This chapter is dedicated to sk8terchick124 for her help with the topics in this chapter. I hope I didn't disappoint! XD Don't forget... reviews make me write faster. PM for special requests. now enjoy! XD

Chapter 22

The Three Powers That Be

Everyone was silent for a moment. I gave a nervous laugh and looked at Alexander like he was a stranger. Probably is for all I know… well don't know. "You wanna run that by me one more time darling?"

"My first astral projection attempt was just before my former body died. I had to wander and wait a few years before my parents conceived again so I could settle my spirit in the new body that I have lived in for now almost 26 years." He explained as if I should have known already. I sold my soul to a complete stranger. I don't know anything about his life except he's a Romanian, pureblooded, royal, vampire artist. That's five details of his life. Out of ten years. I just learn of his abilities (probably not all of them) only two days ago. I need some space…

I get up to leave and the kids look up at me. "How about we continue this tonight after breakfast. It's been a long… disturbing night and it's way, way past everyone's coffin time. Come on, time for sleep." My little vamplings got up and headed for their room and I turned to Alexander.

"Raven, we have an eternity to learn new things about each other. Right now, it's best for you not to know every single detail of my existence. There will be a time when I am certain you are ready, where I can bare all secrets and mysteries to you. That time will come, I swear to you, but it's not now." I looked at him like the stranger he was to me and left for my coffin. I checked in on the children and was pleased to see they were asleep in their coffins already. I made sure the curtains were drawn tight. Picked up a few toys and objects here and there. When I left there door cracked as I exited, I saw Alexander waiting for me. "Come sleep with me. I shouldn't have pushed you away like that. You belong at my side."

I looked into his eyes and said something that I knew hurt him as much as it was hurting me. "I don't even know you. You've made the biggest fool out of me. I think I would prefer to be in my own coffin until that time comes." I went to my room leaving him there without even a kiss good morning and shut my door. Jameson had replaced my bed mattress with new sheets. I got into my coffin, closed the lid, and didn't sleep a wink all day.

When the sun was beneath the horizon, I rose from my coffin. It was 7:35pm. I didn't have to be at work until 11pm. I searched through my drawers to see what Billy brought over. I pulled out my fluffy black corpse bride robe and wrapped it around myself before padding out the room to the bathroom. By the time I was done vomiting into the toilet, Alexander came in. "Good evening, my love. How are you feeling?"

"Leave me alone, Alexander," I told him tiredly. "Get out, I need privacy." I was still on the floor with my face in the toilet. Alexander came over and squat down behind me.

"Stop this Raven," he said as he wrapped his arms around me. "You know the most important parts of who I am. I am the man, or if you prefer, Romanian-pureblooded-royal-vampire-artist… who is completely and madly in love with you. I am your eternal mate, your husband. I am a father to your children. I do everything with you in mind. Since meeting you my life has revolved solely around you. What I have done, and been doing all this time, has been solely for you. The secrets I keep are only to protect you and only until you are ready. The only thing that is different about the man you fell in love with now, is that I've grown, matured even, I'm lonelier, and I'm just learning how to be a father and make you happy again. Which seems to be what I am failing at…" Alexander continued to hold me. I could only turn in his arms and wrap my arms around him. He leaned back and held me like that until I accepted that he wasn't going to tell me anything until he was ready. He lifted me off the floor and started the shower. I brushed my fangs and followed him into the shower. He had his back to me and I embraced him from behind.

"I take it back. I want to stay by your side, always. Can I still sleep with you in your coffin?" Alexander turned and pulled me under the water spray. Our coffin. I should have never pushed you away. I'm sorry Raven. I love you and I want to always be close to you. "I love you too." We washed and got out of the shower. Alexander wrapped me up in my robe and a towel around his hips. We could hear the twins whispering in their room so I looked up at Alexander and realized he was already tuned in to what they were saying. So I focused my hearing to pick up on their conversation too.

