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  I choked in dread to her rage.

  “Hmm… Don’t judge me, child. I am not a murderer, and the suffering I create is because others just like Frigga are too spineless to get their hands stained.” The tone of my mother’s became ruder and more deviant. “So, they make a contract with me to serve their will. They all come demanding to bring pain to others who wronged them. They plead for retribution at my feet. Here I am, gracious enough to award their wish.” She beats the dinner table with her fist enraged and the chalice rattled and swayed.

  My mother clutched the chalice in irritation and guzzled the wine. Her breathing eased as she took another taste. “Frigga came long before you were born. She had so much bitterness in her heart it was exquisite. Scorned by her husband’s repeated infidelity, she had surrendered all faith of ever stopping his betrayal and the dilemma she endured, every time he spread another woman’s legs. So, she made an arrangement. A contract for a favor. She employed me to execute the women he bedded. Every last one, she demanded them dead. After the mistresses were dealt with, she called for me to leave a mark on her husband, something that would remind him every day of his treachery. I’m certain you have seen the huge scar on his eye. He thought his power would surpass mine. But he learned the painful way. He will never spread his seed again. And as for dear Frigga. Two of the women I killed had two boys, the sons of Odin, who had been raised with you as your brothers. The contract left them orphaned because of Frigga. I didn’t kill them… It wasn’t part of the arrangement. That was all up to dear Frigga. She planned to slay them you if it's worth telling. Then the guilt set in. To make amends for what she had done, she raised them herself, Thor and Loki.”

  Tears dropped from my eyes, hearing my mother express the truth. It was painful to fathom.

  “So, do you still believe a Harpy is as dark of a monster as you assumed? I believe you have it backwards. The ones that are monsters are everyone else. We are the most honest of them all. There's no need to hide who we are. I don’t judge the darkness in their hearts, but we assist them at a cost. Our clan has the power to do anything, and soon you will lavish in it.”

  My breath slipped away at the thought of what she confessed about Frigga. All I’ve experienced was my motherly Frigga who cared for me with a tender heart. It was a lie. My brothers never realized what happened to their actual mothers, assuming they were abandoned by them, just as I thought my mother deserted me. However, Thor and Loki’s mother will never come to retrieve them as mine did. My belly ached at the conclusion. The sick pain in the pit of my stomach overpowered my will to stay at the table. I promptly rose and excused myself from the dining area and went as fast as I could out of the castle.

  I dashed to the shore, overlooking the sunlight as it set over the horizon. The breeze refreshed the air as the night came and the moon rose behind me. I heard the sand rustling from behind as someone approached me. It was Luna, bringing two swords in hand. Yuna followed her with a fearful expression like something awful was about to transpire.

  “What do you want Luna?” I asked, not caring about the reason she had her sharpest Elven blades and plunged them into the sand like a rod.

  “You upset your mother sincerely this evening.” She verbalized with agitation in her tone. “I don’t like seeing my mistress upset.”

  “I’m just being sincere,” I explained. “I had no motive of upsetting her.”

  “Your mindset is just one of many. If only you figured out how much your mother wishes you to succeed her. To welcome you home.”

  “This is not my home.” After this evening, I had no home to begin with. It was all a lie, and the individuals I assumed were good, were not.” I peered at Luna. “I realize you’ve learned about me and your son this whole time. He and Alucard were the only honesty to my past.”

  “…I don’t like my kids having their hearts being toyed with.” She crossed her arms intensely with a glare.

  “I never toyed with him, not even once. I respected his feelings. Like your son, you and he seem to live hand to hand with falling into an unrequited love. I know what you endure for my mother. I know how much she toys with you and you take it. The awful part of this story is you abandoned your children to become forever enslaved by your feelings. You will never have my mother’s love.”

  Luna sneered deviously. “So, you have a mouth on you today.” She lunged at me full force and knocked me to the ground. “Looks like I have to break you more.”

