Shadow Cursed

Chapter 10: The Family Tree

My mind was all groggy from the sedative when I woke up again. I tried sitting up only to be defeated and have to lay back down. Alric had a smile I couldn't stay mad at, "Take it easy Isabella, the sedative is only starting to wear off."

I stopped struggling against the groggy feeling holding me down. "What was that liquid."

"We might have given you too much of a dose." He held my hand in his hand and I moved my own hand back in response. "It's hard to judge how much to use when you aren't from the other realm."

I found myself saying her name again and again in a whisper. "Anna..." The words haunted me, "You're human. What did she mean Alric?"

He seemed a little confused. "Where do I start? This is hard to explain."

I was staring at the ceiling, mentally tracing the lines. "So Anna was once my sister."

Correcting me, "Half sister, you had different mothers. Her mother was Katherine, and she was from the other realm. We had met in what you would of called high school."

"Anna was born from a high school sweethearts story, how cute." There was bitterness in my voice, I couldn't help but hate Anna after what she did to me.

Ignoring the bitterness he continued. "We graduated and I moved out to my own apartment. Katherine would come live with me some weekends and others her parents house. She found out she was pregant with my first daughter two yars after graduating and she loved her while she was still with Anna and I. She was the nicest person I had ever met." Quickly adding in, "besides your mother of course."

As if Alric had read my mind, he explained that she went missing, and no sign of her was left. Nothing to lead him to where she had gone or what her whereabouts were. He fell sick to depression since the love of his life was gone. All he had left was Anna, and she was young still.

"I had travelled to the human world to escape the grief it was causing me. A year had passed and I missed her greatly. Anna stayed at the estate I owned with someone I left watching her while I was on earth. I met your mother Ethelyn in the human world." He couldn't force himself to say those words, his voice was breaking. "She was beautiful, and unlike any other human I had met. She took a liking to me as we had more dates and soon fell in love. But it was dangerous, we came from different realms."

The information was proccessing in my mind. "You fell in love with a human, so I'm human."

He was no scientist, but he did know something about me. "Not entirely human Isabella, you have enough of my blood to cross realms at your will. Which you have done before, wheather you realize it or not."

"How in love were you two? I've never been truely in love before. Only had one boyfriend and he broke up with me." Will was a jerk, a cheater and liar. I caught him kissing another girl, and he broke up with me the day after the party over text. Then he begged to get back with me and I stupidly believed him. Wasted 4 months of my life on the loser.

"I did fall indeed in love with Ethelyn. It wasn't until 1 year into our relationship that she discovered she was pregnant. I wasn't aware I could even have children with her. She was thrown out of her house and spent the rest of the pregnancy living with me. I took care of her." He paused to think of something, memories probably. "She had her ups and downs, but I loved her."

Soemthing was bothering me. "If you are my biological father, and Ethelyn is my birth mother..." I couldn't say it, "What am I, if not human?"

"I wouldn't be able tell you. I didn't know what to expect of the child. Months passed as the baby grew and you fed off Ethelyn's energy." Energy... I would have to ask about that later. "The baby wasn't no normal human I knew, but how much of my blood you would have I didn't and still know."

All these years they had told me my father was dead, but he was alive and watching me. And now he's come back for me. "If you were still alive, why did you wait so long to find me. And why did I not remember Anna?"

"When we sent you from the realm to protect you, the memories were sealed until you came to age." He frowned, "But your foster mother had other ideas and kept them from you. Hoping you would never discover them."

Everything she told me was a lie. Did she even love me like a daughter? If only my real mother was alive to be here with me. What about my sister? "Do they know that I know the truth yet?"

"Your sister came home last night, she has no idea about your origin." He seemed fascinated, "But she went back to her room after finding some food. She has an interesting music taste."

I rolled my eyes, "Having my room near hers is kinda annoying. I don't exactly like her music taste either. But I tolerate it."

"Anyways," he continued, "This morning she poured a glass of milk and left the house again. Idk where she could be going."

Explaining to Alric, "She lives in her boyfriend's basement 75% of the time. But that's something you don't really need to know."

Now I was stuck at a crossroad, my dad found me. Do I stay here or go back with him where ever he lives. And there was so much more I wanted to ask. "What happens now? Am I supposed to stay here or do I go back with you."

"It's up to you, you may not be a legal adult here. But in our realm you are allowed to move out or stay with your parents."

I didn't need a second thought. "I can't stand this place. I hate it. Take me with you, you can show me home, and where I'm truly from. I can't remember anymore." There was excitement in my voice.

"Okay," he smiled again, "Once your foster mother comes home I'll explain to her I'm taking you back now and her service is over."

"I can't believe I'm gonna finally be out of the house, and I finally know who my real family is." It was all happening so fast.

"Just take it easy and rest now. Tomorrow I'll explain more, I'm sure you are tired now." He kissed my forehead good night and turned the light off in my room. I closed my eyes and slept like a baby.