The Realm of Truth (Book 1) [In the process of editing]

Chapter 27: Mind Control

(Odette's POV)~

Well, what do you know? A vampire-witch hybrid. Is this a joke? How can that be a thing? I can't help but think to myself that hybrids don't really exist. "Please, tell me you're joking." I said, with my hand over my head. I rubbed my temple slowly.

"Hybrids exist. We're just an extremely rare species." Ambrosius explained some more, but he was very careful on his wording of choice. "We possess the eccentric abilities from the combination of both. So for example, if a witch and a vampire get married, sometimes the results are what you see in front of you."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, if you're a hybrid-"

He nodded, "My father was a vampire. He divorced my stepmother when she died from a fatal vampire bite. She was human, and he let her die." For some reason, that rang out to me. Like, I was starting to get a headache from hearing that. It was like I was starting to remember something. "Then he moved to Salem, where he found my biological mother. She was a witch. Her surname was Murphy."

"Murphy. As in...Esme Murphy?!" I exclaimed. "Esme is your biological mother?!"

Suddenly, someone walked through the doorway and I almost wheeled around in attack mode. I was prepared to make whoever entered in my hostage. "Calm down Odette, it's just me." She declared, walking over to stand near us. I was in utter shock. For someone I've known for a century, I didn't think that this would be even possible. "And if you're wondering, yes, Ambrosius is your half brother." She looked at Ambrosius and grabbed the knife that was embedded in his hand and pulled it out. Ambrosius yelled out in pain and she sighed.

She cleaned the silver blade with a handkerchief that was pulled from her pocket. "You're immortal, son." Esme said. "It wouldn't hurt you even if she tried."

A waiter walked over to us and took the blade from Esme. She asked them to take it to the sink and clean it. Then, he replace the one on the table.

"I had to make it believable." Ambrosius muttered. "I can't really put on a good show and let Odette know that I was weaker than her if I can't fool her."

"So, what's this about anyway?" I asked. "Why tell me all of this? Are Hazel and Claire really my cousins?"

"Nope, they were just under my control and you basically freed them." Ambrosius clarified. "They were human, and look around, Odette." I did as I was told. I watched as everyone came in and went to work. "Everyone you see here is all human."

"Except for us." I noted, keeping my focal point where it needed to be. I took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay...now I know for certain that my family is a bunch of psychopaths."

"Your biological parents weren't." Esme mentioned to me. "They took care of you until your mother passed and you were taken in with the Brown family."

"I was a foster child?"

"Technically. Your dad left you when you were really young."

"Ouch. So, is he still around?" I looked at Esme for an answer but she said nothing afterwards. "Got it. I was ditched as a child. So why me, then? Why do you have me hunting for blood? I get it, you guys are low on numbers, but you shouldn't have had to compel me."

This time Ambrosius spoke up. "The only reason why I did it was because you wouldn't have agreed to it. The humans here that you see right now...are about to be a part of my own coven."

I decided to let everything sink in for a moment. I was considered speechless. Ambrosius and Esme walked away to give me some space. They needed to clean up Ambrosius wound.

It had been several hours of them giving me the full story since this morning and I had them tell me more about their plan when I'm fully recovered. Then, when I was fully recovered, I gave a sigh of relief when I saw Damien walk through the doors.

"Hey," he said, with one of his kind smiles. "There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you. You know, it's boring when you're in the hotel room by yourself? I flipped through a bunch of porn videos on my phone, and none of them really-." I smiled back and snickered when he suddenly blushed. "Okay, that shouldn't have come out of my mouth."

"Hi." I replied back. There was a crack in my voice that surprised me. I felt a tear running down my face and I hesitated for a moment. I broke through that hesitation when I hugged him. I buried my face into his chest and he was surprised. Damien wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. Humanity at its finest. I sighed.

"Did they hurt you?" He whispered in my ear.

"Sort of, but not physically, if that's what you're asking." I mumbled.

"What did you find out?"

"Ambrosius is my half brother." I choked out, and that made him silent. "Esme is his biological mother who married my dad, a vampire. Therefore...hybrid child."

"Oh my god." He said. "A witch and a vampire. That's not a good combo."

"On top of that, he's creating his own coven here, Damien." I looked up at him. "He's using the lives of innocent humans that work here and have compelled them to do what he says. I have been compelled to do what he says."

He shook his head. Damien was the type of guy who wouldn't also back down from a fight. He protected me when I was meant to protect him. I'm supposed to be strong for him, and to make sure that he doesn't die on me. We made that promise together.

"Are you kidding me, Odette?" He asked. "He's asking you to spill more blood! Why? Why the heck does he need you to do his dirty work?"

"Because my plan is simple, Mr. Carter." Ambrosius suddenly announced. "I'm ready to show the world that humans are no longer in control. We are."