Chapter Two

I opened my eyes and glanced around trying to see where I was.  I found myself sprawled out on the couch in the living room of where I was currently calling home.  I closed my eyes as I tried to remember why I was laying on the couch covered in a fuzzy blanket with a roaring fire in the fireplace to keep me warm.  I slowly opened my eyes up and focused in on the yellow and orange flames as my memories flooded my brain.  A shiver ran through my body and I felt myself flinch outwardly.  I rubbed my hand through my hair and massaged the back of my neck as I closed my eyes to the pain that I already felt starting to inch its way into my temples. 

I noticed that there was a glass of water and two aspirin laying on the table next to the couch and I gladly grabbed them and threw them to the back of my throat chasing them with the cool liquid.  I might just have to lay here soaking up the heat until my head eased no matter how long that took. 

To say I was disorientated and confused would be a understatement.  For the majority of my life I had always been someone that operated with complete control and right now I felt the total opposite.  I had no idea how long I had been out or why I had lost consciousness but I felt different.  My senses seem to be still at a heighten level and I could sense that I was not alone.    I looked around and saw Aggie sitting in the recliner across the living room avidly watching me with her big brown eyes that were full of emotions swirling in them.  I watched as Aggie made her way over to me and sat on the edge of the coffee table next to where I was laying.  I sat up on the couch and watched her take my hand in hers.  She looked at me with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes and asked me how I was feeling. 

I searched her face for a minute trying to get a take on what was going on and what she was thinking.  I thought about Aggie for a minute.  She was a loving grandmotherly type woman that always seemed happy but looking at her now there was no happiness in her eyes nor did she have the same affection nature she seemed to always bubble over with.  Something was definitely wrong and I found myself deep in thought about everything and how things had been off since I stepped foot into this town. 

I glanced once again at Aggie thinking of why I came here to begin with, something that I cannot explain pulled deep within me to stay here over my own family estate.  I thought back to the day I arrived and an urge to walk inside as I passed through trying to get my bearings around this small town that held deep roots for my family.  Once I walked in I instantly was met with Aggie, and her husband, Rory Macgregor who had turned their home into the Evenbere B&B not even a year ago.  It was evident from the furnishings that they had done a huge remodel with a complete modern flair makeover in order to hopefully attract tourist as they were only two other options for lodgings in the area. 

I instantly fell in love with the both of them and they reminded me of my own grandparents, with Aggie automatically taking a grandmotherly role and ushering me into the living room that I currently was in and shoving scones, tea cakes and hot coffee at me before I could even refuse.  I didn't refuse and there was an instant bond that even I could not explain if I had wanted too.  It had felt natural to stay here and I had all my luggage diverted here before it made it to the estate. 

I cleared my head and watched her as she patted my hand and then sat back a little on the table eyeing me as she spoke "you gave me quite a scare Ethan".  

"I am sorry" I found myself mumbling to her as I broke eye contact and found myself staring at the floor.  

I had so much going through my head right now and all that kept ringing loud and clear was the referral of "his highness" which was totally and utterly absurd.  Every single person in that tavern last night seemed to echo what Emory and Kaley had said was indeed true.  It just could not be possible and I needed to tell Aggie and ask her some questions but I did not want to scare one of the two allies I actually had in this town. 

"Care to tell me what happened" I heard her asking me, but I could not process the request just quite yet. 

I was still thinking about everything and the feeling that I had with Emory.  The way she had made me feel, the overwhelming need to be with her, hold her, tell her all of my secrets.  All of it was calling to me to find her, no I needed to find her.  

I finally found myself being pulled out of my mental conversation by a soft hand tapping on my shoulder causing me to look up at a pair of brown worried eyes that were filled with concern.  I felt myself blurting out Emory's name and his highness which got the reaction that I was dreading.  Aggie looked at me like the world was about to eat us up right this minute and then she sat back and fanned her chubby wrinkled face.  It was my turn to be comforting and I ran my hand over hers and patted it. 

"Aggie tell me why what I told you has you so upset" I asked her softly with a bit of sternness. 

I needed answers and the longer we sat her the more aggravated and  puzzled I felt myself becoming.  I felt weird emotions stirring deep in my soul especially when I looked at her and she was giving me the look everyone else had; a look that showed disbelief  with a hint of fear. 

I picked my hand up from hers and used both of them to run them down the length of my body and then up to my face.  I felt like I was still me, my heart was still beating, my color seemed to look the same just from looking at my arms and I still felt warm to touch.  I noticed her looking at me odd and she had stopped fanning her face, which I noticed she had started when I asked her what was wrong. 

"Boy what are you doing to yourself" she asked me with a puzzled look. 

"I am making sure I am not dead and a ghost" I muttered to her, a little embarrassed that she saw me do all of that. 

I saw her smile for a minute and state that I was very much alive. 

