Kong POV
Our feet bare make no sound, Arthit's hand in mine as we made our way down the stairs. The chimes rang in the night, the magic pulsing through every brick in the tower. My friends stood near the entrance as we stepped into the kitchen.
Magic twisted and swirled as it welcomed me, the wood warm beneath my feet as the magic array took shape. Four figures whispered old words and the array filled with power. Magic pulsed, three more appearing before us.
The silence was broken by the soft gasp, Arthit moving towards the man who should no longer be here. My eyes turned to the floor reading the array, my grandfather had been busy.
"Father..." Arthit's voice hitched, as his hand went through the man.
I saw the pain in Arthit's eyes, he wanted to, needed to touch. I turned my hand drawing power. I was still weak; it would not last long but hearing Arthit's pained breath, the moment was still precious as he hugged his father.
"You're still my favourite son."
"I'm...your...only son..." I saw Arthit's tears fall. "No... not the only one anymore. I have a little brother and..."
"Another father."
Rojnapat smiled to Master Som, who patted Arthit's shoulder. Both men watched Arthit with affection, no matter how it came to be, they were both his fathers.
My eyes turned to the man watching me, the man who was my father. The hand on my shoulder was firm and comforting as always, but the eyes were so light. Time, age and the days long gone, nothing was there. I hugged him, realising what he had done to be here.
"I'm sorry to cause you pain." I whispered. "I had a reason for what I did."
"You're smarter than me and braver than your mother." He replied. "You don't do anything without reason."
His words always so simple but they still carried the same power to set my heart at ease. My father's eyes filled with warmth as he patted my cheek moving away, handing me the letter. A jolt ran through me as the ink shimmered and bleed into me, it was filled with power. The old man put so many parts into play, tiny gears turning according to his plan. I look when the door bangs open, my mother storming though with P'Poppy.
"Are you hurt? Is Arthith okay? Did that pretty boy do anything to you? Don't worry, I managed to sneak an axe out of uncle's window. I dare that demon to come back!"
I can't help the smile as she inspects me, my eyes watering. I saw her a short time ago but at the same time, it had been so long. P'Poppy walks towards Arthit and Master Som, I see the moment she realises who the new person is.
"There are people outside, wanting to see some Prince." My mother tells me. "Oh...my... he looks so much like Arthit."
Arthit takes P'Poppy's hand, but his father already knows who she is.
"Where the hell have you been?" Mother snapped seeing my father. "I was nearly killed."
"You were what?" Father hurried to her. "Wh...?"
"Korn saved me, your useless." She glared. "Kongpob, I'm going to divorce your father!"
"Let's talk about this..."
I pull her close and hug her. They hid their powers, locked their memories and left the safety of the Mage World, to come to find me. They weren't the only ones, I look at the faces of my friends, who followed me to.
I feel the gentle magic flowing to me, they offered it willing to replenish mine. Always with me from the moment I learned to walk, in that world and this, they came running to help me. I clutch my chest as something burns. Arthit is beside me before a cry can leave my lips.
He was trying to pull me; it would never work from here. Not with the protection array pulsing and the Gypsy Prince beside me. The chimes ring and all is silent as four figures stop at the entrance. The Gypsy Queen knocks three times before walking into the house.
She stands before Arthit, her left hand, palm facing out is placed on her forehead, then the right above it and the four figures bow their heads. The Gypsy Queen stands, the old eyes see the colour of the soul as it swirls and resonates, hidden so long by the Mage Lord, for his own protection.
She had waited, as many before her had also done but now it was time, their Prince had come. She closed her eyes and listened, the chimes echoing through her being. They had done their best but only he could make the chimes ring and protect the ancestors of the magic races that were left behind.
"Welcome home, Gypsy Prince Arthith." She greeted Arthit, then turned to me. "Welcome home, Second Earl Kongpob."
~~~~~~~~~~
Heart Memorial
3rd Person POV
"Beam, are you listening?"
"Yes!" Beam rolled his eyes. "No following ducks, no going through unknown shiny portals. No taking unsuspecting humans with me."
Forth rubbed his chest, his heart was still shaking. They set a trap, they knew someone was letting the Mistress's people in, only powerful magic could allow it. Their people were waiting but the ones who went through were Beam and Rome.
When was the last time he was this scared? P'Bright had already taken Rome and left, declaring Beam a bad influence on his Beloved. Beam decided to break the giant screen on a few vampires and Rome went to help, they would have been hurt if we didn't get there in time. Before Forth could say more, Beam saw someone and ran.
"Get back here Yut!" Beam yelled chasing him through the hospital halls. "Don't make this worse than it already is!"
