Chapter 3: Kade’s Tragedy.

"Lets see where should I start?" said Hazel. Then I saw Kade hold on to Hazel's shoulder. "Sigh. I-I'll tell her." Said Kade when he spoke for the first time in a long time. "You spoke Kade!" said Hazel. "You have a nice voice for a 10 year old too." "OK thanks but enough let's get it over with." "Ok shoot.'' I said. "Ok so I only know what I was told. SO here it goes. Uh I guess the first thing is I was adopted. I was just a baby so I don't remember much. Hazel told me I was 5 years old when I stopped talking. It has been 5 years since I spoke before today. I don't know who my parent's were. They assumed I was a baby since I looked so young. When they found me I was laying under a woman's arm that they assumed was my mother. As for my father they don't know much. They think he died as well. Then I guess someone waited 5 years after I was born to come after me. This was the tragedy that caused my voice situation. Also it was the day our parents were murdered. I=I don't think I can say anymore. Uh Hazel can you finish?"

"Yeah sure." "Well let me tell you one thing. I was their birth son. Kade was the one adopted. Now as for the tragedy. A man showed up to our door one day claiming to be his father. He was acting like a nice man telling us he found his wife dead but their child not there. He found out someone picked him up. He knew it had been 5 or 6 years and that we were the one that picked him up. He was talking about having a daughter too. She was left with her aunt and uncle." That is when I stood up. "Wait. No Stop right now! That is what my uncle and cousin said. I ended up with them after they died. Mom was still pregnant. Did they lie? Did she already give birth? Did they save my sibling? Are you telling me Kade is my brother?" "Woah breathe Zuri. Breathe. We didn't say anything yet. There are ways to find out if you want to." "Of course I do. He would be the closest one to me fully other than my aunt partially." "Ok can we finish the story?" "Yes sorry continue." "His father said that he was on his way back to see his daughter at her aunts house when they were attacked." "What attacked them?" "To this day we still don't know." "Ok so what caused this man to kill your parents?" "We don't really know what happened. I think something might have happened suddenly cause our parents were protecting us from being hurt. He killed them then someone from out side took care of him. They took him somewhere know one know's where he took them or who the man was that saved us." "Wow! That is something you usually hear in story books." "Yeah I know." "Its no wonder he didn't speak. He saw his parents die right before his eyes! I don't know how it would affect me but I understand now." "OK now are you going to start talking now Kade?" I asked. "Yes. Once I spoke I don't know if I can stop if I wanted too." said Kade. "Excuse me. I need to go rest for a bit." I said.

I went to my room and laid down in my bed under my covers and cried. Then after awhile I decided not to mope but try to escape. I jumped out the window and started running. I heard a lot of gasps and yelling until I got to the gate and ran out.

Hazel knocked on her door but there was no answer. "Zuri are you ok? I'm coming in." He opened the door and she was gone. He shut the door and told Kade that she was gone. "Shit! We need to find her fast! She doesn't know what is out there!"

They went out and asked people if they saw someone running. They all agreed that they saw Zuri running. That she ran out of the gate. They told her that she left about 1 hour ago. "Thank you." Said Hazel. They both ran out the gate and searched for Zuri.

Zuri heard a voice somewhere. It kept saying her name. "Zuri. Zuri. Down here in the necklace." "Oh excuse me. Who are you? What is the chosen one supposed to do?" "Sigh people think there are chosen ones that isn't true. This necklace belonged to your mother. You mother wasn't exactly human." "Yeah I know the shopkeeper told me. I need to know is Kaden my brother or not?" "Sigh yes he is." "I knew it. So why did they lie she was pregnant when she died?" "It was true she was pregnant. She had just given birth when she was attacked. She covered him to protect him. That man that claimed to be his father was not his father. He knew all this only because he wanted to raise him as his own. I am thinking he may be the one that attacked not only your parents but other people as well. Him and his army." "Was mom Royalty?" "Yes as a royal you have many enemies. There is someone on the throne now who is your family. He is you other uncle. On your mothers side. As far as I know he is a good man. That is all I know." "Wait if I am royalty, where exactly is my castle?" "What is my kingdom called?" "Sigh you weren't told anything were you?" "No my fathers sister wont tell me anything." "Lia right?" "Yeah can you tell me what happened?" "I'm afraid I don't know that. I can only tell you what I know." "I have been wanting to ask this but, are you a human trapped in a necklace?" "Sigh yeah it was punishment for one of my crazy escapades. I swear I am good." "OK is there someone that can free you?" "NO but there is someone who might. They are at the kingdom right now. The one your uncle rules." "I see what is your name?" "Oh sorry. My name is Zala. I am not human either. I am a demon as well. I will tell you more about myself when I am out of here." "Ok so uh do you know where we are?" "Sigh you ran away without knowing where you were going. So like me. I suggest you go back to the boys. I'm sure they are worried." "I know I just needed time alone to cool off. I guess I shall head back."

