Taming the Supernatural

~ NINE ~

The elderly woman paced and took in the worried looks of her family. How could she tel them without sounding like she had lost her mind. It was one thing to know that what you are saying is tru, but to have someone else believe it? That was another story all on it's own. Perhaps this was a bad idea, but there was no way to go back now. Her family was gathered and she would do what she had to do.

Regardless of what her family would think of her after this, her focus was on her grand-daughter. She would much rather have her grand-daughter back than spend the rest of her life wondering if there was anything she could have done, or what would she have done if she had never told the truth as she was about to do now.

"Mother, what is it? You look as though you have seen a ghost," her son spoke, his tone filling with more worry, first for his daughter and now for his mother.

Amelia was quick to reassure him, "Fret not, I shall be alright," the elderly woman reassured. A small smile found it's way onto her face as she looked at her son, love swelling in her heart. A mother's love was something more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined. Knowing how much Alan loved his daughter, Amelia knew she had to do the right thing.

"What I will say next may come to all of you as a shock, but I swear that every single word I speak is true. And before any of you bombard me with questions, I implore you to take my words into consideration before you simply dismiss it," she began with a commanding tone. It was rarely used. The only time she had ever used that tone was when Alan was in trouble as a child for having caused mischief. Sometimes her grandsons were on the receiving end of strict tone; however, she only ever used it when something was too important to be taken lightly.

Her whole family nodded silently. "We will take everything into consideration mother." Alan promised and was the first to break the silence. He recognized his mother's tone and did not want to anger her.

"Very well," spoke Amelia, taking a deep breath before telling her story. "As you all know, our village and all surrounding villages heed the warnings of keeping all doors and windows barred during the night, especially during the full moon."

Adrian almost broke into a scoff as he rolled his eyes, but one sharp look from his grandmother and he immediately straightened out.

"As I was saying, we all heed the warnings. And I, in particular, have always been extremely meticulous about keeping everything barred," she spoke.

Her daughter in law spoke up, "We understand that, but is that not standard practice for all?"

"Yes, it is. However, I was always attentive, even when I was a young maiden and also when I was raising my Alan. I never felt safe. I always thought he would come back for me. He threatened me when I left, swearing his vengeance." The parchment in her hand was now crumpled from the amount of stress she felt.

Her son approached her and  helped her sit. There was no way to calm her when she paced. When something was on her mind and heart, there was no stopping her. There best thing to do was to allow her to process everything and support her through it, and that was what her son intended to do. "Who, mother? Who is this man you speak of? What have you not told me this before? I could have hired men to investigate this man," Alan spoke in a gentle voice that was reserved for his mother.

After a deafening silence, Amelia finally uttered the three words that terrified her for so long, "The Boy-King."

The shock on her family's face was something she had never seen before, but there was no turning back now. They deserved to know the whole truth. "When I was Arabella's age, the Boy-King took me to his kingdom. He tortured me without even laying a finger on me. His power is one I would never wish upon anyone," the elderly woman shuddered at the memories she tried so hard to forget.