline finally said with a sigh, waving her right hand dismissively. "I should have told you sooner and I’m sorry for not doing that."

Dear gods, she’s taking too long.

I closed my eyes, taking in a few deep breaths.

My emotions were all over the place and that was a bad sign. I could feel my magic prickling just underneath my skin and a soft whisper in my head that didn’t belong to Sirena or Kaelos.

"So much power yet you want to hold it back. But for how long?"

I swallowed hard, trying my best to ignore the whisper and plastering a smile on my face. I will not let the Lord of the North control me.

"Tell me what the letter said."

Caroline stared at me for a few seconds before she nodded and cleared her throat:

"I fear I waited too long to act. The signs are no longer silent. There is no running from bloodlines.

I’ve hidden truths to protect her. And now I fear I’ve delayed the inevitable.

Someone is watching. Something dark and chaotic is stirring. If you’re reading this, protect her now more than ever. There are enemies hidden in places you might least expect."

I parted my lips when she finally stopped speaking.

There was a drawn-out silence at first before she continued. "That was it. I made sure to memorise it, but I don’t even know what most of it means."

Out of all the things Caroline just narrated, one sentence stood out more than anything.

There’s no running from bloodlines...

The wind suddenly picked up pace in the garden, causing leaves to rustle and my lush blonde hair to blow into the wind behind me.

I subconsciously held my right arm, sighing heavily before nodding at Caroline. "It’s... It’s a lot. But let’s keep it in wraps till tomorrow. I think we all... Need rest more than anything right now."

I turned away from her, my gaze landing on a small pond at the other side of the garden.

"Odessa, should I get you anything?" Caroline asked from behind me as I began walking toward the pond. I paused, my grip on my arm tightening.

My fingers slid and subconsciously touched the magic bracelet which was still wrapped around my wrist.

Could the elders of the Luminari coven feel the chaos stirring inside me? Who are the enemies hidden in places I can’t expect?

’Fuck all this...’ I thought to myself before responding to Caroline. "I’m fine, Car. Thank you. Just head back inside and get some rest."

"But—"

"Good night, Car."

I continued walking, my steps on the grass brisk and crisp. My ears perked up when I finally heard her leave after standing behind me for several seconds.

When I got to the pond, I stared at my reflection and that of the moon shining like an orb of divine light from the sky. But then slowly, the moon’s light started getting blocked by clouds.

I didn’t bother looking at the sky, tilting my head as I watched the water stir. The wind stilled and the birds and crickets stopped chirping.

There was just silence.

And then...

My reflection in the pond’s water twisted shape, morphing into someone else. A face covered in shadows.

And it smiled at me.

"I’m the only one who can show you who you really are..." That voice from earlier echoed in my head again.

And the scary part?

I believed it.

(IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN AUTHOR’S NOTE)