Blood

Chapter Fifteen: Back to where we started.

We followed Seraphina into her cottage. Inside, the space was warm and inviting, filled with the scent of herbs and a hint of something sweet. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars of ingredients, ancient books, and curious trinkets that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room.

"Make yourselves comfortable," Seraphina said, gesturing to a cozy arrangement of chairs around a low table. "Would you like some tea? It's a special blend that calms the nerves and clears the mind."

"Tea sounds great," Emily said, taking a seat. Ava and I followed suit, settling into the surprisingly comfortable chairs.

As Seraphina busied herself with preparing the tea, Ava leaned over and whispered to me, "This place is straight out of a fairy tale. If a talking animal shows up, I'm out."

I chuckled, grateful for the moment of levity. "Just be glad there are no pixies around."

Seraphina returned with a tray, setting down steaming mugs of tea in front of each of us. "Drink up," she said with a knowing smile. "You'll need your strength."

I took a sip, the warmth spreading through me almost immediately. The tea had a soothing effect, and I felt some of the tension from the day's events begin to melt away.

"So," Seraphina said, settling into her own chair, "Emily tells me you're on the run from some rather ambitious parents."

"That's one way to put it," I replied, glancing at Emily. "They want to use me to power some kind of magical artifact and merge our worlds."

"The Elven Heartstone," Seraphina said, nodding. "I've heard of it. Its power is legendary, but so are its dangers. Your parents must be quite desperate to attempt such a risky endeavor."

"They are," Emily said quietly. "They believe it's the only way to achieve their vision of a unified world. But I can't let them sacrifice Ethan for it. I think the fact that every supernatural species is out to kill us could be another reason why they want to control the world. If they are the rulers, no one can attack them. Hybrids are always hunted down. They are seen as abominations, a mistake. Something that shouldn't exist so any hybrid that exists is always killed. My parents devised a way to stay hidden—Using their witch side to cast protective spells on all of us. If they were not as powerful as they are, we would've been killed by another supernatural creature long ago. Even our kind, the witches and elves want us dead."

"I now understand why your parents might want to do what they want to do. But I still don't have plans that Include dying."

"Don't worry, they won't get to you." Emily reassured me. "We'll find another way to make the supernatural world accept us hybrids."

Seraphina studied me for a moment, her gaze intense. "There's something unique about you, Ethan. Your bloodline is ancient and powerful, more than you might realize."

"That's what Emily said too," I replied. "But why me? There are stronger vampires out there."

"It's not just about strength," Seraphina explained. "It's about potential. You have the ability to tap into powers that others can't. Your parents must have known this. If you want answers, you'll have to ask them. I can't give you the answers you seek."

Ava leaned forward, her expression serious. "So how do we stop them?"

Seraphina sighed, her eyes flickering with worry. "Stopping them won't be easy. They're formidable, and the Heartstone amplifies their abilities. But there is hope. If we can destroy the Heartstone or sever its connection to your parents, their plan will fail."

"How do we do that?" Emily asked.

"The Heartstone is protected by powerful enchantments," Seraphina said. "But there is a way to disrupt its magic. It requires a ritual, one that must be performed at the source of the Heartstone's power. It's dangerous, but it's our best shot."

"Where is this source?" I asked.

"In Eldoria," Seraphina replied. "Deep within the heart of the forest, where the magic is strongest. We must journey back there and perform the ritual before your parents can complete their plans."

"Back to Eldoria?" Ava groaned. "I thought we just escaped that place."

"We did," Emily said, a determined look in her eyes. "But we have to go back. It's the only way to stop them."

Seraphina nodded. "I'll guide you through the ritual, but we'll need to move quickly. Time is not on our side."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the journey ahead. "Then let's not waste any more time. We're going to stop them, no matter what it takes."

"That's the spirit," Seraphina said with a smile. "Rest here tonight. We'll set out at first light."

"Aren't we forgetting something?" Ava asked.

"What's that?"

"We don't know where the heartstone is located. I'm pretty sure the creators of a power that great won't leave it lying around."

"You have a point, vampire girl."

"My name is Ava."

"Yeah I don't really care." Seraphina said. "But I'm way ahead of you on that. Every century, there's a new guardian of the heartstone, the only one who can triangulate the location of the heartstone and luckily for us, I know exactly who the guardian of this current century is."

I kept thinking about what Seraphina said earlier about my blood being ancient? How is that possible? If I was so powerful then why was I so weak? Why couldn't I beat that changeling and why couldn't I do anything when Emily used a simple spell on me? All of this is so confusing. Mom and dad will have a lot of explaining to do when I get back...

...If I get back.