The secret of heritage

Part 9

I took the amulet, still unable to believe my eyes.

— You... you're a harpy?

I looked at my maid, and I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed before—her movements had always been smooth and silent, her gaze observant and watchful, and she often appeared and disappeared as if blending into the surroundings.

She behaved just like the harpy.

— We are real, Evelyn. Your aunt knew the truth. She kept this estate because we are magical guardians. And I am one of them, — she explained.

— Magical guardians? So, you and the entire staff here are magical beings?

— Exactly. We protect this estate and its inhabitants. We have special duties that we have carried out since ancient times.

— But why didn't I know anything about this? Why didn't my aunt tell me?

— She feared you wouldn't be ready. But now it's your time to learn the truth and accept your inheritance, — the harpy replied.

At that moment, a man with a red eye approached us. I recognized him immediately.

— You... I recognize you.

I hesitated but spoke, knowing the answer:

— You're the cheetah!

— Yes, Evelyn. It's me. Nice to meet you.

I looked at them with astonished eyes.

— I never thought this was possible. What should I do now?

— Accept your role, Evelyn. We will be here to help you. Together, we can protect this estate and its secrets, — the harpy said.

— Okay. I'll try. But I need time to understand all of this.

— We will always be here to protect you.

I stood there, clutching the amulet in my hand, trying to process everything I had heard.

— What is this amulet? — I finally asked.

— It's the key to our magic, — the harpy answered.

— What exactly does it do?

— It belonged to your aunt, and now it's yours. With it, you can understand and control the magic of the estate and use it for your own purposes.

— Control magic? I don't know how to do that.

— We will teach you, — the man with the red eye said calmly.

I turned to him:

— What's your name?

— Hunt.

— Nice to meet you, Hunt.

I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

— Why did my aunt keep this a secret? Who was she hiding the truth from? — I asked.

— From those who wanted to destroy us and take the estate. There are forces that seek to seize our magic and use it, — Hunt added.

— That's why we must be careful, — the harpy said. — You are now part of our community, and we must protect each other.

— What should I do now? — I asked, looking at them.

— Start by trusting us, — Hunt said.

— And don't be afraid to ask questions, — the harpy added. — We're here to help you understand and accept your role.

— All right.

We stood in silence, pondering what lay ahead.

We headed back to the estate, discussing all these new revelations. Amelia stayed by the window, but I knew she was closely watching us. When we entered the living room, Grayson was waiting for us.

— Evelyn, this all happened so strangely.

I already knew that Grayson was Isabella's son, but for the staff, this was news. They were shocked to see him there.

— Who are you? — the harpy asked, her eyes wide. — You're just sitting here, waiting for us?

— Yes, — he replied calmly. — There is much you need to know. I am Isabella's son.

The staff looked at him in amazement.

— You're Isabella's son? — Hunt asked. — We didn't know that.

— Yes, I understand that this is a surprise to you.

— And what do you mean? — I asked, looking at him.

— There's something else you need to know.

He looked at me, puzzled, and continued:

— I didn't know Marcus was dangerous.

— Marcus? — I looked at him in surprise. — You mean you weren't in cahoots with him?

— No, I didn't know his true intentions. By the time I found out, it was too late.

— Who is Marcus? — the harpy asked.

— I discovered that he wanted to steal the amulet. I thought it was for my purposes, not his own. I didn't know.

— This is terrible, — the harpy said. — We must be careful.

— I agree, — Grayson continued. — I'm guilty of not seeing him for the real threat he was. Now we must do everything we can to ensure he doesn't return.

— All right, — I said, looking at everyone present. — We need every ally we can find.

— You can trust me, — Grayson said, his voice resolute.

I looked at Grayson and saw Aunt Isabella in him. Her eyes... How did I not notice before? But I still don't know if I can trust him.

I needed time to be alone and process everything. I went to my room. Once inside, I sat on the edge of the bed and took the amulet out of my pocket. I remembered that if you truly believe in its power, it can transform people into animals. I smiled at the thought and thought of a doe.

A doe—so graceful and gentle. Her large dark eyes radiate softness, and her slender legs seem made for swift and silent running. Her coat is warm, a golden-caramel color, like the rays of the setting sun.

Holding the amulet in my hand, I closed my eyes and imagined myself as this doe. I felt the lightness of her movements and freedom. And then, as if something magical happened, I felt my body change. When I opened my eyes, I saw the world from a different perspective.

And damn it, I had become a doe.