  I quickly got back up, but she met me with her fist, slamming it into my face. I fell backwards, hitting the ground. My head, spinning chaotically. Luna came at me with a kick to the stomach, and I grabbed her by the back of the knee and rolled my body hard to the side. Luna’s body collapsed over me, falling into the sand. In a rush, we both stood up the same time in a defensive stance. She eyed her sword and rushed over to grab it while I hurried to take the other one.

  Yuna stood nearby in fear, and I heard her thoughts scream at me, telling me to yield. That she will kill me. At this point I didn’t care. I wanted to prove I wasn’t weak anymore.

  Luna charged at me with her sword. Our blades collided with intense impact; throwing us backwards. It was no longer a spar, it was a duel. Our blades danced with our movements as we tried to land a blow on each other. I swept her feet from underneath and she fell to the ground. I tried to keep kicking her, but she rolled fast to the side and swung back up to meet my sword. It charged my heart with adrenaline from the vigorous fight. I punched her in the face with the end of the sword; shoving her back until I sliced her chest with my blade. I didn’t hesitate to attack while she stood there, stunned by the sight of her own blood. I moved fast and sliced her left leg to slow her down.

  I thought I had her defeated until her wounds healed before my eyes. The blood stopped, and the cuts clotted and sealed up. It only took seconds to be in full health again and her strength was nowhere near to exhaustion. I had already used up a lot of my energy and I was panting, trying to keep my stance.

  Luna charged at me once again and I tried to defend myself until she took the first cut. I felt the slice on my thigh and another cut to my free arm. Then another one across my stomach. I limped to the side, still clenching my sword, trying to fend her off. She flung my sword to the side and cut me across my face. I stood still as she sliced my chest, my legs, and stabbed my sword arm, until I dropped it. The pain of being stabbed and sliced was so agonizing, I thought I was about to faint, yet I didn’t. I continued to stand there before her, not willing to give up. Luna made ten other cuts around my body, trying to force me to break and fall down. She covered my back in deep cuts and my chest was bleeding heavily; my clothes shredded and dripping with blood. However, I kept my stance until she took the final blow by kicking me hard in the chest. I flew back and hit the ground. The full blow of her kick hurt without a chest guard.

  My vision faded in and out from the blood loss and the broken rib against my lungs made it difficult to breathe. I saw Luna gathering up the swords, aggressively, as if she was still heated from the duel. “Ugh… Send for that healer.” Her tone had anger as she ordered Yuna. “What a waste.” I understood who she was referring to as she walked away.

  Yuna rushed beside me, but I couldn’t hear her inner voice. I couldn’t focus nor listen to the waves of the ocean next to us. It was like my body had lost all control over its senses. Yuna try to lift me up by grabbing places that didn’t have gashes. When she did, I agonized over the pain, regardless. She helped me to my feet, holding tight.

  I rested against her exhausted and couldn’t move my arms. My sword arm was dead. My legs barely moved with all the cuts on my thighs. She struggled with me, limping to the other side of the beach where I saw a familiar face, rushing towards me. I collapsed in her arms and fell into her chest to a sweet scent of saltwater, lavender, and vanilla. I fell to my knees; losing all sensation throughout my body. Everything was numb, and a cold sensation spread over me as I heard my heart slowing its rhythm into a faint
beat.

  Briefly, I listened to Amphis voice, calling out as she laid me in her lap; her hands on my chest and neck, staring deeply into my eyes. “Stay with me.” Tears fell down her face as if she was the one in agony and I felt how afraid she was. I reached out with the last bit of energy and used it to touch her face. Then my vision faded to black until I was unconscious.

  CHAPTER IX

  Secrets Are Revealed

  IS THIS HELL? The sky above was orange and crimson red. The wind blew like a whirlwind vortex, trying to suck the surroundings into a black hole that replaced the sun into an abyss of nothingness. The ground tremored under my feet as I felt the energy and my breath being forced into Oblivion. Then I realized, this was the mundane world.

