The Causes Of Destiny - Elijah Mikaelson

Chapter Nine: Secrets Revealed

Lily sat at the small, dimly lit kitchen table, her fingers nervously tracing patterns on the wood grain as she waited for Ross to speak. James sat beside her, his expression unreadable, though his hand rested protectively on her shoulder. Ross paced the room, his gaze fixed on the floor as he gathered his thoughts, his usually calm demeanor showing signs of strain.

Finally, Ross stopped and looked at her, his face a mixture of concern and resolve. "Lily, I've kept a lot from you over the years, but after tonight... I can't keep you in the dark anymore."

Lily's heartbeat quickened. She had so many questions, too many things that didn't add up. "Please," she whispered. "Tell me the truth. I can't take any more secrets."

Ross took a deep breath, his gaze heavy with an unspoken burden. "Alright. There are some things in this world that defy everything you've ever believed. Some things we have hidden from you for your own safety. But you deserve to know now, especially after what you saw tonight."

She nodded, urging him to continue, fear and anticipation warring within her.

Ross sighed. "Lily, the world isn't just what you see on the surface. There are... others among us. Vampires, werewolves, witches—they're real."

Lily blinked, trying to process the impossible words. She'd always sensed there was something different about New Orleans, something hidden. But to hear it confirmed was surreal. "Vampires... werewolves... witches?" Her voice wavered. "They're real?"

Ross nodded. "Yes. And for years, they've coexisted in an uneasy balance. Some control parts of the city, others control magic, and yet others control power in different ways. The Mikaelsons—the family you've heard about—are at the center of it all. They're Original vampires, the oldest and most powerful of their kind."

Lily felt dizzy as she took it in, memories of the Feast of Blessings flashing through her mind, along with Elijah's enigmatic warnings. "And... are you...?"

James glanced at Ross before answering. "Yes, Lily. Ross and I are vampires."

She stared at them, shock flooding her senses. She'd lived with them, trusted them, and yet they'd hidden this enormous part of who they were. She struggled to reconcile the two images of Ross and James—loving father figures who had raised her, and ancient creatures of myth.

Ross's gaze softened, and he stepped forward, taking her hands in his. "I know it's hard to believe. But we kept this from you because you weren't ready. You were just a child when you came to live with us, and we wanted to protect you."

A thousand questions raced through her mind. "Why... why keep this from me? Why not tell me sooner?"

"Because," James cut in gently, "we feared what it might do to you, to know all this too soon. New Orleans is a dangerous place, especially for someone like you."

"Someone like me?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

Ross and James exchanged a look, and it seemed they were silently debating how much to reveal. Finally, Ross spoke, his voice almost a whisper. "Lily... your parents weren't ordinary people, either. They were tied to this world, more deeply than you could imagine."

A wave of emotions—grief, confusion, and anger—swelled in her. "So... my parents were involved in this too? They kept secrets, too?"

"They did," Ross admitted, his gaze downcast. "But they loved you and wanted to keep you safe, just like we have. Your mother was... she came from a powerful bloodline."

"Powerful?" She clenched her fists, feeling the weight of these newfound truths pressing down on her. "And yet you won't tell me what that means?"

Ross reached for her hand, his eyes soft with regret. "Lily, there are things we still don't know. But you have a heritage that places you at the heart of the supernatural world, whether you want it or not. That's why we kept you away, why we kept this secret. We didn't want you to face this alone."

The words left her feeling exposed, like her life had been a web of lies, and she was only now discovering the truth. She pulled her hand away, standing up as her chair scraped against the floor.

"And what about Elijah?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Does he know?"

Ross and James exchanged another look. "Yes, the Mikaelsons likely know—or at least suspect. The Originals have ways of discovering things they want to know," Ross said quietly.

Lily's pulse quickened. It was a terrifying realization, knowing she'd been under the watchful eyes of ancient, powerful beings without even knowing who or what she was. But beneath the fear, she felt a spark of determination.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I don't know what all of this means, but I want to find out. I want to understand my past, my family, and... myself. No more secrets."

Ross looked at her, pride flickering in his eyes. "I know it's a lot to take in, Lily. But we're here for you, and we'll help you however we can. You're not alone in this."

She nodded, the weight of the truth settling in, yet somehow giving her a newfound resolve. She wasn't just some girl caught up in a supernatural mess—she was connected to it, tied to it by her family's blood and history. And now, with the truths she'd learned, she was ready to take her place in this world, whatever that meant.

As she lay in bed later that night, her mind buzzed with the revelations of the night. Her dreams, vivid and strange, began to piece together fragments of memories she hadn't realized she held. The whispers of her past began to take shape, and Lily knew that her life was no longer what it once was.

There was no going back.