Blood Ties (Blood Lust Sequel)--COMPLETED

Chapter Thirty-One: Prophecy pt. 2 (Audrey's POV)

"Nero, please. I need to know the truth."

He studied me, young face grave. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, only to snap it closed. Then his amethyst eyes darted up to Gabriel, almost pleading. "This would be so much easier if you could just remember."

Heat instantly radiated from Gabriel's direction.

"Just tell us what you know." He snapped.

"Fine." Nero shot back, unfazed by his big brother's tone. "Master had a witch lock him away two-thousand years ago, after his human mate died in childbirth."

"Wait," I interrupted. "Two-thousand years ago? How is that possible?"

He should have been my great-grandpa times ten at least. How could he be my great-grandfather if he started my lineage so long ago?

I wanted to ask about that, and so many other things about my heritage, but now wasn't the time. I shook my head and put up a hand. "Never mind. We can talk about that later."

Nero and Gabriel nodded in agreement. 

"Right, so Master had a witch lock him away?" Gabriel prompted.

"Yeah." Nero sighed. "With a blood spell. The blood of his dead lover was used to seal him away, and only the blood of his reborn kin could revive him."  

"Reborn kin?" I repeated. 

"It means a descendant of his that's been made Vampire." Nero clarified. 

I gulped. "Oh." 

Guess that meant that my dad and his dad before him were human when they died, or at least mortal. I wondered if they knew about the prophecy, if that was what kept them from turning. Or, if it was simply personal preference.

"He didn't want to come back only to lose another loved one." Nero said, regaining my attention. "And the witch didn't want him to come back at all. So she warned your grandfather. However, they both died before they could warn your father." 

"But why were my memories tampered with?" Gabriel interjected. "Why did Master not want me to remember his demise, temporary as it may be?" 

Nero looked at him, seeming so much older than his twenty years in that moment. "The old man-- Gildoroy. Master knew that Gildoroy wanted to usurp him, to become ruler of our kind, and he was afraid of what our father would do to get that power."

Nero paused to run a hand through his lavender hair. "You were Master's favorite, and he was terrified that Gildoroy would hurt you for information. So he Influenced you to forget everything until he came back. 

But in true, shady Gildoroy fashion, our old man used his powers to possess the witch and spy on Master. Once Master was locked away, he killed the witch, and eventually Audrey's grandfather."

"Eliminating the only other people who knew Master could be resurrected." Gabriel scoffed. "That manipulative bastard."

"So my dad didn't know about the prophecy?" I asked, searching Nero's gaze.

"No." Nero shook his head solemnly. "He was an infant when your grandfather was killed." 

I took a seat at one of the round tables, too overwhelmed to think. "Jesus."

We were silent for what seemed like forever after that. My brain just felt stuck, going over the fact Nero and Gabriel's dad killed my grandfather. Nero was good, and Gabriel, too, even though it hadn't always been the case for him. It was so hard to believe they could be spawned from such an evil man. 

"Are you sure we shouldn't just let this prophecy happen?" I asked, feeling bitter and snarky. "Surely my great-grandpa can't be any worse than your dad."

"That depends," Nero said, coming to tower above me. "Are you a fan of enslaving all of mankind?"

"If she becomes a vampire, it probably wouldn't matter to her." Gabriel added, grimly. "No Royal has ever been made Vampire; there is no way of knowing how she would react to the change. It could very well consume her, erase every trace of her humanity." 

I swallowed hard, and felt my heart drop. But before I could speak, the statue above groaned open, signaling someone was joining us. Seconds later, a skinny vampire with ivory skin and a bright-pink tank top stood with a hand on his hip.

"Lucius sent me to fetch you, my queen." He said with a bow. "I'm supposed to get you ready for tonight's ball."

I was numb at that point, struggling to process mine, Nero's, and Gabriel's conversation. Thankfully Gabriel took charge when I didn't stand to greet the new vampire, and did his best to send him away.

"Brad," Gabriel gave the new guy a curt nod. "Now is not a good time for the queen, I'm afraid. Perhaps you should come by later."

"But I can't!" Brad the vamp whined. "The ball is in four hours, and I have to get our majesty's dress stitched together before then."

Gabriel groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Nero started to say something, but I stood, and gave him a brief shake of my head before turning to face Brad. "Oh, you must be the seamstress. Sorry for not coming to you sooner."

His face lit up as I shook his hand, shifting to autopilot.

I didn't need to dwell on the past, not the prophecy or what vampires have taken from me. That stuff would still be there for me to reflect on later. What I needed to focus on was the AOD...and that stupid ball they were hosting.

"Don't sweat it, honey--er, I mean, your majesty." He corrected himself to give me a deep bow. "I know how distracting these boys can be." He stopped to eye Nero and Gabriel disapprovingly. "Come with me. We can discuss color and fabric on the way to my studio." 

He offered me his elbow, and I took it with a cordial smile. I glanced back at Gabriel and Nero, who wore matching expressions of grave exasperation, while Brad led me away from the pair. 

As he chatted away about wanting to go in a more sultry direction with my dress, I thought of a few helpful additions. Once we were outside, I looked up at him, and asked in a sweet voice, "do you think we could add a garter?"

Brad chuckled. "Ooh, sexy! I like it! Yes, we could definitely add a garter. Now, how do you feel about heels? Because I have a set of stilettos that would make your legs look killer." 

"I can do heels." I nodded. I was slower in heels, but I could manage well enough.

He squealed happily and started making a checklist of everything he wanted to add to my ensemble. While he did that, I was making a list of my own, one that started with finding a flask.

"A flask, huh?" Brad asked, sounding cheeky. "What, need a little alcohol to deal with that weirdo Havoc tonight?"

"Something like that." I mumbled, still numb, but now determined. Determined not to think about the prophecy, not until the AOD were dealt with. 

I held my head high as we walked, arm in arm, with Gabriel's advice from earlier stuck on a loop in my head:  You are the only female Royal in existence, queen of the vampires...Hold your head high and show that bastard just who is in charge here.

A/N*

Sorry if this seems short, but here's another update! I'm already halfway finished with the chapter after this, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait for you guys. As always, thanks so much for reading ❤