"Vivian. Vivian." a distant voice called her.
This was followed with a shrill laughter. The laughter of a man. It sounded strangely familiar.
Blaise looked down at her palms. The red mark was vivid than ever. She watched as the water spewed down on it. It glinted slightly in the water.
"Martha…Martha!" a hand touched shoulder from behind.
She turned startled only to find Hayden behind her.
She sighed with relief.
"Hayden." she muttered.
Her vision began to blur and her head ached.
"Hey, are you okay?" Hayden asked with a worried look.
Blaise looked around. She was at the scrub sink washing her hands. She checked the clock on the wall and it was already 4:45 pm.
Where did her whole day go? What happened with the surgery?
Why couldn't she remember anything?
"Martha…" Hayden shook her.
She turned abruptly remembering something.
"I have to go." she pulled off her surgical robe and headed for the door.
"Wait…where are you going?" Hayden asked.
"I will explain it when I get back I promise." She told him.
She crushed into a couple on her way out.
"Oh Doctor, we were just looking for you. Thank you so much doctor." Mr. Blake said.
Blaise stared at them confused.
She knew them to be the parents of the little boy, Trevor. The child she was to operate on.
"You saved our baby's life. Thank you so much." Mrs. Blake hugged her abruptly.
"Ma'am I…"
"God bless you, Doctor." Mr. Blake told her one more time before they left.
She had already performed the surgery then. But why couldn't she remember anything?
She remembered the knob scorching her hand. But that was last night. Where the hell did the last 12 hours go?
Why didn't she remember anything?
"Argh!" she groaned from the sharp burn in her palm.
She looked down her palm. Her eyes widened with horror.
The red mark began glowing. She wasn't sure what to do that instant.
"What is wrong with me?" she asked herself.
"Now's not the time Blaise. Get it together." she told herself.
She rushed to her office and grabbed her coat.
She quickly wrapped it around her right hand. She grabbed her phone and rushed for the elevator.
"Martha. I heard your surgery was over. You know we should celebrate." a woman in her early twenties approached her saying.
Doctor Rudy Roberts was a colleague doctor who worked at the ER too. She was also close friends with Blaise.
"Err…yes and no…we can celebrate another time I have something to get done at the moment." Blaise pressed the elevator button impatiently.
"Classic Martha. Always the workaholic. Wait…are you on fire?" Rudy pointed out.
Blaise looked down quickly. Her coat was on fire. She dropped it quickly.
The elevator opened and she stepped in.
"Martha…how did you...we should check you for injuries." Rudy said.
"No…no…I'm fine I just have to go" she said hurriedly.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
She felt hot and uneasy.
Rudy creased her brows. She noticed Blaise's uneasiness.
"Martha you don't look so…"
"I said I'm fine!" Blaise yelled.
A sudden force knocked Rudy backward to the ground.
Blaise stared in horror as a few nurses rushed to Rudy's aid.
The elevator closed up immediately.
"Did you feel that?" one nurse asked the other.
"What happened here?" Hayden rushed towards them.
"No idea, it was a strong wind." one nurse said.
"I thought it was a tremor." another said.
"She's bleeding." another said suddenly.
"Allow me." Hayden carried an unconscious Rudy Roberts in his arms.
"Ernie, Lucy, give me a hand" Hayden ordered as they rushed her to the ER.
"What happened? I saw her with Dr. Edmonds. Did they quarrel?" one nurse asked the other.
"I don't think so. But it's weird right?"the other nurse whispered.
Weirdness was the least of what Blaise felt now.
She felt so confused and extremely. She hurt Rudy even though she didn't mean to. Her palm was on fire and she had no idea what to do.
She stepped out of the hospital with no idea where to turn.
She was sweating profusely and ground beneath her feet seemed further away every step she took.
Her palm kept glowing and the burn worsened every minute.
She scrambled her way across the road.
She began hearing distant whispers and voices.
"No stop!" she covered her left ear with her good hand.
Everything spun out of control. She begun hearing voices. Loud voices screaming and calling her name.
"No…" she bumped into someone and fell to the ground.
"Vivian?" a voice called her.
This time it was clearer than the others. It was a voice of a man. There was a hint of surprise in his voice.
She wasn't even sure of what she heard. Everything around her was muffled in whispers. She lost sense of her surroundings slowly.
She suddenly felt strong arms carry her from the ground.
Blaise attempted to open her eyes by her eyelids weighed a tone.
She eventually opened her eyes partially. There was nothing but a pair of eyes staring at her.
Golden eyes they were.
