35

In a dark study, Nicholas paced frustratingly to and fro across the room. Lothaire stood facing him with a calm demeanor opposite to the one his son had and his hands folded behind his back. Nicholas turned to him, his eyes red with rage at how calm his father was when he wasn't sure if his granddaughter was even alive.

"You haven't spent up to an hour father, you just got here and my granddaughter is already unconscious and isn't waking up…she's not even breathing!"

"Relax Nick," Lothaire said.

"I trusted you for the first time in over a millennia and look at it now, what the hell did you do to her?"

"I did nothing to her, why would I want to hurt my own great…"

"Spare me the pathetic lines father; you're the devil for goodness sake,"

"That's enough Nicholas!" Lothaire thundered. "You're too caught up in believing that your father is nothing but the devil that you don't trust me around my own blood so much so that neither you nor anyone else didn't notice her eye color drain out and get replace with something indescribable," Lothaire said. Nicholas stared at Lothaire surprised as his eyes slowly turned grey.

"What exactly do you mean?"

"She called me the devil and her eyes glowed, her pupils dilated and she lost consciousness after I spoke, she looked possessed Nick,"

"All the more reason why I blame you,"

"Possessed but not by me Nicholas,"

"Give me one reason to believe you,"

"Because I'm your father, flesh, blood and…"

"And daimōn, you betrayed the man you loved the most because you were prideful,"

"This is about Scarlett not me,"

"This is about my granddaughter, your great granddaughter, my kingdom and its people Lothaire, you took from me everything I worked hard to build in Devaria after the fall of Dracaena for this beautiful family you saw today and gave it to a race you created for your revenge. I didn't leave because of just Regina; I left you and everything else because I was ashamed of calling the devil my father. I was ashamed of telling my family that I am the son of the devil," Nicholas raged. He was angry; angry at the devil he called a father. He looked at his father in the eyes and noticed Lothaire was staring passed him. Nicholas turned to see Scarlett and Regina standing at the door and Regina's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She'd heard everything. Scarlett's eyes were crystal like and looked ivory and her skin looked pale and ashen.

"Kiddo…" Nicholas called out to her.

"Ancients," She whispered before she collapsed in Regina's arms.

"What are Ancients?" Nicholas asked confused.

"The ones who sent Draco," Lothaire said with a distant look in his eyes. What the hell did that mean?

***

"Never doubt an Alpha when he says something about his tribrid best friend," Michael said as he let himself fall on the couch.

"That's enough gloating Michael," Nicole said as she sat next to him.

"The great granddaughter of the devil is my best friend, what an honor for a dempire," Chris commented.

"Right from the very beginning, I knew there was something about their distinct grey eyes and black hair, only the devil has such features,

"How do you know that?"

"My father has a portrait of him in the pack house, says it's a reminder that everyone has a dark side whether demon or not,"

"How close was your father to the devil?"

"I don't know, my father wasn't the dad type so I couldn't approach him, he's just the lycan original who bore a lycan true blood,"

"Don't say that, I'm pretty sure he loves and cares about you," Nicole said. Michael smiled halfheartedly and kissed her forehead.

"That thing we found in the hideout, what's up with it?" Michael asked.

"I can't go near it anymore, it's like the force's tripled,"

"I'm worried about Scarlett," Nicole said. "She hasn't woken up yet and Old Man Quinn won't let anyone besides himself and Regina into her room,"

"When was the last time you checked on that thing Chris?" Michael asked thoughtfully.

"Before we got here,"

"That was at the time Scarlett lost consciousness,"

"What're you thinking Michael?"

"Scarlett is somehow tied to that thing and we need to find out how,"

***

A nurse walked into a luxurious hospital ward and disconnected the cables of the medical equipment from the patient's body as well as the drip. It'd been a month now. A man and a young boy walked inside the hospital ward an hour later. They both had strawberry blond hair and sea green eyes. The girl was fast asleep. The young boy walked over to the bed side and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Hey Liz, dad and I came to take you home, so if you open your eyes…I promise we'll do whatever you want,"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier Ryan, you deserve to know the truth,"

"It's alright dad, I knew Eliza wasn't mum's, I just didn't know if she was yours,"

"Your mum never wanted her,"

"She never bothered to hide that fact," Ryan said. "What's her name?"

