Evergreen [Book 1 of the Hierarchy Series]-Revising

Chapter 17

Chapter 13

"Who are you," I asked, sliding out of Daniel's arms.  He held his arm defensively around my shoulder, glaring at the other lycanthrope with glowing eyes.

"My name is Razha," he replied.  "I'm here to help you with your quest."

"How do you know about my quest," I asked.  "And how do you know me?"

"Because my family has told me about the old legends.  I was sent to be a wise lycanthrope, and he taught me to be a warrior.  For you," the white werewolf knelt down on one knee, bowing his head.

"Why me," I asked, I looked down at the new markings all over my body.  The runes made no sense.  I never saw them before, and they weren't the runes of the elves.

"Because of your heritage," Razha replied.  "Both of your parents are of legends."

"My parents," I asked, confused.  "But my father is a thief."

"King William is a thief with good intentions, but...he is not your father.  He is just a friend."

It took a few seconds to register that thought.  The king wasn't my father, even after all the years he treated me like his daughter.

"Then who," I asked.

"I am," Razha replied.  "All I wanted to do was be with you and watch you grow up, but my destiny was not so.  My destiny was to be there to help you with your mission, when you were ready."

 Stepped back, trying to blink the shock away.  My father stood in front of me, and decided to show up after seventeen years of my life went by.  My face flushed under my fur, and I became afraid.  Afraid to know what was next, what I still needed to know, and how everything was going to play out, dangerously.

I ran.  My first instinct was to run.  I bolted, running on all fours through the forest.  Only the moon and floating orbs lit my path, but I didn't pay attention to my path.  I just wanted to get away.

"Not so fast," someone said, jumping down from a tree above.  I ran for ten minutes until a familiar purple pixie dropped down in front of me.  Coralline.  Her wide canine smile frightened me, but only for a moment.  Her eyes glowed with purple, the brown shadowing behind it.

"What do you want," I snarled at her, trying to get by.  She swiftly shifted so she was fully blocking my way.

"It's not what I want," the pixie replied.  She looked up into the tree.  "It's what she wants."

As I looked up, a familiar shape climbed down from a low hanging branch.  It was the young girl who sat with the queen.  Her curly black hair blended with the shadows, but her blue eyes shone in the moonlight.

"Hello Cassia, it's been a long time," she said smiling sweetly.  I looked at her, trying to place her face with a name.  Something about her was familiar, but my memory was flat, only surfacing in little waves.

"Sophia Marie," I stuttered, remembering.  A smile crossed my face.  Sophia Marie was one of the hierarchies.  She was the hierarchy of peace everywhere.

"I go by Ivy now," she replied.  "Since I've been with the fairies I had to take on a different name.  My family is dead, and I came seeking a home.  The queen fairy offered her kindness."

"Would you like to come with us to meet with the other hierarchy," I asked.

"I wish I could," she said with sincerity, her head lowered.  "But I can't do anything without the queen's consent.  She fell asleep, so I snuck away to speak to you for only a moment."