From Shadow to Light - Book Ten

Ch. 15- Hope is Dangerous

"You touch me and suddenly I feel a little less war torn. I'm not sure what peace is supposed to feel like but I think it may feel a lot like you."

—Amias Guinevere—

Here is a secret no one knows about except for her. One that I tried to stay buried for years and only when I met Soari Breevort did I have the courage to speak the words. I watched my parents get murdered right in front of me as I protected my siblings with all the strength I had at eleven years old. The killers, at least a dozen rebels, stormed into our home and plunged a wooden stake through their hearts while they were asleep and I simply just stood there. Utterly helpless to stop them. My mother, Alice Guinevere, screamed at me to protect Luc and baby Camille before she died and that is exactly what I did. I used my newfound Vampire speed to grab them from their beds and hide where they couldn't find us. It was an old house that stood tall for generations, a home made for children like we were. There was a secret passageway in between the bookshelves that no one knew about except for us, guaranteeing our safety.

Luc was awake by the time I locked the secret door behind me, asking questions nonstop as he held Camille in his arms, who was only fussing. We heard their voices at first, the killers. "Tell me where you are, little Amias!" the leader screamed, making me think he was right next to me. But he wasn't. He was in the living room along with the rest of his group. Luc, who looked similar to our mother in more ways than I ever could, opened his mouth in shock. I placed my finger to my mouth, shushing him from saying anything else. "What are you doing here?" the man questioned. Then we heard screams. The scent of blood slicing through flesh and finally death. Utter death made me scrunch my nose in disgust.

Our home was eerily silent then the secret door slowly opened, making me panic. I instantly grabbed a poker from the corner and held it up high against the intruder. The man's boots stepped in first, then the rest of his body that was known by hundreds of our kind. His dark brown hair and tanned skin was my only indication that he was here, but then I glanced at his onyx-colored eyes and the blood on his hands and realized that the great Sebastian Breevort was real. That he saved me and my siblings. I dropped the poker as relief and great sadness flooded through my whole body.

Sebastian crouched down so he can meet me at eye level, sparing Luc and Camille a glance before returning toward me. "Little Amias, it is nice to see you again. Although, under better circumstances." Here was this future King of Ambrosia who had nothing in his heart, and yet sympathized with my situation. It did not make sense.

"My parents are dead," I said simply. I turned to face my younger brother, who was crying blood-red tears instantly at my confession. "I'm sorry."

"There are always monsters that want to hurt those who have a relationship with the Breevorts, Amias," Sebastian admitted calmly, which made me turn to frown at him. "We tried our best to keep you safe. All of you. It was your parent's last wish to watch over you and your siblings, me and my family. Only if you let us."

"I appreciate you want to keep your word, but no," I shook my head in an act of defiance. "I will take care of them by myself because it is what my parents would have wanted." Sebastian blinked, surprise showing throughout his features but dimmed down within seconds. And that was that. He left as soon as he came, not before cleaning up all the blood and corpses lying in my house. And I never once told Luc or Camille what I saw that night. Sure, they asked questions about what happened but I only gave them the details I repeated in my mind over and over again. They were killed by a group of rebels and I acted bravely by grabbing my siblings and hiding them until it was clear.

I did not tell them that I saw it happen before my eyes. The only person I ever told was Soari, who hugged me tight when I eventually spoke those words. Her, who made me believe it was okay to relax for a minute. To put down the armor that I carried for years in order to keep my siblings safe. Who gave me the comfort and love I needed to let down my own shields that I built that night. And now her head was laying on my chest as she peacefully slept in my arms while I watched her with total admiration. Love that I did not think I deserved. Luc was sitting in the armchair beside us, his legs dangling from the side as he peered over at us. At me staring at her lovely beauty. "Do you know what Camille used to say to us?" Luc whispered so as not to wake Soari or Vincent.