"Claire Steele,"

"Wasn't that your personal assistant?"

"Yeah, six years after you were born, Claire got pregnant, it was an accident really but I loved her…even still married to your mum,"

"Tell me about her," Ryan said.

"Claire was my first love, my marriage to your mum was arranged so we didn't stay faithful to our vows, we still went out with the people we wanted to be with but after Lionel and I had our first night together, things changed," Mark said. "But she never complained about Claire and my relationship and then Claire died at childbirth and I brought Eliza home,"

"You still love her don't you?"

"I do…but your mother's an amazing woman,"

"Sometimes," a small voice interrupted. "She isn't amazing all the time,"

"Hey sweetheart, your brother and I came to take you home, how are you?"

"You haven't come to see me in a month, how do you think I am?"

"Look we're sorry, dad hasn't been in the country and college had a conference excursion…we sent you gifts though did you get them?" Ryan explained.

"I did, thanks for the clothes,"

"What clothes? I didn't send any clothes,"

"I didn't either?" Mark said.

"Then who did?"

"Claire did," a male voice interrupted. A man with dark hair and ice blue eyes walked in with another that looked identical to him. The one who spoke was dressed in a black tailored suit and the other was dressed in a white shirt, black leather jacket and jeans.

"Mr. Grey, to what do I owe this visit?" Mark asked.

"We're very sorry to interrupt your family moment Mr. Swan but Ms. Steele; Elizabeth's mother would like to have some time with her daughter," David said.

"You're the officer who was here the day Eliza got admitted," Ryan pointed out.

"I'm not an officer Ryan and Elizabeth, the clothes are from your mother, she would like to see you," a low growl came from beside Ryan, they all turned to Mark who had sharp and pointed canines and his eyes glowed.

"You've done a great job in hiding your identity Mr. Swan even I couldn't pinpoint it but the girl leaves with us, her mother pleads for your permission,"

"Claire is dead," he growled.

"On the contrary Mr. Swan, the mother of your illegitimate child is in fact alive and requests an audience with her daughter,"

"Would you like to meet your mother Elizabeth?" David questioned.

"I'm not interested sorry," Eliza refused. "I've spent fourteen years of my life without her, what makes her think she can just walk into my life?"

"She's not walking into your life Elizabeth, she just wants to see you," David explained. Eliza cleaned the stray tears that stained her cheeks.

"F…fine,"

"I'm sorry Mr. Grey but my daughter isn't going anywhere with you,"

"I think you should spend some time with your son explaining exactly what you are to him Mr. Swan,"

"What're you dad?" Ryan asked with a confused and scared expression.

"I'll explain son," Mark said. Mark turned to Eliza and noticed the pleading look in her eyes. The girl really wanted to see her mother. "Alright Eliza, go get dressed and Mr. Grey…let nothing happen to my daughter,"

"I assure you Mr. Swan, your daughter's in good hands, my brother's mate is very fond of her so I can't even dream of hurting her," Gallus replied.

"You're letting them take her? Are you out of your mind?!" Ryan asked agitated.

"That's no way to talk to your father and…don't make things harder for your father than they already are kid," David said.

"Who are you calling kid? We look the same age," David turned to Ryan with red eyes and Ryan stumbled back startled. Eliza walked out of the bathroom dressed in a blue blouse and black jeans.

"Do we still look the same age?" he asked mockingly as his eyes returned to its ice blue color. Gallus and David walked out of the hospital with Eliza, Ryan and Mark behind them. Gallus put his hand in his pocket and brought out his phone then put it to his ear.

"Tell Nicholas I'm on my way," Gallus said and put the phone back in his pocket. "Take Elizabeth to Claire and stay with her until Claire's done with whatever she wants to tell her brother…something's wrong at the Quinns,"

"You're going all the way to Devaria?" David asked. Gallus shrugged and got into a black car in front of the one David had his hands on and drove off. David sighed. He turned to Mark and Ryan and smiled at them. "Mr. Swan, your daughter is now in my safe hands," he ushered Eliza into the car and drove off leaving Mark and Ryan on the parking lot.

