Bound

I was mad by now. "I know all of that! It is the known history. Humans killed other innocent humans. Witches began acting like doctors so that they would overhear gossip of vampires. Vampires are monsters. All of that is history too. I humored you out of my respect for Andreo, but now the hour I promised you is almost up. . . " My head was hurting and my thirst was growing. I needed to control my thirst. . . It was almost as if Andreo could hear my screaming thought. "Lulu?" He motioned for the woman in the corner. I knew her. She was the human who grew (and smoked) the clans tobacco. Her willing smile said she knew it was her time and that she was ready. With a tear trying to form, I asked her "One too many cancer sticks huh?" Her laugh turned into a struggling gasping choke for air. She fell to the floor as she finally caught some shallow breathes. "I am glad it is you," she whispered as she tilted her head to the right exposing her neck. When I was finished, as always, I demanded that I was the one to bury her. It was always granted. I turned back to the strange woman. Softly I spoke, "What is your name again?" She seemed to want give me space. She quickly pushed that aside though. Calmly and respectfully she started again, "As I stated, my name is Amerilla. I am your birth mother and your birth father is Vindal. [At this moment, she held up three gems: a diamond, an aquamarine and a zicron.] Now you know how Andreo saved three lives. Not long ago, I sensed a strong magical will that yearns to be free yet is not. I was able to follow it through the Mist because I have no ill intent on those within it. . . " I looked up at the time, stood up and said (while storming out of Andreo's office), "Time's up."

Since Crystal was among those in the prize for the Trade, I was unable to vent to anyone. I went to the only calm spot in this castle. My fingers grazed the tips of roses, lilies and tulips to name a few. I was slowly walking to the tables that were located in the middle of flower garden. It felt like only seconds of peace had passed when Andreo sat down beside me. "Do you know she is risking more than just her life by coming forward like this?" "I know! It's just a great amount of information to process," I tiredly said. "I do not regret helping. Over the years, sometimes it seemed I had two daughters instead of one," he slowly rose, "You have been out here for three hours.Go in, sleep on it, and we can all try talking about this again tomorrow." On that note, he was gone from sight. I sighed. He was right. If what Amerilla had said was the truth, Andreo would be held as a traitor. Okay, okay. Calm down Zapphire. I got up and proceeded to do as I had been told.

I had never had as much trouble trying to get to sleep as I did that night.

Th next dusk came about faster than any I had known before. I went to the training hall, hoping that beating the. . . I stopped dead in my track. "I am afraid to inform you that I may have come too late. With the events that are about to unfold, you will either live or die. . . along with many others," the fear in Amerilla's voice spoke with chilled me to my bones. Before I could say anything in response, we were both being ushered into Andreo's office. Upon entering, I knew things were about to get but because of the rareness of the sight. Andreo was on the floor with a few small puddles of blood around him. "Well, this is unfortunate. Take them all into custody. We leave for Opal castle immediately." I had never heard such condescending comment until Claude spoke that. " Even though Andreo is a friend, we must act as if he is not until the truth is revealed," Misty hissed. That was the last thing I could hear from that conversation. Their personal guard was shoving all three of us (Amdreo, Amerilla and myself) from the office and we were forced into shackles. The way this clan treated its' arrested showed just how long they had waited for an opportunity similar to this. We had been tracking through rain and mud for a few hours. By this time the envoy had started to head to one of the embassy houses. Everyone could feel that the sun would be peaking its' face over the Mist before long.

Once we three were thrown in the barracks of the estate, I quietly rushed over to check on Andreo. Whatever they had hit him with was causing him to be unable to heal correctly. Amerilla slowly walked over and started examining his wounds with a hot iron looking hand. "He will physically heal. After he wakes from a sleep his body with be normal, but weak. They used an ancient magic that I know little about." My anger was building quickly, but not at Amerilla. Mom? . . . Mother?. . . I had yet to decide what I was to do about that yet. I had not really had the time to think. It did not matter then either. As a door creaked open, Claude walked in while smirking from ear to ear. "It may have taken a long time to connect the dots of your eye mystery, but the results could not be better. It is high time the Amethyst clan rose in power rank." I could do nothing but glare at him. As he walked back out, he obviously could not hold back his laughter. "We need to get away. Today," I said through gritted fangs. Little to my attention the room seemed to be vibrating all around. Observing this, Amerilla softly said, "I agree." She balled up her fist, blew into it, and then released. Her palm was glowing in the form of a lunar moth. "Go," she quietly commanded. The beautiful moth flapped, flapped, flapped. Off it went through a crack in the wall. "When we escape, we may be running to a faster death," Amerilla warned. I knew this, but what other choice did we have. First, I was not going to give up without a fight. Second, allowing someone who came through the Mist with no ill intent to be harmed shows that we were no better. And finally, I owed my life to Amdreo.

The following dusk, we were all on the move again. How the Amethyst clan succeeded in moving the three of us without waking us, still baffles me to this day. It did not matter then, nor does it now. We had been moving long enough to be approaching the Diamond castle. The guards of the Diamond could be described as being built like mountains for they do not move. It was understood that we were being taken for judgment in front of Edward, David and the council. With our entrance, everything went quiet. We ended up just standing there in our shackles while being impaled with soul burning looks. After a few minutes, Claude and Misty said in unison, "We have become aware of treason and traitors. . . " Edward held up his hand cutting them off. "Yes, it seems an act of treason had indeed been committed. Ma'am? Who is the vampire father?" Amerilla showed no sign of telling them the name of her once lover anytime soon. That was her mistake that caused her to be horribly dragged away. Edward looked at Andreo, " He only did as he always does. Help. He is no traitor in that sense. However , Andreo," he said in a stern voice, " Who is the vampire father? Tell us now and we will not push this matter any further with you. The Witch may return outside the Mist, and this abomination [looking dead at me] may live in our top barracks." Andreo had fall to his knees by now from weakness. That seemed to be the only sign of moving. What an idiot! He could be back in favor if he just told. Edward had waited long enough. He waved his hand with disgust. With that, two guards to "assist" Andreo back to his own barrack. Now all eyes were on me. DAMSEL IN DISTRESS! I have always hated to be put in the center of attention like that.

One thing I knew for sure was that now was going to go one of two ways: life or death. . .