The suddenly darkness enveloped her and everything turned still.
"Do you trust me?" a sudden voice asked.
"Yes" she muttered.
"Then take my hand" the voice said.
Blaise looked down at the extended hand. She looked up again to find a pair of golden eyes staring at her.
The bright light prevented her from seeing the face of whoever it was.
"Take my hand Vi." the voice repeated.
She stretched out her hand.
Suddenly, a hand gripped her neck from behind.
"Vivian" another voice hissed.
"No." she screamed and woke up instantly.
"Veronica. She's awake. Vivian. Blaise turned to find her father at her side.
Blaise panted and looked around her confused.
"I…I…"
Her father embraced her.
"Sshhh…there's no need for words now. You are safe my child" he kissed her head and whispered.
Blaise hugged him tightly.
At this very moment she really needed this. A feeling of comfort.
"Vivian, my child" her mother rushed into the room.
Blaise turned from her father and hugged her mother.
"Mother, what's happening to me?" she whispered in a shaky voice.
"Its okay love, I'm here. It's okay" her mother cooed her.
"But…my hand…it was on fire. A…and that force. It hurt Rudy…I hurt her. It felt so terrifying." she sobbed.
Veronica turned to her husband with a knowing look.
"It's okay, sweetheart. You are not alone. Not anymore" her father kissed her hand.
Blaise looked at her father. She suddenly remembered it all. She slowly pulled back.
"Vi…"
" Don't" she pulled away from them.
She stepped away from the bed and took in her surroundings.
She run her fingers through her hair. Her brain was fuzzed up. She was confused all over again.
She was still in her blue shrubs. The mark in her palm was gone now. But the room she was in felt strangely familiar.
"Where am I?" she asked and stepping away from the bed.
"We are home my love" her mother replied.
"Home?" she furrowed her brows.
"In Eldovania. This is your old room, remember." her father replied.
"What!" she exclaimed.
"W...why did you… I didn't even…"
"You were dying Vivian there was no time to spare" Lord Edmonds said.
"Dying? What are you talking about? I…I need to get back to New York immediately. There's so much I have to finish. I can't be here right now" Blaise walked to and fro, still wrapping her head around the idea.
"You can't go back at least not at the moment" her father told her.
"What do you mean I can't go back? You have multiple jets, can't I just borrow one of them or I've lost privilege to…"
"Its not that simple Vivian. New York isn't safe for you any longer" Lord Edmund said.
"What do you mean it's…"
"She's not supposed to be up" a woman in her mid sixties entered the room.
Luella Rebel Edmonton. The mother of Lord Edmonton and Blaise's grandmother.
Her long blonde hair was French braided. Her emerald eyes were bright and wrinkles appeared on her face when she smiled.
She walked towards Blaise with an elegant walking stick.
Blaise eyes went wide with surprise.
"Merma" Blaise mumbled.
"My little flame" she pulled Blaise into a hug.
Blaise hugged her back.
"Merma, there's something wrong with me" Blaise sniffed.
"There's an explanation for everything, my little flame. And there is nothing wrong with you" she told her.
Blaise pulled back to look at her grandmother.
"Then how do you explain this strange power. I almost killed somebody" Blaise said.
"Everything that's happening is supposed to happen. We weren't certain when but it's your fate, Vivian." She said.
"For once Merma, stop being so cryptic and tell me what you mean. Explain this to me. Explain to me the voices and the strange sights. And tell me why I can't go back to my own home" Blaise took her grandmother's hand.
Old Luella looked back at Blaise's parents..
"We will go take care of the preparation" Veronica took Edmond's hand. He was hesitant to leave.
"I will watch her Ed. Go on" Luella told her son.
Lord Edmond glanced at his daughter one more time before leaving.
"He is scared more than you are" Luella chuckled.
"Don't change the subject Merma." Blaise said.
"I haven't. Sit down will you" Luella told her.
Blaise sat down on the bed and her grandmother joined her.
"Eldovania is your home child…"
"It hasn't been for 10 years now" Blaise interrupted her.
"Will you let me finish?" Luella snapped.
"Sorry" Blaise mumbled.
"You are just like your father" Luella sighed.
"Not entirely" Blaise muttered.
"Oh, you are more of your father than you think. One may even say you are more than your father. Your spite for him is justified but that spite doesn't take you anywhere my child. Not on the path, you are to take" Luella told her.
"From where I stand, my life has already been condemned. And spite seems like a very good reason to keep me going" Blaise said.
"Your marriage to the Lord won't be your condemnation. You will decide whether you want it to be or not." Luella told her.