David drove silently to the rendezvous point they had agreed on with Claire. He couldn't help but notice the girl was nervous and kept stealing glances at him.

"Staring at me won't reduce the anxiety you're feeling,"

"I'm not staring," Eliza retorted. David smirked noticing the blush that crept on her cheeks. "I'm nervous, what do I say to her?"

"She's your mother Elizabeth; you won't even realize when you start talking,"

"How do you know?"

"My brothers said so, when we were younger, my mother and sister were taken from us, so trust me when I say that,"

"Are you with them now?" she asked.

"No but it's just a matter of time,"

"You at least have the hope that you'll see them again…I was told she died after giving birth to me so I lost that hope before I even bothered to have it,"

"I've learnt from my brothers to never lose hope,"

"Are you the youngest?"

"Is it obvious?"

"You sound like someone who admires his older brothers, how many do you have?"

"Two"

"What're their names?"

"The one you saw at the hospital is Gallus then the other's Seth,"

"What about your sister?"

"Nelia…she looks exactly like our mother and she liked to act so mature and take decisions on her own,"

"Isn't she the oldest?"

"Seth is, she's younger than Seth," David said and stopped the car in front of an estate. "This is where your mother lives," Eliza stared at the estate in awe; the pillars were made of indestructible glass that was filled with water and had small marine life in it. The estate was beautifully decorated with flowers of different kinds and a large ceramic fountain stood in front of the building. David stole a glance at the fourteen year old who couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful estate. He turned to the balcony and his eyes met with Claire's hazel ones. She looked somewhat excited yet nervous to see her daughter. Eliza's eyes landed on Claire's approaching figure and she instantly felt a lump in her throat and her fingers turned cold.

"Relax Elizabeth," David said and pushed open the door; he got out of the car and pulled open the door for Eliza. Eliza got out of the car and he closed the door behind her then leaned on the car and watched the mother-daughter duo.

"E…Elizabeth,"

"M…mum," Eliza stammered. "Why now?"

"I'm so sorry dear; I…I wanted to protect you,"

"What do I need protection from?"

"That'll take time to explain, if I didn't leave you, you would be dead by now,"

"What about now mum? Am I safe?"

"I can handle things now, things were different then,"

"What's wrong Claire? What're you talking about?" David interrupted already sensing the agitated tone in Claire's voice.

"It's Kylian; he wants to kill Scarlett,"

"Fuck! The nightmare," David cursed.

"What nightmare?" Claire asked confused.

"The one where she kills Kylian and Jacob kills her,"

"I'm the only one who can kill Kylian,"

"You may be his mate love but Scarlett can kill him,"

"Can we not talk about death right now, I'm still traumatized from what I saw a month ago," Eliza interrupted. Claire and David turned to her with apologetic looks and David chuckled while Claire led them inside.

"What would you like to eat sweetheart?"

"I'm okay no…"

"You just got discharged Elizabeth, you can't tell me you're not hungry," Claire said.

"How do you know I was admitted?"

"I only stayed away, I didn't stop bothering myself about you…feel at home darling, I'm your mother and this is your home…let me make up for lost time,"

"Dad said you died," it was more of a reassurance than a statement. Claire knew Eliza was shaken; it wasn't possible for people to rise from the dead after fourteen years of being confirmed dead. She was trying to reassure herself that her mother was dead even though she was standing right in front of her.

"I…I didn't die exactly, I was weak and injured, shades heal very slow,"

"Are you like dad…not human?"

"No but you aren't either…the difference between your father and I is that he is a werewolf and I'm a shade, like David but I'm a full blood," Eliza wiped the tears that threatened to spill and turned to David surprised. So he wasn't human that means his brothers and sister weren't human either. "Come here," Claire said. The mother and daughter hugged each other in silence as Eliza's figure trembled in Claire's arms.

"Can I stay longer with her David?" Eliza asked.

"I'll check in with my brother," David replied as he took out his phone. He returned a few seconds later with a small smile. "Stay as long as you like and whenever you're ready, I'll take you to your father,"

"Good night David…and thank you for bringing me to my mum," she said with a smile.

"Everyone deserves a chance with their lost family,"

"So do you," she said as she looked up at him. David stilled as he heard those words.

"Good night Elizabeth," he said after a long pause and left.