  Tall towers reached high in the sky was something I’ve never seen before. Castles that shimmered like crystal were being destroyed before my eyes. The ground I stood on was black as coal in the middle of a forest like terrain, surrounded by these castles and towers. Where am I?

  A pentacle within a circle blazed bright red like flames and then as I became more aware of what was happening. I noticed I stood at the tip of the triangle that signified the element for fire. In my vision, there was a young girl who looked like a crossbreed of a Harpy with her stunning silk wings extended outward; and an Elf, with partially pointed ears and fairly pale skin. Her dark hair was like mine and her sad golden, hazel eyes were familiar… like Alucard’s.

  The mysterious girl stood right in the center of the pentacle, carrying an Elven sword with unfamiliar markings from the Dark Elf clan. It glowed blue as I noticed the sky opened and a light shinned down within the circle. The girl’s lips moved; trying to say something directly to me. Although, I couldn’t hear her words since all the surrounding sound was being drawn into the vortex. Who is this familiar girl? I reached out to her, but I felt someone hold me back as the girl disintegrated into the light and my heart cried out to her. Ali!

  My eyes opened in shock from the nightmare. I grasped at my heart as it lurched against my chest; trying to catch my breath. Sweat dripped down my body and I was disoriented and confused. The cold and dampness made my skin shiver inside the dimmed hut. Amphis knelt beside me with a look of relief while holding my hand.

  Her lips kissed my cheek. “You came back.” She leaned her forehead on mine, about to cry. “I was almost too late. Thank the ninth heavens I wasn’t too late.

  Her tears fell on my face. “What happened?” I asked. The last moments were hazy, and I couldn’t remember what exactly happened. “How am I here?”

  “Yuna cried how you did something dangerous.” Amphis lifted her head to scold me. “Why did you have to provoke Luna?”

  “I don’t know.” The memory came back. “I was upset. Anyway, she acted like she wanted a fight. So, I gave her one.”

  “She nearly killed you.” She gazed at me enraged. “I felt every cut she inflicted on you. I sensed a rage in you I’ve never known before.” She stood up and walked away from the bed. “What had you so upset you needed to let out all your aggression on a Hell Hound? Of all creatures, you fought one that can end you!”

  “She had no intentions to kill me,” I added. “Just to break me, for good reason.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Amphis responded.

  “I was upset about what I learned about my guardian.”

  “Frigga?”

  “She did something horrible. I don’t think I could ever explain how sick it makes me feel to know.”

  “What did she do?” she asked.

  “I can’t say.” I sat up and the sensation in my limbs had become alive again. My sword arm was fully healed from the stab wound, and all cuts on my body had fully disappeared from my skin without a single scar. “It’s not my secret to tell. This is me giving thanks to her for being my caretaker for so long. My gift to her, I’ll allow her to remain a saint and not a monster.”

  Amphis’ eyes dimmed with sadness when she picked up on my feelings towards Frigga. She betrayed me and my brothers, but I’ll protect them from the truth. Our mother was a monster behind a kind smile. Amphis would never understand the secrets I must carry as a burden.

  “I hope one day you can forgive her,” Amphis suddenly spoke. “My time here has taught me that grudges are never fulfilling, and they can stay behind as long as time itself. Beings do things out of grudge and vengeance, because the feeling of darkness blinds them from the truth. They let it consume them until they do something that can’t be undone. At the time, it may have been right. Then they awaken from the illusion and realize it created pain and suffering for others. Those of true strength will reflect upon their actions and spend the time to make amends. Forgiveness though is for yourself. To forgive the person who betrayed you, or wronged you, is to release you from the past and not be held back by that chain. That very chain that makes you angry and sad, it will not have control over you anymore. You will find a way to trust and love once again. Whatever happened in the past, you can find peace? I’m sure Frigga is aware of her actions. Maybe that’s why she loved you and your brothers so much, even though she carries the burden of what she did. I’m sure she wanted to protect you all from the hard truths of life. We all make mistakes and we all carry darkness within us.

