Edited
It was hard to talk with so many people staring.
But what she was saying was important so she had to continue.
Most of them don't even look like they believe her.
Maybe she should have let her Granddad do this…
"And that's…pretty much it." Allena said, finishing her story. She had told them everything, about her mother and father, about how she figured they were the prince and princess from the story, and about the true story she had been told at the dance. She explained how Tyki had been helping her, how they had made a deal (The details of which she left out) and how he had been helping her collect information and try to figure out the truth. Allena then concluded with how Mana was the son of the Earl and she, therefore, was his granddaughter.
"If the Earl had two sons who were the main cause of this war, wouldn't he of told us about them?" Lulubell asked, her eyes never leaving Allena's face.
"I don't think he was allowed to…I think the council made him keep it a secret after they pretty much erased everything they could from memories and books." Allena watched her Granddad who gave a sad smile.
"She's right Lulu. Everything she has said so far is the truth."
"Then why?" Lulu seemed upset, her gaze finally turning to the Earl. "Don't you trust us?"
"Of course he does." Rhoad spoke up. "But think about it. In the story, Lord Millennium killed his son because of the betrayal he had committed by stealing the Heart. We all know that one-" Rhoad held up a finger, "the punishment for stealing the Heart is death and two-" she raised a second finger, "Lord Millennium has too kind of a heart to kill his own son. So logically-"
"The council forced Lord Millennium to kill Neah, carrying out the punishment." Tyki finished for her. It was the first time he had spoken since Allena had arrived. He had stared at her non stop until now.
"They probably would have made him kill Mana to, if he hadn't ran." Allena said, looking down at the table.
"And if they were cruel enough to make him do then, and proceeded to erase them form the dragon world, then what do you think they would have don't if the Earl had told any of us the truth? We would probably all be dead by the same fate as his sons." Sheryl explained.
"Then why are you telling us now?" Wisely asked.
"Technically I did not. A half nephlim half dragon child did. And, because of that half blood, she is therefore untouchable by the council." The Earl explained.
"Do we have any real proof that she is your son's daughter?" David asked, his boots on the table.
"Well there is the fact that she's a hybrid." Wisely said, rolling his eyes.
"As well as the fact that she is fifteen, meaning that her parents would have had to have the Heart to give birth to her." Lulubell added.
"There was also something you said earlier." Rhoad interrupted. "'Keep moving forward.' I remember that quote so well yet I can't place where I've heard it from. Earl?" She asked, looking over at him.
"It was something Mana said many times. He was very fond of you Rhoad, and you of him in your past lives."
Wait, lives? Did he just say lives?
"So if this guy disappeared with the Heart, where is it now?"
"I can't be sure…but I think it's inside of me." Allena said. The Earl tilted his head, giving her a questioning look.
"Well of course it is. Where else would it be?" Everyone broke out in gasps, Allena's jaw dropping.
"How?" Allena asked.
"Well, the Heart is a type of living thing. Inside the Arc it sustains itself, however, outside of the Arc it must have a life source to feed off of. When your mother took it, it merged into her body. Of course, when your mother passed away in childbirth…" He paused, giving her an apologetic look, "The Heart had to transfer to a new host to survive. It passed into you the day you were born."
A silence settled over the room, everyone letting the information sink in before Jasdero spoke.
"Wow, think of how much a fuck up Tyki would have been if he really had killed her."
After dinner, the Earl had explained that the Nephlim were no longer the enemy. If anyone encountered one, they were to avoid any physical damage and try to flee as soon as possible. The enemy was now only Apocryphos and the search for him was on.
Adam insisted that Allena stay in the main house until everything was over and done with, preparing a room for her. Allena couldn't seem to object, at least for now.
While Rhoad arranged her room, the Earl decided to give Allena a tour of the house, eventually ending up in his study.
"I don't let anyone else in here." The Earl admitted, setting his top hat on his desk. "Not really allowed to."
"Why is that?" Allena asked. Adam moved to a large drape slung over the wall, pulling it aside to show a giant family tree.
"No one else is allowed to see this." The Earl explained, motioning for Allena to come over. The girl was about to ask why but stopped when she saw it. Mana and Neah were still on the family tree.
