Basilisk (Dark Ominis Gaunt x OC gothic romance)

Chapter 13: Family Secret

Here's where she meets Prince Charming...

~~Ominis~~

"Not a pure blood?" He said in shock, his eyes going wide. He didn't give two shits about blood purity... but his family sure as hell did. His father was the one who organized this marriage though. How could he not know about that? He never would have allowed this if he knew.

"How? I thought you were..." he was so confused. He'd thought that the Drisa family were all pure bloods.

"It's a long story." Ariadne sighed, but sat up to talk easier, sounding uneasy. He certainly hoped she didn't take his surprise as a sign he was upset, so he quickly took her hand again, squeezing reassuringly.

She sighed in relief and he smiled, glad that he'd done that. She seemed so worried about this.

"I'm listening." He said softly.

She let out a weak laugh, leaning her head against his shoulder. Oh he really liked that, though.

"Lady Drisa tried for years to conceive, only to find out she was unable to. So she made a deal with her husband in secret." Ariadne said softly. "Her husband would find women willing to carry his children, and she would choose from those children to be her daughters. Those who weren't chosen were never allowed to carry the Drisa name."

Ominis blinked in shock. What a backwards way of doing things! But if a couple was that desperate for children, and the women were willing, then he could see how that would happen. Some families were... twisted like that.

"So your sisters...?"

"Not pure blood." She shook her head. "Any of us."

Ominis let out a long breath in shock. "We can never let my family find out." He said softly.

He didn't know what they'd do... but if they found out a half blood married into their family, they would likely do something drastic. Something horrible.

He curled his arm around her waist and brought her closer to him protectively, a soft sound of agony escaping him at the thought. Would they even... they might try to kill her just out of anger. He certainly wouldn't put it beyond Marvolo to do such a thing.

"No... it's why I was nervous saying anything. I know you probably don't care, because you said you didn't, but... no one else knows." She sighed softly.

"Even Marie?" He asked softly.

He heard a soft noise of unease from her.

"I should tell you... she's going to kill me, though." She sighed anxiously, resting her head against his shoulder again. "Marie is my half sister."

"What?" Ominis gasped in shock.

"She's the one who was bullied when we were little." Ariadne said softly. "She wasn't chosen by Lady Drisa, so I wanted to make sure she was well taken care of. So I had her be my handmaiden."

Ominis let out a soft breath. Even as adults she still took care of her sister.

But that explained why Marie had been so angry and so forceful with him the night he'd yelled at Ariadne.

"You're a wonderful sister, Ariadne." He said softly, kissing the top of her head gently.

He heard her heart pick up at the touch and smiled softly against her silken hair. So sweet.

"I'm glad you're not upset. I didn't mean to lie to you, it's just... a family secret."

"I know a thing or two about family secrets." He said flatly, thinking of the chamber of secrets in particular. "It's fine, Ariadne. I'm glad you told me, though." He said softly, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "Though I'll admit... it makes me a lot more protective of you."