{•Emerson•}

We all sat around the council room and watched as Genevieve lifted up a familiar looking item, stained with old blood.

(Picture: Example of wooden vampire stake)

"T-That was what killed me?" Lynette asked, looking at the stake in shock as Remington placed his hands on her shoulders. "That thing is huge...!"

"Visigoth's like to make sure they cause plenty of damage," Hermes scoffed.

"And this stake was no exception," Genevieve said. "I had James and Austin search for it before training began, and lucky for us, they were successful."

We watched as she placed it at the center of the table before speaking again.

"For those who don't know, this stake is what slain our princess that night, but the question rose as to how she was revived to later kill Alexander Visigoth," Genevieve said. "Which is also how Amadeus was murdered."

We all froze and I looked over at Lynette, who looked down.

"But.... A vampire killed Amadeus..." Sebastian said.

Genevieve pursed her lips and looked over at Lynette, who stood up.

"It was me.... I was the vampire who killed Amadeus...." She confessed.

My eyes widen.

"N-No, impossible.... Y-You're human now...." Sebastian said.

"Well, just a few seconds after I drank his blood, I suddenly turned back..." She said.

"No, that's impossible, nobody can just turn back into a human after turning into a vampire," Victoria said.

"Not exactly....." Genevieve said, walking over and taking a spellbook. "There is a poison that is brewed, called the Poțiune mortală."

"Mortality Potion," Victoria said. "Supposedly made by Romanian hunters centuries ago...."

"I thought that was a myth," I said, my brows furrowing.

"Not unless they have a sorceress making it," Genevieve said.

We all stopped as we realized what this meant.

"That sorceress, Lilith, has been their supplier on this potion...." Larisa said.

"You mean.... We could all be at risk of.... Turning human?" Ethan asked in shock.

"The chemical being moved around town, that must have been what Lilith was having moved around," Sebastian said. "Her way of making the kill easier."

"That's why Lynette became a human again... Remington giving her his blood turned her into a vampire, but with the poison already in her bloodstream it counteracted it and just turned her back," Shy said in realization.

"My god.... She used me as a guinea pig...." Lynette shuddered, Remington holding her.

Everyone looked around worriedly at each other.

"I-I don't want to turn back...." I said, worriedly.

"We have to do something, before she wipes us all out," Sebastian said.

"Michael will be here soon, he'll know more about this, same as the Salem coven," Sebastian said sternly. "I want us training more, learning to make sure we're all prepared and properly protected."

We all nodded.

"Let's make a battle plan," He said. "Genevieve, we need you, Jay, Billie and Emerson figure out an antidote if possible."

"We need more than that," Hermes stated, then faced them. "Priestess, we also need you four to make armor and bless it for all our soldiers, protect us all from any projetile weapons or attack."

"Good idea... We may need that, especially for Remington, at least until we can get his fangs back," Sebastian said.

Genevieve nodded and bowed. "I'll get started right away....."

"Shy can also help us. Let's go," I said as they all went ahead together.

{•Lynette•}

"Lynette," Hermes called me, making me turn. "Alister and I need a word with you in private...."

I looked at Remington, who nodded. "Its fine. I need figure some stuff out with Sebastian later."

I nodded. "See you back at our room?"

He nodded and leaned in, kissing me softly as I gripped his hand.

We pulled back and walked out with his brothers before I walked over to my uncles.

"Uncle... What's going on?" I asked.

"If the situation is even more severe than expected, we need to better prepare you, so that Lilith won't get the upper hand on you once again," Alister said. "You are the next Obsidian heir, and that should require not only to be properly trained to fight, but also protected as much as possible."

I furrowed my brows curiously. "What... Do you have in mind?"

"We may need to access another of your mother's secret vaults...." Alister said.

I pursed my lips looked questioningly at them.

***

We entered the office as I looked around, then Alister approached the grand bookcase.

"I thought we already accessed my mother's vault in the basement," I said.

"That vault just had some of the important items that she can afford to lose in case our parents ever found it.... A decoy if you will," He said. "This one, however..... This held important secrets that not even the King and Queen were to know about."

My eyes widen as he skimmed through the books.

He then stopped on the single astrology textbook she had among alchemy and grimoires, and smirked.

"I will see you in the stars..... Clever as always, dear Ellie...." he said proudly, then pulled it, and that's when I heard a click and suddenly....

Click.