In red was the name 'Adam' at the top, a line connecting his name to one in blue, 'Castella Campell.' A line came from the middle of theirs and down, separating into two with the names 'Mana D. Campell' and 'Neah D. Campell' written in blue. Across from Mana was another blue name, "Lydia Cross."
"Your mother." Adam said with a smile.
"SHE WAS A CROSS!?" Allena asked, leaning forward to make sure she was reading it right.
"Of course she was, why do you think Marian Cross took you in after Mana died? He is your uncle after all."
"UNCLE?"
"I thought you knew." Adam shrugged, Allena rubbing her eyes.
"The bastard never told me!"
"Language." Adam scolded, making Allena huff.
"Okay so…Cross is my uncle…why is Mana's name different?"
"That is his mother's last name. The only woman I married. After she died the boy's changed their names in her memory. It wasn't until Mana had to leave that he changed his name back to Walker and passed it on to you kids." Allena followed the lines bellow her mother and fathers name, finding her and her brothers names in red.
"So red means alive?" Allena asked. "And blue means passed." Adam nodded. "Then what about this purple name?" Allena asked, pointing to a name at the top which lead into a part of the tree not connected to the Earl's name.
"My sister. Purple means alive, but not at the same time."
"Like a zombie?" Allena asked.
"No." Adam said with a chuckle. "She hops bodies." He explained.
"Like reincarnation?" Allena asked, following the purple names and they popped up all the way down the tree.
"Almost. However, she has the power to choose who she will be born as next; as well as remember everything from her past life. So it's much like she is just hopping to different bodies whenever she chooses."
"She…" Allena came near the end of the tree, her finger stopping on a name she knew too well. "Rhoad!? Rhoad Camelot is your sister?" Allena asked.
"No." Adam answered. "She is my sister's spirit, but right now she is Sheryl's daughter and Tyki's niece."
"So, she is like…old." Allena said.
"Her spirit yes." Adam clarified.
"How many kids did you have?" Allena asked, noticing the multiple names to the right of Mana and Neah.
"Seventy nine." The Earl answered honestly.
"But Apocryphos said you only had three?" Allena said, reading down the line of names.
"Three that called themselves my children. Mana, Neah, and my Mirra. The rest of my children hated me because they did not inherit the Noah gene. They created two clans out of the five, not including the Noah clan. They sometimes give birth to children with the Noah gene and the child is usually shunned. Sometimes they get sent here but other times their parents just abandon them."
"So Mana, Neah, and Mirra were Noah's?" Allena asked.
"Mirra was not." Adam said, ghosting his hand over her name. "She was my youngest. She had a very weak constitution and was bed ridden after giving birth to the twins. When Neah died and Mana left…it was just too much for her. Mirra was the first child born without a Noah gene that did not care. To her I was her father, and despite having different mothers, Mana and Neah were her big brothers." He moved over to his desk then, grabbing a picture frame and bringing it over to Allena.
"She had silver hair like you." He said. "So it must come from my side of the family." Allena looked at the picture and smiled lightly. She was a small, mousy woman but she was pretty.
"Poor Jasdevi." Allena said, setting the picture down.
"There is no shortage of orphans in our family." Adam said, setting a hand on her shoulder. Allena continued to skim through the family tree until her eyes landed on Tyki's name. She instinctively reached out to touch it without thinking, her fingers ghosting over the red lettering. She moved up and was surprised to read Tyki's fathers name in red.
"Tyki's dad is still alive?" Allena asked. Adams smile turned into a frown as he put his hand on Allena's shoulder, leading her over to a set of chairs.
"I have not told them. Sheryl and Tyki are not the men they are supposed to be because of him. Telling them that their father is alive will only do more damage than good. I would rather let them believe whatever it is they believe than tell them that poor excuse of a man may turn up at any moment." Allena nodded, looking down at her shoes.
"Now, that being said…I know of your relationship with Tyki-pon." Allena looked up at him before blushing, hiding her face in her hands.
"I do not approve considering you are only fifteen. Perhaps if you were older then I wouldn't have a say but you are a child-"
"I know Grandad." Allena said, rubbing the back of her head. "It was stupid and I was wrong. It's not going to happen again though, trust me."
