The Empire Of The Rose

Something Unexpected [III]

I gave a groan in frustration before I dropped myself into the bed simply staring at the ceiling, I heard a small knock on the door before my mum stepped into the bedroom.

"How are you feeling sweetie?" My mum asked as she sat in the bed next to me.

"I'm so exhausted, I've never been so bloody exhausted in my life before!" I said as I let out a long-tired sigh.

"That is reasonable Alice, considering what you did just days ago which I still consider was very stupid and reckless no matter what the outcome of it was. Overall Alice it's not easy at all to bring one person back from the dead let alone two as you did, the fatigue you are experimenting is no other but the outcome of the excessive drain of energy you had three days ago." My mum said explaining as she softly played with my hair making me closer my eyes in delight.

"Alice, about the issues in the meeting..." My mum started before I gave a groan cutting my mum off.

"Mum, we've been over this. I do not wish or whatsoever to be part of it any longer, you are by far a much better as a leader than I am. Besides after everything that happened I don't even think the Association exists, all of his has turned into an Empire, the Empire of the Rose as grandma had described in one of her journals, this was what she wanted, humans and vampires working together, being all hunters, yet it's a shame that all of his is constantly being threaten by her brother. But mum I don't want a responsibility like this, I simply want things to be just like they were before." I told my mum as I stayed there in bed.

"Alice you know that things will never go back to how they were before, but I do understand how overwhelming all of this can get, so yes I will be in charge of everything until you feel comfortable with assuming your rightful position." My mu said before her hand stopped on my shoulder.

"Mum..." I said trailing off as I opened my eyes.

"What is this?" My mum asked me.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"Um, Ryder and I got carried away last time, for some reason I bit him and drank some of his blood, he did the same as well. The entire experience was so...I don't know...different." I said as I felt myself blush crimson red.

"That is completely normal Alice, there is no reason to treat the topic with shame." My mum said as she gave me an amused chuckle.

"But we had never done something like that before." I mumbled, I knew that it was weird to discuss intimacy with my mum especially now but it was quite clear to everyone that Ryder and I were together in every possible aspect so why act as if my mum didn't already know, besides the way my mum took the subject with such ease made the entire matter much easier.

"This was only a matter of time before it happened, don't get alarmed about it, sweetie. It's normal since you two are getting ready." My mum told me.

"Getting ready for what exactly?" I asked her confused as she looked at me.

My mum gave me a look that was enough to answer my question.

"What do you think Alice?" My mum told me.

I sat up quickly and looked at her alarmed.

"No, but I'm not ready to be a mum, I don't want to be a mum yet!" I told her as I started to panic.

My mum smiled at me.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you a mum already? You do have Kyle." My mum pointed out.

"Yes, I do, but that's different." I retorted.

"How so?" My mum said as she now sat in front of me.

"I love Kyle but have in mind that I'm not his biological mother, in other words I wasn't pregnant for nine months nor I gave birth to him, I don't think that I'm ready for that." I told my mum.

"Well your body seems to be ready, even I when I was your age was pregnant with Mason, I think you might be ready." My mum told me trying to make me change my mind, but I shook my head.

"No, I don't want to have a baby any time now but what about you? Are you going to give Mason and I a sibling?" I asked making my mum smile.

"I won't make any promises." My mum said as she patted my knee and headed to my closet, which used to be hers back when she stayed here in the Academy.

We had not left to the house out of caution in case William had decided to strike again.

I gave a groan once I realized what my mum was doing.

"Are we leaving now?" I asked her in a tired voice.

"Yes, so get ready." My mum said as she pulled out my things.

I gave a sigh and got off the bed.

"I'll see if Kyle woke up from his nap." I said before I headed towards the crib.

"So, this is the place where William had you locked up both the first and last time?" Ryder asked as he looked at the castle from distance.

I nodded as I stared at it as well.

"My own personal hell." I said never breaking eye contact.

"It looks so dark." Naomi commented as she took a step closer to Mason.

"This is the very place where my gloomy childhood took place before my dad and I managed to break out when I was around four years old." Olivia said as she kept a determinate look on her face.

I knew very well the clear reason why Olivia was here, a lot of us had already tried to persuade her earlier but none of that had worked, just like me or any Falcon woman she was too bloody stubborn for her own good.

"So how is this going to work exactly?" Kole asked as he struggled to walk with the swords that were tightly strapped to his body.

"We already made a plan, we'll follow it." My mum said as she took a step forward.

The sight my mother made, well it was...interesting, it was quite odd to see her in her huntress gear but truth to be told she looked and was a total badass, but especially seeing all of us in our gear, it thrilled me to see that we were ready for battle but we actually looked at were all a family, and for that I couldn't be anymore joyful and grateful.

"Shall we proceed?" My mum asked as she glanced at me.

I nodded.

"Alright we are on position, Alik is your team ready?" I asked using me earpiece.

"We're all set Alice." Alik replied.

"Andrew?" I questioned addressing him.

"We're set as well." Andrew confirmed.

"Justin?" I asked curtly.

"We are wait on your orders as well as the guards, and the rest of the teams." Justin informed me.

"Alright, everyone gets in your respective positions and wait for the signal." Justin informed me.

"Alright, everyone, go to your respective positions and wait for the signal." I said before we started to move towards the castle.

"And how are we going to enter if every entrance is more likely to be locked?" Mason asked as we reached the main entrance, as he spoke the huge double doors opened and we stood there shocked.

"I guess we won't have to worry about that." Ryder murmured next to me,

"Be careful, for this might be a trap." I warned them before we stepped into the castle.

As we waked in I felt a wave a chill go down my body.

"Please do come in, I've been expecting you." A voice said making us halt.

A woman with dark hair and blue eyes stepped out of the dark making me gasp.

"Mom?" Olivia said chocked up as she stared at her in disbelief.

"It's so nice of you to join in." Brittany said with a smirk.

Alright, this was certainly something unexpected.