Chapter 3: Hello, Old Friend

Remember when my Mom told me to get some good sleep? Well that didn't happen.

I stumbled and fumbled and fell on the bed. It was so hard to stop my excitement, with an enchanted ring, I could stay hidden from trackers. We won't have to move to a new place for a long time, also this could give me a chance to live normal, even just for a moment. There's not a day that I don't wish for the hiding to end. In the first place, my parents should have been free to love each other. Love is love, whatever the race, or the color or the gender.

A sudden knock on my door brought me back to reality.

"Come in."

"I take that you didn't sleep much last night."

"I'm sorry Mom, I know. I promised. But I just couldn't hold it much longer. This could end all of our problems, without people tracking me, we could live a normal life, in here. We could sleep not fearing for trackers to arrive and find us."

"Oh sweetie, I know how you desperately want a normal life. But we, we are never going to be normal, we are different. And sometimes different is good."

"I understand Mom, but I'm tired of always running away."

"I know sweetie, and I'm sorry that you had to go through all of this."

"Mom, don't be sorry. I love you guys and I'm very lucky that you guys are my parents. And if I could, I would still choose you as my parents. I just wish it was on a different circumstance, where we don't have to shy away because we are different. Where we don't have to run and hide because we are being tracked down."

"All of this Clarke, is a part of a much bigger story, this is only the beginning chapters of your life, soon you'll know that everything, and I mean it, everything happens for a good reason."

"I hope for the best Mom, because I honestly don't know how I'm ever going to understand myself, what I am, but thankfully I have you both to guide me."

"Alright, are you ready for breakfast? I cooked some burgers and bacon."

"Yum."

I know what you guys are thinking, a hybrid? having human breakfast? Well, I'm half wolf, give me some slack, haha.

I went downstairs with Mom, we went straight to the dining room and I was greeted by my dad.

"Good morning too Father."

"How was your sleep last night?"

"I didn't sleep much and I fell off my bed"

"I heard" my father chuckled.

Breakfast was fast over, Dad prepared the car meanwhile I had to do the dishes. It was always the same routine in our household. Not that I'm complaining, I love helping around the house and besides I don't have much to do so why not do something productive.

"Car is ready to go. Genevieve, Clarke, are you guys ready?"

"Almost, Dad!"

I hurriedly finished the dishes, and took a shower. You might ask, why not use super speed? Good question. My parents made a rule not to use any kind of powers in the house, it is made to make me feel grounded and not ego-boosted, and I supposed it worked. Although I do prefer not using anything, except for when I'm truly hungry.

I made my way into the backseat and waited for Mom. After a few moments, Mom arrived. She carried snacks, of course. Typical Mom. I stretched my hands to reach the pocket of the front seat. This is where my stash is hidden. Today, I am going to continue reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, don't get me wrong, I loved the movie. But the feels were on the book.

I scrolled throughout the pages and the next thing I knew was that I finished it and that we have arrived.

The Isles family is more than I expected they would be. Humungous mansion, very clean estate and just very white. I thought it was the same with movies, you know witch and all, dark and animals, with vines on their house, but it was the total opposite in reality. They could pass as wealthy, social elite people. Dad hit the front gate's bell and left a message.

"Heinrich, old friend. It is I, Mikelle Rayleigh."

"I'm here with my wife and daughter, it has been a while and I remember that we were due for a visit."

"Mikelle, it is so good to finally here from you, my friend. Please come inside" the guy who I think is Dad's friend, cheerfully replied.

"Welcome Lord and Lady Rayleigh, it is such a pleasure to welcome you here. I am Frederick, the butler of this estate."

"Pleasure to meet you Frederick, but please stop being so formal, it's the 21'st century, I doubt people from the clan still call us Lord and Lady" my Mom said.

"Oh please, allow me to call you that, you are after all from the bloodline of Kings and Queens, it would be a disappointment if I don't call you by your titles."

"If you insist."

"You must be Her Highness, Young Miss Rayleigh" he looked at me.

"Please call me Clarke, I'm not very good with formalities and besides nobody calls me that." I politely replied.

"Nonsense, a queen must be called by her title, and you, young miss is the last living heir to the ancient throne. You are a queen whether you are a vampire or a wolf or both." He kindly gestured. I gave him a soft smile in return.

"Please, come in."

Woah.