After I walked for awhile I saw Hazel and Kade then fell to the ground and blacked out. "No! Zuri!" Hazel ran faster until he got to her. He felt her head and she had a fever. "Kade! We need to hurry back! She has a fever!" "Yes brother right away!" So they ran back through the gate to the infirmary.

"She passed out and we don't know why! She has a fever!" The doc looked at her and said, how long has it been since she has been here?" "Only 3 or 4 days why?" "Sigh. I see. It seems that she has a fever from being overtired. She is pregnant." "What! What do you mean pregnant?! How far along is she? How is the baby?!" "Woah easy now. Seems like she is a month along. I don't know why I didn't see it before. What's going to happen to the baby once its born? She is too young to take care of a baby." "I had help taking care of Kade." "You have the village elder and your neighbors. It will be fine. Lets keep her here until she wakes up and maybe stay a few more days." "Thank goodness she is ok." Hazel said relieved. Hazel held her hand and Kade held the other. "Hazel?" "Yes what is it Kade?" "What if I really am her brother? Will you think different of me?" "Are you serious right now Kade? I accepted a baby that was a stranger to you. I don't care who's brother you are. You will always be my brother no matter what. Got that!" "Thanks Hazel."

I was starting to wake up. I squeezed my hands only to notice my hands were being held. I woke up seeing both boys sleeping beside me holding my hand. "So I am pregnant huh? I had a feeling. I just wish the baby's father didn't die." I said out loud to no one in particular. I felt one of my hands squeezed. It was Hazel waking up. "You awake! How are you feeling?" "A little tired. So you know I am pregnant now huh?" "Yeah so you knew?" "I had a feeling but I wasn't sure. All I know is that the father was the love of my life but he died." "I'm sorry. How long ago?" "Well I guess the last time I saw him. Cause not long after conceiving this one I found out." "So you got a little memory back?" "Yeah I did. Just of that though. Oh and I have proof that Kaden is my birth brother." "What is it?" "Can we wake Kade first?" He nodded then I shook my hand to wake him up. "Hmm. Zuri?" "Yes I'm awake." "Zuri! Your ok!" "Yes I'm ok just a little tired. There is something I need to tell you Kade. There is proof you are my birth brother after all." "I had a feeling I might be. Tell me when you get home you need to rest."

The doctor came in to check on me. "Hello Zuri how are you feeling?" "I'm feeling fine doctor. I heard that I was pregnant. I had a feeling but wasn't sure." "I see where is the father?" "Dead. So we don't have to worry about anything on that note." "Do you plan on keeping it? If so you can. You have plenty of neighbors that can help out." "Thank you. I plan on keeping it. I just hope this baby looks like him. I hope one day I can have the courage to date again. This baby will need a father in the future. But I guess he has got you two and other men and woman to look after him huh?" "Yes but he should have one still." "Yeah I suppose so. When can I leave here?" "You can leave tomorrow." "OK so one more day huh?" I closed my eyes and went back to sleep to get some rest.

The next day I woke up and was ready to go back home. The boys walked beside me in case I needed help. "Boys I'm fine. I'm not heavily pregnant yet." "Yes we know but you could pass out again." "Sigh when we get home, can you get the girls for me? Kade can stay here with me." "Yeah sure."

Once we got home, he sat me on the couch. Then left to get the girls. "So Kade. I was never able to talk to the baby's father about names. Since you are my brother, would you like to help me pick out names?" "I would be honored sister. Before that what is the proof, I am your brother?" "Oh, hang on. Zala, can you hear me?" "Yes, I can hear you what do you need?" "Woah I can hear her!" said Kade. "He wanted to know the proof of him being my brother." "Well, if he can hear me is proof enough. Only people from your mother's bloodline can hear me. since it was them that cursed me in here." "I have a question." Said Kade. "Where did the rumor come from about a curse and chosen one?" "Sigh. I guess your mother wanted to protect me from doing something I couldn't control. She didn't want me in the wrong hands and started the rumor." "Hmm. Makes since." "You don't sound too old Zala. How old are you?" "Good question. Well I was cursed when I was 16. So I guess I am 16 years older than you Kade. I am 16 years older then you Kade and 10 years older than your sister. So that would mean if it shows I will be 26 years old. Otherwise I will still look like a 16 year old girl. Which I am hoping. That way I can grow up with you both." "Will you still have your memories of what happened?" I asked. "Yes I will. That won't change." "Oh my uncle Ben and cousins are still here. I need to tell them!" "Tell them what?" Said Zala. "I am pregnant." The father died not long after conceiving it." "I'm sorry honey. Focus on this first then worry about me getting out ok?" There was a knock at the door.