  “Perfection is not who we are.” That I know. Amphis was clear with her words about her empathy for the dark. Maybe one day I would feel forgiveness for Frigga, but not today. I needed to think about Amphis and the secret I’ve been keeping from her.

  Her eyes spoke love as she gazed into mine. “You are closer to perfection in my eyes.” And her lips embraced mine in a long deep kiss.

  All of a sudden, we became distracted by a distant voice that entered our minds. It was Yuna, yelling out to us from the beach. “The Queen is coming!”

  Amphis and I rustled out of the hut to view what she meant. My mother strolled towards us from the distance with Yuna, pacing behind her. “I’m sorry.” We both heard her say.

  “What’s going on?” Amphis asked, puzzled. “Why is the Queen…?”

  Before she could finish asking her question. “Good evening, my dear.” My mother approached us, and she touched my face, looking for any residual marks. “I’m glad you are restored back to health.”

  I could see Amphis’ eyes glancing back and forth at us, realizing the similarity.

  “When I heard what happened, I gave Luna a stern scolding. She apologizes for letting her bloodlust get the best of her.” My mother glared at Amphis. “You have my most humble gratitude for healing my daughter.”

  Amphis’ eyes became enlarged with shock, followed by confusion. I sensed her heart sank in a bewildered state and I watched her face become blank, learning who I was. That’s right Amphis, I am the very thing you despise. I am a Harpy.

  Amphis broke from her shock. “I apologize, your majesty.” She tried to focus on how to reply. “It was my pleasure to be of service.”

  “It’s ok dear.” My mother eyed her with criticism. “I’ve known for a while your friendship with my daughter.”

  I gasped at her words. Why wasn’t I surprised? I knew this was the possibility, and I didn’t even read what Amphis was thinking about all of this. My mother, confessing that she knew of us made it seem awful.

  “Oh dear. Amphis don’t misunderstand me. My daughter never spoke of you. In fact, she kept secrets from both of us, our dear Alphard.” My mother had a look of disappointment in her eyes that burned into my soul. “But I understand some friendships you want to keep to yourselves. One should at least be granted a place of escape from their given life.”

  Amphis stayed silent as I felt in my chest her heart, wavering about our friendship. I stayed speechless and couldn't figure out what to do to fix this awkwardness between us.

  “For your help, I am indebted to you. Anything you desire or services from my clan you shall have it without cost.”

  “Thank you, your majesty,” Amphis bowed her head in gloom. “Well my dear daughter
, shall we go home?” My mother’s grin amplified to the sad vibes radiating off of Amphis.

  “Yes mother,” I replied. “I’ll be along shortly.”

  My mother strolled back down the beach with Yuna, following close behind as usual. She turned her head towards me. “I’m sorry, milady.”

  Amphis and I stayed silent until they were at a further distance from us.

  “When were you supposed to tell me, you are the daughter of the Dark Queen?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I didn’t ask for an apology.” Her voice became firm and agitated. “Why would you hide something like this from me? Of all things you lied.”

  “I um…” I stumble on my words.

  She glared into my eyes. “I thought we were friends.”

  “Let me ask you something!” I retorted. “Would you still look at me the same or even be friends with me if you knew I was to become a Harpy? Let alone I’m the daughter of the Dark Queen! Knowing, would you have still say the wonderful things you did or look at me the same with such love? I’m well aware of how much you despise my kind. So, don’t dare falter before me.”

  Her eyes broadened, and she became speechless.

  “I apologize for the misconception. However, I figured this would end if you learned the truth. I just wanted to enjoy our time together for a while longer. It felt good and I’m selfish in that way. I’ll respect how you feel about me right now. And I’ll accept whatever decision you make about us. If there’s even anything between us anymore.”