"Because he tried to kill you?" Allena bit the inside of her cheek, looking away.
"He said he loves me and then he eats a hole through my heart." She spat, feeling tears well in her eyes. "What kind of bull is tha-"
Allena stopped when she saw the look on her grandfather's face. He looked shocked, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open.
"He said he loved you?" The Earl asked. Allena nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Allena…do you know what the Noah of pleasure is known for?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" She asked.
"Tyki does not get attached. Ever since what happened with his father…he doesn't love, he just sleeps with a woman and tosses her aside, pardon my saying. This is…amazing."
"He tried to kill me granddad."
"Perhaps he was just afraid. Not only of losing his family…but also of getting far to close to you." Allena tilted her head, giving him a quizzical look.
"What do you mean?" She asked. Adam opened his mouth but stopped, closing it again and rubbing the back of his neck.
"I think, before I tell you anything else, you need to decide whether or not you are going to forgive Tyki." Allena looked down at her hands, fidgeting. "You do not have to forgive him Allena. Just think about it. Now," The Earl stood putting his arm out for Allena to take. "Let's go see if Rhoad has finished that room."
The room of course was decorated in white/sliver and black. Allena was surprised that Rhoad had been able to put all of it together that quick and to say that she loved it would be an understatement. She had a four post canopy bed, king sized (a bit to big for her liking but still good) with like…a million pillows. She had an attached bathroom, a walk in closet filled with clothes no doubt Road had picked out, a large vanity with a huge mirror, a dresser, a desk and chair, and little decorations such as pictures and a vase filled with white roses.
Rhoad chose out some pajamas for Allena, hanging off Adam as he gave his granddaughter a kiss on the head and bid her a goodnight.
Allena took a shower, brushed her hair and teeth, got into her pajamas, and went to bed.
At least, she tried to.
After a few hours of tossing and turning, Allena decided to go downstairs and try and find some tea to help her sleep. She was happy enough with herself when she remembered the way to the kitchen, flipping the light on and rubbing her eyes. She pouted when she realized just how many cabinets there were and how many places she was going to have to look to find a measly tea bag.
She climbed onto the counter and began rummaging through the first cabinet, then another, and another. Eventually, Allena decided to take a break, sitting on the counter and kicking her legs.
"Looking for something?" Allena jumped when she heard Tyki's voice, sending a glare his way as he walked into the kitchen, still dressed in his clothes from dinner.
"Just some tea." Allena bit out, not at all please at having been caught, especially by Tyki. Tyki scratched his head and then moved over to pantry, opening it up and peering inside. "Chamomile, lemon, honey and mint, black, or English blend?" Tyki asked.
Allena didn't want to talk to him but she figured if she did she would be able to get to her room sooner. "What brand is the English blend?" She asked.
"Tetley." He said. Thank god someone had a brain in this house. Allena clapped her hands and put them out, ready to catch whatever he threw her way. Tyki grabbed the box of tea bags and tossed it to her, watching the girl grab the box, hopping off the counter and grabbing the kettle. Tyki walked over to the fridge, grabbing a bowl of something that looked like whipped cream. Allena deducted it was the dessert from dinner. He watched her, grabbing a spoon and eating from the bowl.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Allena asked, turning on the stove and setting the kettle on the burner.
"The Earl hates it when we eat upstairs and I didn't really eat dinner. To shocked." He said, his golden eyes watching her every move.
"Right, sorry I didn't die when you made your tease eat a whole through my heart." She said, giving a sickly sweet smile her brother would have been proud of.
"I'm sorry." He said, stabbing the stuff in the bowl with his spoon. "But I had to protect my family." Allena stopped, thinking about what her Granddad had said before.
"Do you often try to kill the girls you love?" She asked dryly, grabbing the milk out of the fridge.
"You're the first." He said with a bit of amusement. "I wanted to ask you-"
"Just stop talking, okay?" Tyki narrowed his eyes but stayed calm, scrapping some of the dessert out of the bowl.
