From Ashes to ashes, the Byrnes will burn.
From fire you were born, from fire you will succumb.
From Ashes to ashes, the Byrnes will burn.
From birth you are cursed, from death you are gifted.
From Ashes to ashes, the Byrnes will burn and unto death you will return as Ashbyrne.
Cullen
And so we returned, burning brighter than the suns that shone upon us and defiantly so before our elders and predecessors. We marked the beginning of a new generation, a new breed of Young Gods for an uncertain future. My family and I had learnt to survive, to evolve. We had learnt from our forefathers and rectified past mistakes and misfortunes that had unfortunately befallen us. I had learnt everything I wanted to know, I knew the fine line between human cruelty and curiosity when it came to the supernatural and I knew how I had inherited my darkness.
I'm not quite sure I'm ready to put this biography to bed, as I feel that in recording my parent's history I have intertwined my own life inexplicably. But I guess that's what a legacy is, forging your own path without even realising the other lives and events that are connected to it and that even when we are long gone, a part of us will always remain.
I snapped my journal shut with my pen inside it.
"You vanquished my enemy, who I have been warring with for a millennium." The Seelie Queen strolled toward me, doting servants in her wake. "And you reject kinghood?" It clearly befuddled her, contorting her perfectly painted face.
I sent her a charming smile as I tucked my journal into my backpack, swinging the backpack over my shoulder. "I'm young, I have a whole universe to explore." I gestured to the Seelie courtyard we stood in.
"Hitchhiking across the universe over a crown and a realm, you are a peculiar child." The Seelie Queen tilted her head, reminding me of a sweet little twitter bird for a moment. Her unearthly pastel blue hair and extravagant attire only added to the image in my mind.
"Maybe one day I'll come back, spend my retirement in an unholy kingdom." The way I said it made the possibility seem unlikely, though a part of me did feel like coming back. "Feeding my enemies to Kelpies and drinking wine with will-o-whisps." I added humorously.
"You will always be welcome here." The Queen kindly offered.
"Thanks, maybe I might even come back for your throne."
Her eyes hardened.
"Too much? Yeah, I better go." I moved to make a hasty exit.
"Safe travels, Cullen O'Sullivan."
I sent her a nod in return before setting off down one of the many paths that stretched out from the courtyard. I fished out my camera from my backpack, capturing a few photos of dancing Faeries, twirling with ribbons and snakes in their hair.
"Dance with us." The Faeries beckoned in their native tongue.
"I shouldn't." I knew that Faeries could make mortals dance to their deaths and cast all manner of sinister spells.
"Please."
"Well since you asked so nicely." I left the path to dance, for the first time in a long time I enjoying myself in the abandon of worry.
YOU ARE READING
The Hybrid Legacy Part II (Sequel to the Baile Series)
FantasyAn old coincidence has been revealed to be a lethal pattern that has led to the abduction of Cullen, Fillan, Erina and Kenzie where their blood is key. One miraculous escape leads to a second threat involving the other half of the family bloodline...