"When was the last time you did magic?" Luella asked.
Blaise shrugged.
"I haven't practiced magic for close to ten years now. I think I've lost them but what has that to do with this?" she asked.
"We Edmontons don't just lose our powers. Its buried deep down all you have to do is to sermon it. Now listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you" Luella told her.
Blaise nodded.
"Millions of years ago, when the first vampires set foot on the witch land, there was chaos. They were exceptional beautiful with pale skin. They were fast and clever. Seven siblings they were. Initially, they were civil and met with the seven coven leaders. Even though they were met with hostility, the vampires went ahead and made their intentions known" Luella said.
"What did they want?" Blaise asked.
"Nothing good. Vampires have been known for their sly nature since the beginning. They didn't fail to show it even then. Their leader, Runen Valerian, told the leaders their intentions. They wanted part of the witch land in exchange of the lives of the witches themselves. The coven leaders were insulted by their arrogance and guts. Just like vampires, witches value their pride over everything else. They refused and ordered the vampires to leave as soon as possible. The vampires did leave. But that wasn't the end. For a sometime everything seemed so quiet and life was good as it was before their untimely arrival. On a cold quiet night, there came a loud cry from the inner town. The vampires had gone rouge. That night, many witch towns were massacred and burnt to the ground. It was horrible. Many lives were lost that night. No amount of magic could stop them. The witches grew scared and run in to hiding." Luella said.
"How is that even possible? Vampires may be strong and fast but they are not indestructible." Blaise said.
"That's true but these were not just any kind of vampires. These were the original vampires. The Valerians. That night, the witches lost their lands and their pride. It was astounding how the whole witch clan couldn't fight seven pureblooded vampires. The leaders were enraged but they knew had to be careful. They knew waging war was not an option because their number were decreasing by the day. They couldn't ask for help from the wolves for vampires had already conquered them. When there seemed to be no other way to turn, one witch named Ravera, suggested something forbidden. She proposed the use black magic to sermon the powers of old. The use of black magic was strongly forbidden then. However, this time they had no choice. The witches and warlocks of seven covens finally agreed to it. They met on one blood moon and summoned spirits. The spirits agreed to help but there was a price to pay. They had to sacrifice six lives to gain that power. A power summoned from the very pits of the earth. A power of fire which could devour anything or everyone in it's path.
The witches and warlocks of the seven coven came together and decided to give that power to the first and most trusted coven. The witches of the Elda…"
"Those are our ancestors" Blaise said.
Luella nodded.
"We the Elda witches from the days of old have been the strongest and most powerful. Yet, not everyone thought so. Ravera didn't like the idea. She insisted it was her idea to sermon the spirits hence she had all the rights to wield it. Even then, the coven leader of the Elda was but a child your age. Phoenara was her name. She was young, inexperienced, yet, was stronger than she looked.
On the night of the summoning, Phoenera didn't show. Ravera was beyond fury when she found out. But there was nothing she could do, the old spirits came and took their price. They all died that elliptic night. Five souls died willingly but one wasn't at rest. Nevertheless, Phoenara received the ignited power of the Phoenix. To seal the ritual and bring the dead souls to rest, the blood of the leader of the purebloods was required.
Phoenara was now the hope of all the witches. All she had to do was destroy the purebloods with her newly found power and offer the blood of the first pure blood as a seal."
"So was Phoenera able to sacrifice them?" Blaise asked.
"With a gathered army and strong plan all they had to do was wait for the perfect time. The perfect time did present itself. Runen Valerian held a masquerade ball for the first time. He chose one night were he could celebrate as one with his enemies. Phoenera used this opportunity and went into his home. The plan was to capture Runen and perform the sacrifice without delay. The plan was simple yet it proved a Herculean feat. This didn't go as planned, in fact they went overboard. Turning the lovely ball into a bloodbath. It turns out the witches weren't the only ones with plans. Runen immediately knew what went wrong.
He helped his siblings escape but stayed behind to face Phoenara. But at the very moment he laid eyes on her, he didn't have any intention to fight anymore. He fell in love with her. Phoenera was love struck too and instead of killing him, she took him prisoner. The witches disagreed with her. But they didn't dare speak their minds. Who so ever dared ended up in ashes.