"You were the one who wanted to play truth in the first place." He said, watching her reaction from the corner of his eye. Allena grabbed the kettle off the burner, flipping the stove off and pouring some steaming water into her mug with the tea bag.
"Okay." She said, grabbing a spoon and mashing her teabag in the water, turning it a dark brown. "You wana' play truth. Fine." She wrung out the tea bag, throwing it away and pouring some milk into her tea. She grabbed the sugar then, thinking about her question, searching for something she knew would shut him up. She stiffened when she though of the question and spat it out before she could think about it.
"Tell me about the day your mom tried to kill you." Tyki's wide eyes told her that she had gone way too far. She knew it was a horrid question and now that it was out she felt guilty. "I…sorry." She said, finding the sugar and adding a few spoon fulls to her tea. She took a sip, feeling too guilty to turn and look at Tyki. She was about to turn and go back upstairs when he spoke.
"Tyki. Come here Tyki." Tyki looked up from his coloring book, his red crayon pausing midline as his mother called to him. He pushed himself up from his stomach onto his knees, setting his crayon down as he got ready to leave. He paused though, thinking of something his brother said.
"Don't let her be alone in a room with you Tyki." Sheryl had said. "Just please, for me." Tyki tilted his head, his curly hair falling over his shoulder. At seven he didn't really understand why his brother had said that. It was only mama after all.
Tyki had always been a momma's boy, eager to please the woman no matter the costs. Surely Sheryl wouldn't mind if he just spent a few minutes with her. He stood, brushing his pants off and walking toward his mother's voice.
He stopped again, this time thinking back to his sixth birthday. Surely she wouldn't try to do that again? She hadn't done anything recently…
"Tyki, momma's waiting." Said boy shook his head, putting on his best smile and running to his mother, burying his face in her dress. "What took you so long Tyki?" She asked, using her hands to pull Tyki's face up so she could look at him.
"I was coloring mama." He said blinking at her.
"You were?" She asked. Tyki nodded happily, waiting for her to ask what he was drawing or ask if she could see. "Tyki, momma has a surprise for you." The seven year old boy's mind suddenly changed course, the boy itching to know what his mama had gotten him. "Close your eyes and I'll give you your surprise." Tyki's smile slipped from his face. Something didn't feel right… "Come on now, you do want your surprise right?" Slowly Tyki nodded, closing his eyes and releasing his mama's dress.
He waited patiently, hearing the front door open and close. If she didn't hurry Sheryl would find them. A pair of hands suddenly tightened around Tyki's neck, causing the boy to let out a small choked noise. He opened his eyes, finding his mother a lot closer to him than before. She was on her knees, her face inches from his with her hand wringing his neck.
Tyki choked again, his young mind trying to figure out why he couldn't breath. His mother pushed forward, making him fall onto his back with her hovering over him. Her eyes were wild, tears leaking from the corners and a twisted frown tugging her lips. Tyki's mind didn't register exactly what was happening. This was his mama, she couldn't be hurting him, maybe something was wrong with him and she was trying to fix it.
"Young master Sheryl!" Tyki heard of the maids yell, his hearing becoming muffled and darkness clouding his vision.
"Die, die, die." She chanted, pushing harder on Tyki's throat. "Demon. Disgusting! WORM!"
"GET OFF OF HIM!" Tyki heard before his world went black.
Tyki woke up feeling dizzy, his neck and throat hurting more than he would like to admit. He felt heavy, and when he tried to move he realized why.
There was a body on top of him.
He could hear laughter in the room, but he didn't bother trying to find the origin, rolling his mothers body off of his own, his clothes covered in blood. His mama's eyes were lifeless and dull, blood covering her dress and dribbling from her mouth.
"Mama…" Tyki tried shaking her gently, wanting to get a reaction out of her. "Mama!" He said a bit more frantic, shaking her body harder. "Mama wake up! Wake up! Stop playing!" He stopped, scooting away from her body as he realized she wasn't going to move. He went to call for a maid when his eyes fell on Sheryl, sitting in the corner with a letter opener in his hand. His sleeve was covered with blood, a maniacal laugh filtering past his lips which were pulled into a terrifying smile. He had tears in his eyes, his face frozen in a look of twisted terror at what he had done.