I watched the humor leave her face and become serious once again "Ethan, are you sure that you heard right?"  she pondered. 

I nodded to her as I  sat back and explained everything that had happened including the part of me running out of there.  

"Ethan if it is true then you have to be prepared for what's to come.  Why would your uncle send you here unless he knew it was your time to come home and take what was rightfully yours"  she trailed off. 

I felt like she was saying this more to herself than to me. 

"This does not make any sense, I am here to help my uncle that is it".  

She just shook her head side to side to tell me no "What is puzzling is that you should have underwent the change way before now". 

I looked at her like she grew three heads  wondering what the hell she was talking about. 

I swallowed hard and looked her straight in her eyes "CHANGE!?!?, Aggie what exactly are you talking about?" I yelled. 

Aggie leaned in to me and again took my hand in hers.  I gently shook off her hand and jumped up from the couch, moving to the fireplace.  I felt myself begin pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace finding myself deep in thought once again.  I should have researched this town more before I agreed to my uncle's request and just hopped on a plane and showed up without even asking why it was so important for me to come handle the business that he could have taken care of over the phone.  Everyone in my family including me were attorneys so questions and explanations were second nature to us but for some stupid reason I just assumed that he was being honest with me when he said that he needed me to meet with contractors in person on the remodel of our family's estate, but now it seemed like there may have been more to the story. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes as I tried to regain some type of control over not only my raging emotions but my thoughts.  What in the world was Aggie talking about, what change was she referring to and why was she not really answering any of my questions.  It was either answering with a question or being vague which was becoming irritating fast. 

"Ethan come back and sit down and I will explain everything" Aggie plead with me. 

I could hear her sighing to herself and I could feel her worry.  This was disturbing, I could now feel people's emotions on a deeper level, what next I could read their minds.  That thought troubled me because it was not normal to be able to have super human abilities.  I tried to shove all of these thoughts out of my head for just a moment so I could concentrate on what Aggie was telling me.  I stomped over to the couch and plopped down feeling anxious all over again.  Aggie sat down next to me making sure there was bit of a distance between us.  I could see her forehead creased with worry and I wanted to reassure her it was going to be all okay but I had no idea what we were dealing with so I could not do anything but sit there but feel helpless.  If ever it was a time to feel like a child it was right now. 

"I need to you to keep an open mind when I tell you what I know"  I heard her say gently. 

I nodded to her numbly. 

"But first do you mind telling me what your uncle's name was again". 

"Ian Reid" I muttered, feeling a little anger towards uncle Ian. 

I had a deep feeling in my gut that he knew exactly what he was doing when he sent me here.  I remembered he had made all of the arrangements prior to telling me that I was coming here and left it with a tone that was not up for debate.  I also remember both of my parents arguing with him about me coming here to the point they were not on speaking terms when I left, which was odd for them.  We were a close knit family which almost never disagreed on anything.  That should have been my first clue that something was amiss. 

I looked up and saw that Aggie looked like she had seen a ghost "did you say Ian Reid" which I nodded to confirm she had heard it correctly.  "

"Is your father Evin Reid" she asked almost in a whisper. 

"Yes the one and only" I replied sarcastically.

Aggie now looked like she was in the process of swallowing her tongue and fainting. 

"Aggie what is it, why do you look like you are in a straight panic" I heard myself asking her as I went to grab her by her shoulders to steady her. 

Even though she was sitting she still looked like she might fall right off the couch. 

"Ethan, its true you are the next King" she said which came out between a screech and a yell. 

Her face told me she believed what she was saying, but my brain was telling me she was losing her mind, that I was no King.

"Aggie, listen to what you are saying, I am not a King" I scoffed. 

I watched her make a face like a fish several times, her eyes were bulging out, she was gasping for breath and she had lost all of her color.  She looked like she was five seconds away from a full blown panic attack and it was all because she thought I was some kind of King, which was utter bullshit.   I watched as she sucked in her breath and clinched her eyes shut. She immediately bowed her head to me and clinched her hands tight into balls. 

"Ethan there is something you should know but you have to promise me you will keep an open mind once I tell you" she said quietly without looking up at me. 

I sat there for a moment staring at her realizing that she was waiting for permission to look me in the eye.  It hit me that she believed what everyone else had said and by bowing her head and lowering her eyes she was submitting to me like I was royalty. I gently placed my hand under her chin and lifted it up so that her face was even with mine. 

"Please don't tell me that you believe what they are saying, that I am royalty or something like that" I said bitterly. 

I saw her mouth open  a couple of times before she finally found her voice again.

"It's true Ethan you are the lost high prince and by you being here means that you have come to claim your rightful place as King".

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A/N:  How will Ethan react when he finds out that he is a Vampire Prince about to be crowned the King.  How did he not go through the change.  How did his family hide this secret from not only him but everyone.  Will he try to find Emory.

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