Who Am I? (Book 1)

Chapter 22

I opened my eyes and inhaled sharply, pain shooting through my body. I was back at the alter, the silvery water showing my reflection. "That was all it wanted to show me?! Basically how I'm an abomination after I risked my life to get to this stupid fountain or whatever?!" I was disappointed, angry, and, and ... basically facing a personal crisis. "Calm down". Tash gave me a gentle, but worried look. "We only gave blood enough for your core memories. Your mother ... it's been so long I can barely recall her, but she said you're a hybrid, an offspring of Death and our species". Her brows furrowed in worry, and I felt ... coldness? No, in truth I was terrified. Not because of what I was, but of what she would do next. I was terrified to lose her, that she would walk away from me, that was what bothered me. Tash had already begun to walk away. "It's not that ... bad, right? I'm still me, or do you wish to ... end our relationship?" She spun around with and looked directly into my eyes, her intense gaze rooting me. "I don't care who your parents are, Julie. I care about who you are as a person, and to me you are the most important person in my life. I would wish for nothing more than to continue being your girlfriend. We're gonna change the village together, remember?" She gave me a tender kiss and I embraced her tightly. "Never ask such a question again, I'll always be by your side". She whispered it to me while returning my embrace. "Of course, I'll always be by your side as well". 

I somehow felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted from my chest. And ... I made up my mind, I wouldn't change or let this revelation burden me. I would still be me, and accept my difficult heritage. "Why is Death so bad? Don't we all die at some point?" I felt more curious about my "father" now, and Tash definitely knew much more than me. "That is true, but ... um, it's a bit difficult to explain. The Death is not the same as death. He is the manifestation of every negative aspect related to death, he has no compassion or regard for life. But what makes him even more dangerous is the fact that he is not bound by the covenant". This was new information on my part and of course, I had to ask what it was about. "The covenant binds us to an oath that's mandatory to take in order to safely master your abilities. We only hunt to fulfill our needs, we never hunt more than we need and we never destroy nature unless we need resources. Mostly we incorporate nature into our buildings, those who possess the gift of the earth often reshape the trees. The biggest part of our covenant forbids torture, unnecessary bloodshed, and slavery. You could compare it to human rights I suppose. Death is not bound by the covenant, he poisons the mind of ambitious people, slowly twisting them into demons. And these demons ... mark others who become possessed and so the cycle continues. As long as Death exists more demons will be born. It is not only our species that suffer, humans do as well, in fact, but most of the demons were also once humans. Long ago, the covenant included them, but they broke it and thus were cursed with oblivion toward the magical world. Nowadays the covenant only includes our species, nature, and animals. That is why we need to stop Death, and ... you and Julia will be the ones to lead us".