It was a day to celebrate for the witches had emerged victorious and took back their lands. Phoenera was crowned queen and Eldovania was born. Runen became Phoenera's prisoner. For a prisoner he wasn't treated as such. He was given a small cottage where he lived. Phoenera cast a binding spell on him to prevent him from escaping. The witches didn't understand why he was in their queen's graces. It didn't take long for news of their secret affair to spread. The witches were furious but Phoenera didn't care. She was blinded by love and burnt anyone who opposed her. She refused to sacrifice Runen and broke her oath. This began uprising in the Eldovania. As if that wasn't enough, six siblings to come back with an army to save their brother. They were ready to wage war. The witches were already occupied with fight amongst themselves. So vanquishing them wasn't a problem.
Before the witches realized what the vampires were up to, they were already in the mist of battle. The six covens used this to turn Phoenera against Runen. They forced her to choose between her people and love. Phoenera felt betrayed by Runen. She was made to believe he orchestrated the attack. He tried to explain his innocence to her but she wouldn't listen. She went mad with rage and tried to kill him. Runen barely escaped with his life. That night, he fled Eldovania and never looked back. He was heartbroken and furious. Furious, she wouldn't listen to reason. One may think, Runen's departure was the end to the chaos but it was only the beginning. The Balcoins, the witch coven Ravera came from demanded Phoenera fulfill the promise she made to the ancestors. She refused and they revolted. She went mad and cast them out. The ancestors were angry and cursed Phoenera. Phoenera changed. She went mad. She cried all night and screamed all day. The ancestors tortured her till she took her own life.
The power was passed on to Serena, Phoenera's younger sister. Serena suffered the same dilemma. After Serena died, the power disappeared. No one knew why and where it'd gone to. Some deemed it a relief but others still worshipped the power. That power was a burden to those who possessed it and a danger to those around who so ever possessed it. Over the years, there were rumors of this power but it was soon forgotten again. At least not until now " Luella touched Blaise's cheek.
"I'm cursed" Blaise muttered.
"But…why me? I…never asked for…"
"No one knows why my child. But let's look on the bright side. This power isn't all bad." Luella said.
"Isn't all bad? Merma, you should…"
"You may not see it now but in time you will understand." Luella said.
Blaise stood up with a groan.
" Stop been so cryptic Merma, tell me, is there something I can do to break this curse or get raid of this power?" Blaise asked.
"Death is an option." Luella said.
Blaise stared at her blankly.
"Seriously, Merma, death?" Blaise asked.
"Yes death but that isn't an option for us. If we wanted that we would have left you in New York." Luella said.
"What are you talking about now?" Blaise furrowed her brows.
"You were being pursued Vivian. Not everyone thinks Eldovania should bond with Valeria." Luella said.
"The Balcoins?" Blaise asked.
"We are not certain but you are safe now you are here." Luella said.
"You should have left me to die. At least I would be at peace." Blaise said.
"Don't say silly things. This is not the end of the road. There are better days to come. Trust me." Luella told her.
" Oh Merma. I wish it was that easy." Blaise said.
"Listen to me child. You have nine days to your marriage. Eloping is not an option."
"I don't…"
"Vivian, at a point in our lives we've all had to make hard choices for the sake of this kingdom. It is your turn to make such choices. It is your duty as a princess to do everything to save Eldovania." Luella said.
"What about my own life. I can't just leave. I'm engaged to be…"
"Think about it child. Just think about all the lives you will be saving if you do this." Luella told her.
Blaise buried her face in her palms.
"Promise me you will think about it, Vivian." Luella patted her shoulder.
Blaise nodded.
"I will think about it, Merma." She mumbled.
"Good. In the mean time, you should get ready for the ball tonight." Luella said.
Blaise slouched onto the bed with a groan
.
"This is not the time to pout. This is to celebrate your arrival after ten years. Our guests will be arriving soon. Barb, will be here to help you dress up. Come give me a hug." Luella said.
Blaise stood up to hug her.
"I love you Vivian. Always." Luella whispered.
"I love you too, Merma." Blaise retorted.
"Well that's enough, clean yourself up and I don't like what you've done with your hair. Blonde isn't so good on you" Luella headed towards the door.
Blaise rolled her eyes. Why did everyone have a problem with her hair?
"It does look good on me." Blaise said.
"Who misled you?" Luella asked.
"My friends and it's not a lie. I do look good in this." Blaise said.
"Your human friends I presume."
Luella left the room leaving Blaise all alone.
She looked around the large room. She smiled at the familiar golden sheets.
Who would have thought she would set foot here again?
As she looked around and a glint in the mirror caught her eye.
She walked towards the full length mirror cautiously.
On her right arm was a bold mark of the Phoenix. It glowed red on her skin.
Suddenly, it disappeared to Blaise's utter surprise.
She stared in the mirror and sighed.
"Why me?" she muttered.