Alexandria

For some reason, I couldn't stop crying after sunset. Sometimes during the day, I wake up just to cry. I'm not hurt or anything. Just sad, I guess. It used to be because I didn't know my dad, and would think that he didn't love us. Even though, mommy told us stories about him I would think that she was making it up like some gothic fairytale. I always asked her why he wasn't with us, and she'd give us the same excuse that never made any sense to me. If he was a royal vampire, then so were we… right? Wouldn't we be important enough to stick around? Other times I'd cry out for him so he'd come and make mommy stop crying. All the black makeup in the world could never cover her puffy red eyes. I love my mommy, but sometimes I feel like Alex and I aren't good enough for her, I feel like she doesn't love us enough to heal her broken heart. I used to wish that Luke were my daddy because the one she spoke of didn't seem real. But then he came. And I realized everything she said was true. I'm an awful daughter for not believing her all this time.

Alexander II

I woke up to a heavy feeling of sadness that called to me. Lexy? I got out of my coffin and tapped on Lexy's. She opened it and I saw her face was wet with tears. When she saw me, she threw her arms around my neck and cried on my shoulder. Like the many times that I've had to do this, I picked her up and placed her in my coffin. When I climbed in next to her, I closed the lid and held her hand. "What is it this time?" I asked my twin.

She hiccupped a couple of times before talking. "Alex? Do you think mommy and daddy love us? I know they try to, but I feel like they can't. Mommy is always crying when she's home, and then at work all the time. Every time she tries to do fun stuff with us I catch her with a sad face. I have to be strong and happy for her even when I'm not and… and…" then she starts crying again, and I hold her close to me. "We can't make her happy, Alexander… she doesn't love us!"

I understand how Lexy feels. And not just because I can feel all of it, but because I actually understand it. It's how I feel sometimes. But I can feel mom's feelings too. "Lexy, it's not true. Believe me. Mom actually loves us more than anything. She loves us more than she loves dad. She's always sad and crying because she feel like she's not good enough for us. She wants us to have better things in our life to be happier. Like dad. She was going to be okay if he didn't want to love her anymore. She only wanted him to be with us. She was also sad because she had to keep us a secret to protect us from bad vampires. Mom loves us Lexy. So don't say that. Promise?"

Lexy stopped crying, but now her nose, cheeks, and eyelids were red and puffy. "How do you know?" she asked with her baby voice.

"Mom said I can't assume the reasons behind what I feel, but… I don't know; it's weird. Sometimes, once in a while when I'm really covered in someone else's feelings, they start to feel like my own, and I get these images or flashes… I can almost hear their voice like they're speaking in my head… like when Zander and I talked. Whenever it happens I just kind of know, you know?"

"No." She looked lost and it made me feel a little frustrated because I don't know what's happening to me. I can't even really explain it. "But if you say so, then I believe you." Lexy smiled. It was a real smile, not the fake one she puts on for everyone. But a smile that reminded me of a picture I once saw of mom as a kid, the kind we never saw on her until the night we met dad. We haven't seen it since. I hugged Lexy and put a handful of her hair in her face to annoy her. She whined, "Aaaallleex," and tried to do the same to me, but I tickled her before she could. She laughed and twisted and I started laughing when she bumped her head. Then we were both laughing until we heard a knock on my coffin lid. I guess it's time to get up.

Alexander

I tuned in to my children. Their conversation, their thoughts, and their feelings were completely open to me. My heart broke for them, and I wanted to do everything to assure them of our love for them. I want Lexy to show me her true smile. And I don't want my son to feel like he's all alone in the world. I told Raven to get dressed as I listened to our children. She wanted me to find my place in their lives so she left. Quickly she came back with my pair of dark grey sweat pants and boxers. I quickly dressed in the hallway and went into the room to knock on the coffin door. 'I guess it's time to get up.' I heard my son think. When he lifted the lid, the sight of Alexandria's puffy face from crying but alight with laughter squeezed at my heart. And Alexander's sleepy face trying to hide the evidence of his playful nature called to my soul. These were my children. I'll be damned if they don't know what that means to me. "Good evening my children?"