I gasped softly as suddenly the entire bookshelf started to slowly slide aside, revealing a large iron door on the wall.

My eyes widen in surprise as I looked at the door, slowly walking over and observing it.

I ran my fingers across it, and then noticed the familiar keyhole with three keys over it.

"Wait a minute...." I said, and quickly reach into my dress pocket, pulling out my pocket watch and opening it, revealing the Blackwell key.

"Its all a giant puzzle after all..." I murmured to myself.

"Nothing stronger than a Blackwell lock," Alister said with a shrug.

"Huh... So that's where I put the bloody thing," Hermes said, making me look up at him as he peered over.

"You know about this?" I asked.

"That is a story for another moment..." he assured.

I pursed my lips and nodded as I faced the door.

"The honor is yours, my dear," he said. making me look over.

"Wait, but.... This opened a secret compartment drawer at the Blackwell Manor..... Will it work here?" I asked.

"Only a small few are universal... Let's see if we're lucky with this one," he said.

I looked down at the key inside the pocket watch.

I took a deep breath and then took the key, then walked over and inserted the key, turning it and unlocking the door.

I felt the click of the lock as the door slowly opened and revealed a sort of secret room. surrounded by different jewels, antiques, paintings and boxes with Lieseil's embelm on them, along with the words CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS marked underneath.

What did stand out was a mannequin in a Plague Doctor mask and elegant clothes stood at the center of the room.

"Your mother kept everything of high importance and in here.... Things that we could not afford to lose, especially to the Visigoths..."

I observed items all around, then noticed a painting that caught my attention.

It was Eloise, who was seated on a chair and a blank, empty space on her lap, Lieseil standing next to her as they smiled ahead, dressed elegantly.

I slowly reached over and traced my fingers over the blank space.

"Your parents had this commisioned before Eloise was to give birth....." Alister said solemnly. "It was to be finished after you were born.... You would have been painted right there, in your mother's arms...."

I frowned sadly at the painting. "She never got that chance.... She died before she could even be a mom...."

My uncles looked over sadly at me as I looked at them.

"My family was torn apart.... All for power and control....." I said, realizing something. "My family...... Remington's family.... So many innocent people.... All this blood spilled for a stupid throne.... For me..... Because of me...."

"You're wrong...."

I froze at the immediate response from a familiar voice in my head.

"No, Lynette...." Alister said sternly before turning me around. "I will not allow you to put blame on yourself over the heinous crimes commited by our parents, dearie.... This was a battle fought long before you were born... Long before even us..... Long before those brothers washed up on that shore...." he said.

I sighed as I held back tears before looking around the room, then observing the strangely dressed mannequin.

It had on a black plague doctor mask with a laced top hat, and dressed in a black dress and a jacket that draped in the back.

A gold Royale Council pin decorated the jacket.

"Was this her's?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yes.... A bit a legend, really," Hermes smiled softly.

"Legend?" I asked curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Lynette... Meet Calypso," Alister said, motioning to the costume.

I tilted my head curiously. "Calypso?" I asked. "Like... From the Odyssey?"

"Named after her..... Her name means 'to conceal' which was a perfect fit for a secret agent like your mother," Alister added.

My eyes widen. Secret agent!?

"Consider her as another one of your mother's aliases.... A popular story of hope and bravery amongst the Obsidian people," Hermes stated. "Despite her docile nature, your mother was still a highly skilled warrior, highest ranked sniper and archer, as well as elusive and cunning.... It was part of her role as Lady-in-Waiting for Queen Marguerite, and occasionally for Lieseil when working at the Academy, but only for certain classified missions. She gave up the title once she found out she was expecting you."

"Whoa....." I said in surprise.

"She liberated many Visigoth hostages and prisoners, and bought to justice many war criminals of the rebellion," Hermes said. "As well as tasked with terminating of many other enemies."

I turned my head. "You're saying my mother was also a sniper!?"

"In simpler terms, yes... Though her weapon of choice was always a bow and arrow, occasionally a crossbow... She rarely used ammunition," Hermes said.

Anarchists, spies, royalty, scientists, founders, soldiers, and now bounty hunters and vigilantes? Jeez, and they say the Queen Elizabeth's family has issues...

"The jacket and helm was blessed with a powerful protection spell by High Priestess Maria, so that your mother would be protect," Hermes added. "I insisted on the blessing, same as your father and the King."