Big revelation there. I knew we were from Kings and Queens, but to be the last heir, not to mention that I'm already a hybrid which has stirred some trouble, might just get me into more trouble.

"We should talk about this again at home, don't you guys think so?" I whispered to my parents.

"Gladly." My father answered.

"Mikelle!" the man shouted, he immediately hugged my father.

I'm guessing this is Heinrich Isles.

"How are you, Heinrich?"

And I was right. Points to myself for that.

"Doing good, old friend!" he seemed to be close with my father, judging from his enthusiasm and my father's gestures.

"By the way, this is Clarke. My daughter."

"It's an honor to meet you Sir." I greeted.

"Your highness, the honor is mine."

"Please call me Clarke, I'm never well with formalities."

"Well if that is what you wish, but you have to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Call me Uncle." He smiled.

"Of course, Uncle Heinrich" I replied back.

"We have so many things to catch up, join me for lunch ladies and gentlemen."

We sat into the mansion's dining room. The walls had paintings on them, some from Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

Uncle Heinrich was a collector no doubt.

"So, Uncle, how long have you been friends with my father?"

"I'd say a few hundred years love, give or take."

"Wait, how is that even possible? No offense intended Uncle but witches and wizards do not have immortality, it would cut off your magic wouldn't it?"

"Someone had been studying, you are right my dear. Immortality does cut off our magic. But what me and my family had was not immortality. It's an enhanced sleeping spell as I'd like to call it. We conjure it, then we sleep for about seventy to eighty years, and we would awaken as if we were asleep for eight hours. Just a spell to cheat the God of Death for a little while." 

You know there is a saying out here when we do face the God of Death, do you know what we say? Uncle continued.

"Not today." I simply replied.

"Correct" he said as he forked the chicken breast.

That is brand new information, a spell like that isn't even written in the grimoires I've read.

"The rumors are true; The Isles coven is the most powerful of all."

"Not to all dear Clarke, not to you."

"I doubt that, I've hardly mastered and controlled my powers."

"Mastered, you haven't yet. But controlled? Dear child, your powers are not meant to be suppressed."

Something in me lighted as he said that, like an urge wanting to burst out. Something I had been trying to suppress. The need to let it all go is almost unbearable to control. Unable to hold.

"Why are you so afraid of your powers Clarke?"

"I might hurt somebody."

"Suppressing them might do more damage." He commented.

"That is one heavy topic for lunch, shall we tone it down for a bit?" My mom intervened.

"Ah yes, how are Jessica and Jared?" Dad continued.

"My children are doing fine Mikelle, in fact they should be returning from school right now."

"Wonderful, I haven't seen those kids ever since they were wee babies."

I decided to eat the food while Mom and Dad are catching up with Uncle, these dishes are amazing.

"My complements to the chef Frederick," I said as I drank my wine. He nodded in return.

Halfway through finishing my food, a set of twins entered the dining room. They look beautiful, shirt neatly wore, perfume perfectly sprayed and hair that has been combed very well. While me on the other hand had been a mess due to opening the car window. These guys must be Uncle Heinrich's kids. Certainly, they are much older than I am, but as Uncle said earlier, the sleep spell makes them look like as they were when they fell asleep.

They sat before me, and I have to admit, for the first time in my life I was intimidated.

"Children, these are our guests, Lord and Lady Rayleigh. With their daughter, Queen Clarke."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highnesses." They said in sync.

"Like we've told your Father, Jessica and Jared, kindly drop the formalities, we are family friends after all." My father spoke.

The twins gave a slight nod agreeing with my parents. Oh, I could tell a mile away that these guys hate me already, if dagger stares were real, I would have died right now.

We finished lunch shortly after all the exchange of small talks.

"Lunch was amazing, thank you so much for having us Uncle." I spoke.

"Of course, dear. Do visit again."

"Actually, there's something else I would like to ask you." I stopped and looked at my parents for permission to continuing the subject. To which they positively responded.

"It's one of the reasons why we're here."

"Please, do ask my dear."

"Can you, I mean if you can, possibly make me a cloaking ring?"

"I haven't actually tried a cloaking enchantment before, but I can try right now."

"Really, you would do that?" I asked, heart full of hope.

"Of course, of course. Lead them to the room Frederick, kindly."

"Please follow me, Your Graces." Frederick ushered.