"Good evening," they replied in sync.

"I have a plan for you both before your mother goes off to work and before Jameson starts your lesson." I started. This was something I thought of after the first night I met them.

"What's the plan?" my son asked as he sat up in his coffin. Lexy yawned from her lack of sleep, but tried to pay attention.

"We're going to play a game of hide-and-seek," I stated then added, "using our powers." Now they were interested. How will empathy help in hide and seek? I heard Alexander's thoughts.

"How are we going to do that, daddy?" my little girl asked me as she sat up and sat in the coffin next to her brother.

"Alexandria, do you remember last night when I told you that you've both inherited my gifts?" She nodded and Alexander looked confused. "You have my necromancy. And Alexander, my son, you have my empathy. You said Zander was telepathic. That is another extension of my powers." They gaped at me and I chuckled a little. "There are many powers to a pureblood. And you, my children, are no exception. Your powers will continue to grow. Some may be stronger than others. But you will without a doubt harbor more than one. Yesterday, while your mother was resting, she had her first astral projection experience, I can teach you both to do that as well as fly. There are many taught abilities for vampires and because there is also royalty lacing your blood, it is expected that you know them as well. But as for your inner power, that is a trait of our bloodlines that go all the way back to our ancestors; Necromancy, Telepathy, and Empathy. Vampires that are of higher status in hierarchy, will have more. And the ones that are lower, will have less." I explained to them in terms they'd understand.

"What do you mean hierarchy? And status? Where does that put us?" My son was very bright and I knew he'd be a fine heir.

"For that, my son, we will have another time to discuss our family history, and what that means for you. Alexandria must learn of this as well, but as my heir, it will be in your best interest to fully understand where we come from as not only vampires, or Royalty, or as a Sterling, but how all three became who we are now." He was very attuned to my every word and I could hear the thoughts and questions filtering through his mind. I placed my hand on his shoulder and said with a laugh to relax him, "Like I said, we will have another time to discuss it." he smirked and nodded.

"Now as for that game, Alexander wanted to know how his powers would work. You and your sister will hide anywhere in the mansion. Outside is forbidden for this game for now. Alexandria, you will call granny and ask her to help you hide. She built this place and knows it's every secret. Go!" Alexandria sped to the door and I could feel my granny's presence within the house waiting for her. I turned to Alexander now.

"My son, I heard what you told your sister when explaining what you were going through with your powers. They are simply growing. Like me, you will hold the three Sterling trait powers, with Empathy being your stronger suit. Sensing the dead and their feelings is a part of the Necromancy that your sister hasn't tapped into yet. And as for seeing and hearing what others are experiencing, that is a part of your telepathy. I am very proud of you. It is my honor and duty as your father to guide you all in developing, but most importantly, controlling your powers. Did you know that you could turn them on and off at any time?" His eyes widened and he slowly shook his head. "I will be the one to know what you're feeling as you are hiding. It will be your job to focus on silencing your emotions. As I look for you, I will only use empathy, and for Alexandria, necromancy. Go now. I will give you fifteen minute before I come looking for you." Alexander got up and sped to the door but turned around. I began to stand until I noticed he stopped and turned. I watched my son run to me he hugged my neck tight, and immediately I embraced him.

"Thanks dad." He said. I let him go and he sped off to hide.

"Anytime, my son." I said after he left. My heart tightened and I felt… like I found my place in their lives. I feel like… a father.

Raven

I stood outside the kids' bedroom door and listened to him spend time with the kids. I was so happy that he could be there for them and help them the way I couldn't. After Alex had left to hide, I stood in the doorway and leaned against it. I watched Alexander holding his hand to his heart and I knew it was filling with love. For his children, as I knew it would. I walked to him and he noticed me. When he held out his hand to me I gave him mine and he pulled me into him. He kissed my lips and I kissed him back. "Congratulations, you're a father!" I said. He smiled.