"Sheryl…" Tyki slowly crawled over to him, the boy beginning to cry. He got no answer, just a more persistent laugh and Sheryl seemed to try and shrink back, the letter opener falling from his fingers. He suddenly grabbed Tyki and yanked him into his chest, hugging him tightly as if hell itself were trying to take his little brother away. But Tyki, being the young boy he was, only screamed in fear at his brothers behavior, and that was when the butler ran in.
"STOP! Stop just… stop please." Allena said, pounding on Tyki's chest with her fists. Tears leaked from her eyes as she moved back, covering her eyes as she cried. She didn't think he would actually tell her. She didn't think he would be able to…
Tyki gently took her arm, pulling her into his chest and hugging her. "Por Favor, não chore, meu amor." He said, running a hand through her hair. "I didn't mean to upset you. You asked for me to tell you."
"But I didn't think you would." Allena said, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry." Tyki continued to hug her, letting her cry.
"Let's get you back to bed." Tyki said, lifting her up. "I'll even sing to you to stop your crying." He said this with an amused grin carrying her up to her bedroom. "I apologize In advance." He said, setting her on the bed. "It's in Portuguese." He motioned for her to move to the pillows, the man helping her get into bed before he started singing.
"Bem lá no céu uma lua existe
Vivendo só no seu mundo triste
O seu olhar sobre a terra lançou
E veio procurando por amor
Então o mar frio e sem carinho
Também cansou de ficar sozinho
Sentiu na pele aquele brilho tocar
E pela lua foi se apaixonar"
His voice was soft and gentle, which surprised Allena. She expected it to be darker, deeper.
"Luz que banha a noite
E faz o sol adormecer
Mostra como eu amo você
Se a lenda dessa paixão
Faz sorrir ou faz chorar
O coração é quem sabe
Se a lua toca no mar
Ela pode nos tocar
Pra dizer que o amor não se acabe
Se cada um faz a sua história
A nossa pode ser feliz também
Se o coração diz que sim à paixão
Como pode o outro dizer não
Luz que banha a noite
E faz o sol adormecer
Mostra como eu amo você
Se a lenda dessa paixão
Faz sorrir ou faz chorar
O coração é quem sabe
Se a lua toca no mar
Ela pode nos tocar
Pra dizer que o amor não se acabe
Se a lenda dessa paixão
Faz sorrir ou faz chorar
O coração é quem sabe
Se a lua toca no mar
Ela pode nos tocar
Pra dizer que o amor não se acabe
Se a lenda dessa paixão
Faz sorrir ou faz chorar
O coração é quem sabe
Se a lua toca no mar
Ela pode nos tocar
Pra dizer que o amor não se acabe
Oh oh oh oh oh."
Tyki smiled lightly when he came to the end of the song, wiping away a stray tear left on Allena's cheek. He had indeed stopped her crying.
"What did it mean?" She asked him as he leaned again on one of her posts, making sure the canopy was in place.
"It's a story." Tyki said. "Uma história de nós dois." He added with a grin. "Well there is a moon in the sky…and he is very lonely and sad. He looked out over the Earth and ended up falling in love with the Sea. She was also alone and cold in the world but she fell in love with the moon's touch. It's a song about love and passion, about how love never ends…and you have a story set out for you, so listen to your heart."
"Is that really what the song was about?" She asked.
"Among other things…that's the basis though." He said with a shrug. "Now go to sleep." He added, leaning forward and moving the canopy aside to gently kiss Allena's lips.
The girl allowed the simple motion to happen, feeling as though she had to make up for making him talk about his past. "I still don't forgive you." Allena said as Tyki hovered over her.
"Eu não ligo se você me odeia, Eu não vou te deixar." Tyki said, moving hair away from her forehead before placing a kiss there and leaving the room.
For some reason, Allena felt eased and she gratefully slipped into sleeps embrace, dreaming of a Moon and Sea that fell in love.
"Please don't cry, my love."= "Por Favor, não chore, meu amor."
"A story of you and I." Uma história de nós dois."
"I dont care if you hate me, I'm not leaving you." "Eu não ligo se você me odeia, Eu não vou te deixar."