The Heirs

Ethan: Invitations and Plans

Chapter 12:

(Ethan POV) -Albuquerque-

Days passed by and none of us could think of a plan. Damira was stuck and now every single one of the Cunningham's were going to be watching her at all times making sure she didn't run away again. Dad was still against helping her because he thought that she was trying to hurt us. Gabriel hadn't been out of his cabin in years and had no idea what resources they had within the fortress or who she was supposed to marry. Mom was just in a weird headspace and the rest of my Aunts and Uncles agreed with Dad that this was a bad idea.

I stayed away in my room trying to think of something that I could do when I heard a knock at my door. I didn't respond but, heard the door open and saw Dad coming in, "I really don't want to talk right now." He continued to come towards me not saying anything. "Dad what do you want?" He just handed me something, "What is it?' I turned it over and saw that it was an envelope addressed to the Royal Family of Albuquerque and an invitation:

You are cordially invited to the wedding of:
Lady Clara Beaumont Cunningham Everton of the Kingdom of Albuquerque

and
King Edward Richard Welshire of the Kingdom of Welshire
at the Albuquerquen Mountains

We hope you are able to join us on this joyous occasion in three days time.

Clara? I tried thinking of what this meant when I remembered what Gabriel said Mira changed everything about herself including her name. "What does this mean?" I asked turning to face him. His features softened, "Ethan we can't let this continue. We can't let this marriage happen." I was getting excited Dad was finally coming around, "Exactly we need to get Mira out of there." He shook his head, "No, we need to make sure that none of them get out again." I wasn't sure what he meant, "We are going to close off the mountains permanently and we are never opening them again. We won't be delivering food or supplies or anything else." "So, you are locking them away forever. No way in, no way out" I said. He nodded his head, "And Mira?" He shook his head, "There is nothing that we could do." This time I shook my head, "No there is something you could do, you just won't." He sighed, "You're right I won't. I can't put you all in danger anymore. Keeping them alive was always a risk but, out of respect toward your Mom I agreed to what she wanted but, now I can't let this continue anymore. I'm sorry Ethan." He closed the door as he left the room as I stared down at the invitation.

(Hugo POV)

I couldn't believe what I saw when I opened that invitation. They had the nerve to use her name. My Clara. They tried to taint her memory even further and now they were aligning with Welshire. They couldn't make it out of this alive. No one involved could. I already spoke with the family and they agreed with me. We would warn others who were invited to not attend but, at this point there was bound to be some innocent bystanders who were going to get caught in the crossfires. I couldn't tell Ethan this but, after the mountain was sealed off of sorcerers were going to create an avalanche killing all who were trapped inside.

"Hugo, did you tell him?" Sofia asked and I nodded my head. "I still don't agree with this," she spoke softly and I sighed. "Sofia at this point this is the only choice that keeps our kingdom safe. We can't let them align with King Edward." She sighed, "I know. Even if it weren't for what happened to Clio and what almost happened with Hildegard we could never let them align with Welshire." I looked over at her, "I have read the Complete History of the Kingdom of Albuquerque more times than any one else in the family. I know. Welshire is one of the kingdom's whose land was gifted to one of the founders and if she were to marry him, they would have a strong claim to our throne. And if the only thing standing in their way to our throne, they will get rid of every person in their way." She said. I went over to her and wrapped an arm around her, "Ethan isn't going to take this well." She nodded her head, "I know." She leaned her head against my chest, "He is never going to forgive us." I took a breath, "He will one day." She looked up at me, "Would you forgive anyone if it was me." We kept leaning against each other. We heard a knock on the door.

I went up and saw Gabriel come in holding an envelope in his hand. "I know that you have a plan for what to do with Damira, but apparently she did as well." He handed me the envelope and the first piece of paper is the same invitation that we had received but there was a second piece of paper. I pulled it out and looked over the note.

Gabriel,

The moment that you receive this invitation please tell my plan to the King and Queen. The wedding is planned for three days time. All the guests will be arriving in three days. Keep an eye out for them, some may be supporters of the Cunningham's or the Welshire's however most of them will be here the night before the wedding. I can only imagine what you guys are planning but, we both know there is only one way that this can end and where the most people can live. The King of Welshire is arriving soon he will be deep in the prison in the manor. The night before the wedding I plan to end this all. Tell them to do whatever they have to do to make sure that no one can enter or leave then. Strike then.

Also I need to ask for one last favor. Tell Ethan that it isn't his fault and that I wished that things could have been different, but I don't regret it. Any of it. Maybe in another lifetime.

Thank you for my freedom, however short it was,

Damira

I looked up at Gabriel, "What did she mean by 'end this all.'" I watched as he took a breath, "Damira always had a doomsday plan if she was ever trapped there again. She is going to kill herself before they can marry her to someone else, but she is also assembling all your enemies in one place and giving you a clear shot to end this. Make sure you take it." He turned to head out before looking back at me, "I have a small window between when she is going to kill herself and when you are going to seal them off. I am going to try and get her out." I went to stop him, "You can't do that. It is a suicide mission and you might alert them of our plans." He sighed, "She is the closest thing I have to a daughter. I can't leave her to die. Besides if you send someone in, they are never going to expect that you are willing to let them die as well. I am volunteering to do this sire and there is not much that you are able to do to stop me." I nodded my head, "Good luck." He nodded his head and left.

(Ethan POV)

I walked through the halls and made my way to Emma and Mia's rooms. Alden was sitting with Mia and Emma. The conjoined door was open and I walked over to join them. I sat down next to them and we were all quiet. Mia then started to cry followed by Emma. I wrapped my arms around them and so did Alden. When they started to calm down I asked, "Do either of you want to talk about it?" Emma looked up at me, "They kept saying that this wouldn't have happened if Daddy made the right choice and that we shouldn't even exist. What did Daddy do?" I looked over at Alden and he wasn't sure what to say either. I took a breath, "They are mad because Dad married Mom and they wanted her to marry their daughter instead."

I held onto Emma a little tighter and looked over at Mia. "Mia are you alright?" Alden looked up at me, "She hasn't said anything since they got back." I nodded my head again and held onto her arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Emma held onto me tighter, "Where is the lady that helped us?" "She isn't here anymore. She is with..." I wasn't sure what to say, "she is with the people who raised her. She did everything she could to keep you and Mia safe." She lifted her head up against my chest, "Why isn't she with you?" "She can't be..." I whispered. She nodded her head, "Well then she wanted me to tell you something. She wanted me to say that she is never going to regret it and to say Goodbye."

I inhaled sharply when I heard that. She knew that she wasn't going to make it out. She never was one to promise that we would see each other again in fact multiple times she promised the opposite, that she would give up everything even her life to make sure that my family was safe. Alden put a hand on my arm and I looked over at him. We both knew that we couldn't leave the girls right now but, he was letting me know that he was still there.

When the girls finally went to sleep we placed them in their beds before leaving the room. I looked over at Alden, "How are you doing with all of this?" He took a breath, "I don't know what to do." His eyes began tearing up, "Everyone expects me to know what to do, but I don't. Everyone expects me to keep it together but, I can't. Ethan, tell me what to do, please. I need someone to tell me what to do." I went over to him and wrapped my arms around him "We'll figure it out." My siblings were imploding right now and they needed me. Mira made her choice and I was going to have to live with it but, right now they are the ones who need me. I had to let her go. I needed to let her go. She knew how to survive she would figure something out. Besides maybe Dad was right. She probably didn't care about me anyways. But, the thought soon crept into my mind why did she tell Emma to tell me 'Goodbye.'