Yut ran for his life, he managed to stay a few steps ahead, running into a patient room and hiding behind the guest who was visiting. Beam came to an undignified halt. Sing, New, Korn and Fei stopped to glance at Beam, then carried on playing cards. Lee and Din didn't even look up from their laptops.
Korn fidgeted as his back itched, he fainted and needed stitches, good thing he got free treatment here. Kit managed to talk their parents into going home, now it was fun time. The hospital bed was pretty comfortable, the Angels would fawn over him and bring food and this was the best place for all the latest information. He smiled at Beam; this would be fun.
"Nami, good you're here. After everything we did, the suicidal zombie sold us out." Beam pointed to the girl in the chair. "He's the traitor, I demand justice! Hit him!"
It had been a long day and Beam was ready to go to sleep but he knew once he left the hospital, Forth wasn't going to let him leave the apartment anytime soon. He was happy Forth came to find him, the fight to save them was awesome.
Forth was like a superhero when he was angry, he threw someone through two solid walls with one hit. He wanted to follow but the minions kept getting in the way. Sensei wasn't bad, he ashed seven vampires who tried getting near Rome. But Forth did more damage and threw people out of windows.
"I knew."
She knew what?
"Let's talk about this Doc..." Yut tried to reason.
"You knew what?" Beam glared at Yut. "No more talking!"
"What Yut was doing." Nami explained calmly. "I told him to."
"He's working for the weird vampire lady!"
"He's working for us." Korn told him.
"But...but...he called us..." Beam tried to reason. "Rome said it was him!"
"We told him to." New smiled.
"We were waiting for them to make their move; someone was going to infiltrate and report back." Lee explained. "But you guys went in before I could get our people prepared."
"Once we knew someone went through." Forth frowned. "I knew it had to be you."
"Listen here Forth." Beam glared. "Don't get uppity just because you're going to buy me a boat! I don't care who, someone needs to get hit."
Yut felt exhausted, mentally and physically. After years of searching, he found Jan, his sister. He had been taking care of her ever since he could remember but the troubles she got into got bigger, and it became harder to get her out.
Himi blamed him for Godt getting kidnapped when he was a child but it was Jan. She told someone who offered her money, when it nearly happened again, he told Master Tae. She yelled and screamed at Yut and ran away, it was normal but this time she didn't come back. Which wasn't.
Yut didn't know how she managed to get into the hands of the Mistress but was glad she at least kept quiet about what she was. Their family were thralls from the Master list but unlike others, women in his family had a rare ability. They could carry a vampire child.
This secret Yut only even told Master Tae, and Jan willingly became the surrogate for Godt. At some point when she was missing, she met Oh, she was also Simi's birth mother and the little girl had recognised her. If anyone found out, he was scared to think about what would happen. Yut turned his head when he felt someone watching, Nami's eyes shimmered.
"Nami..."
"Come, we are being called." Nami left the room, Yut close behind. "I think its time you met the Soul Witch."
~~~~~~~~~~
Bright POV
"P...where could she be?"
Rome ran upstairs to check; everything was still here. Her purse, coat, phone but the woman herself was gone. Bright's vampires didn't see her leave, only a guest was reported but they left quickly enough.
Bright's eyes pulsed as he opened them, his senses sharp as he looked around. His feet moving him towards the kitchen, the aroma of freshly cooked food in the air but something else lingered. A faint hint of something long forgotten hit his senses.
His eyes turning back as he cursed, he snapped his finger, a Newling appearing before him. He placed his index finger on the young girl's forehead, the images flashing through his mind. Then he saw what the woman carried out of the house.
The Newling yelped and moved away when mist surrounded Bright, lashing out. He knew he felt something off about Din's mother. The woman was one of them, a Selkie. The colonies were destroyed, the humans saw to that but of course, there were remnants who hid.
It had been so long since one had been seen it didn't occur to him and their magic was not traceable until it was used. He had been in the vampire realm too long; it dulled his senses to what was still possible.
Selkie's were different from normal shifters, getting their powers after making a deal with the demons in the old war. They shed their skin. If stolen they couldn't return to the sea but if used on another, they could trade their sins. Trading your sins meant death for the person they imprisoned in their skin.
The Newling had heard a heartbeat, by some miracle Granny was still alive but they needed to find her quickly. Granny was a human, whatever was keeping her alive could have a limit. Din's mother would need to use the sea, it was the only way to bind Granny to that woman's skin.
Bright's head turned when he heard the buzz, Rome's feet stopping, a moment later his heart quickened. Bright was beside Rome a breath later, who stood frozen with his phone in his hand. He read the message on the screen.
Din: If you want her back, you know what to do.
Bright flexed his fingers; the boy was going to die. He only needed to decide if he wanted to lock him in a dark place for a millennium before killing him or end him quickly.