"And now.... It is passed down to you....." Alister added.

My eyes widen. "M-Me?"

"It might need some adjustments, but yes.... You'll be wearing your mother's clothing for battle," Hermes said. "In case Lilith comes after you, you'll be safe. They will reflect any arrow, bullet or blade that tries to pierce through you."

I examined the jacket as I tried to process it all.

"Lynette?" Hermes asked. "Do you need a moment to gather your thoughts?"

I looked back at them and took a deep breath. "Y-Yeah.... I'll join you all upstairs..."

They nodded and exit the room, leaving me alone.

I sighed and looked around, my mind jumbled before looking at the mannequin.

I took a deep breath as I looked up at him.

"They took everything from us...." I said quietly. "We were going to be a family....."

I sighed as I held back my tears and looked back at the broken painting, staring at the blank spot.

A family torn apart before it ever even began....

The Visigoth's made me a forgotten memory in my own homeland..... Erased me from existence in the realm I was to

They deprived me of a family, of a future.... All so they can get back at their own kids for wanting better lives for themselves.....

I sniffled quietly before putting my hand over my heart and kneeling down on one knee to the portrait.

"I vow to you.... Mother... As well as you, Father....." I spoke. "That I will avenge our family, and bring down the Visigoth's for all the damage and pain they have caused to our land..... I vow to fight to my last breath, to bring all these criminals to justice for destroying everyone's lives, and to make our empire safe once again.... You have my word, forever and always... So help me God..."

I pursed my lips before standing back up and looking back at the painting.

"I won't let you down...." I said softly under my breath.

I stayed there for a while longer before I figured it was time to meet with the others.

I went to turn around to leave when I accidently bumped into one of the stacks of classified boxes near me and knocked one of the boxes over.

"Damn it," I sighed.

I picked up the box and sure enough a file or two fell out, with only a few papers slipping out.

Sure enough, they had Lieseil's seal on it.

What caught my attention, however, was the label on the tab.

"Patient X?" I mumbled, reading the label.

Huh.... That sounds familiar...

"Hm..." I murmured curiously as I managed to pick it up and saw the tab.

That's when I remembered something from my first Obsidian laced dreams.

The straight jacket.... I never knew who that was....

I curiously picked up the file in my hands and stood up.

Guess there's only one way to find out who he is and why he was in my dreams...

I carefully opened the file and read a patient file.

"Patient X, admitted into Lieseil Inc. Countryside Mental Estate on the first of July 1802.... Treatment for dislusions and paranoia to begin..." I read quietly, a little surprised.

My father owned an asylum?

"The year..... That's about 5 years before the fires happened...." I mumbled to myself.

I walked out of the safe as I examined the report, and then flipped to the next page, seeing it was the profile with a photograph, some old picture from a security camera, and froze at what I saw...

"R-Remington....?!" I murmured in horror, almost dropping the file.

What....?!

"I-I don't understand..." I asked quietly.

Why the hell did Remington have a file from some asylum my father owned!? And why did my mother have it!?

I quickly started to skim through it, seeing all the notes and stuff made, whether for medication or therapy.

"Mild hydrotherapy session performed...... Hypnotism.... Isolation after a violent episode...... My god, what did they do to you, Remington?" I murmured in shock as I steadied myself, backing away.

Just when we thought we had all our questions answered....

~~~~~

Posting a chapter since it is going to be the lovely (and very fuzzy) Andrew Berkeley Martin's birthday soon! 🎈🥳✨

Sending lots of love to everyone's favorite guitar man! 🎂🎉🎸♍♥️🌻

So, hoping that everyone is doing well!! I'm starting to finally find the motivation to update and draft more, getting past most of my writer's block!

I recently got out of a very difficult workplace situation that was even affecting my mental health most days, it was all just borderline toxic and I could not handle it anymore. I only put up with it as much as I could since I depended on it to pay for school.

After spending some time with my family outside the country and taking a very needed mental break, I decided to pursue something better and got a better position at another job (I am still in retail since it is more convenient for my schedules and stuff). It has a better pay than was I was earning before, and now even a bigger position than before. I quit my other job as soon as possible, and will be starting the new job soon, so I am both nervous but excited for this next chapter in life. 😁🤞🏻

I am also getting over some writer's block so expect some more content very soon! 🌻🌻🌻

🎧Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Pierce the Veil
"Hold On Til May"

♡~ sapphire.