Chapter. 18
Blood Ties
It took a few moments for Aaegon to reach Kiera's mind. He tried to wake her up by reminding Bianca of her affection. The warmth that Kiera went through while living in Red Land, and the sweet feeling that the girl felt every time she remembered her mother. Aaegon try awakened the girl's heart by many way to melted the ice in Kiera's heart and make her calm.
Slowly, Kiera's calmness and acceptance could be felt by Aaegon, awareness came to Kiera's heart again. Carefully, Aaegon summoned the consciousness in Kiera's mind. Second time, the girl opened her eyes after sinking into the unconsciousness that had trapped her that day.
Adam frozen in a position by hug Kiera's body was the first sight that the girl caught when she opened her eyes. Guilt and worry immediately flooded Kiera's mind with regret. Apparently, emotions can still trap her until she gets out of control.
"Adam, ...." Tears ran down Kiera's cheeks.
Not moving from her seat, Kiera looked intently at Adam. She immediately looked for signs of the life of the young man in front of her. Gently, she touched Adam's chest with the tips of her fingers, she can feel Adam's heart beating slowly. Luckily, Keannan apparently can keep Adam's heart out of the cold that trapped the young man's body.
With full concentration, Kiera channeled all her strength through her fingertips. During the process, every second that passed seemed to be slowly creeping up. Everyone in the room seemed to be trapped in an endless tension.
Every each held their breath following Adam's heartbeat which was starting to get louder and louder to their sensitive ears. A few moments passed.
Finally, the reddish-brown Adam's eyelids blinked slowly and then opened completely. Almost simultaneously everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. They have been through critical moments.
"Are you fine?" Adam asked while cupping Kiera's cheek with one hand. As soon as he opened his eyes, a worried question escaped from Adam's lips to Kiera.
"You idiot! That questions its for you! Don't you dare do something like that again!" Kiera said while hitting Adam's arm in annoyance.
"Ouch!"
"Huh! Don't pretend! I'm just touching you slowly!" Kiera growled, glaring at the young man who was still sitting in front of her. However, Adam just stayed silent with a pale face.
"Adam!" Kiera frantically shook the young man's body.
"Ha-ha-ha! I got you!" Adam's laughter loudly because he can traped Kiera as usual.
The young man jumped away from Kiera when he saw the girl raising her hand again with a sullen face. He intended to dodge the girl's punch, but instead fell and rolled under the couch he was sitting on, apparently Adam's frozen body had not fully recovered.
"Ha ha ha!"
Everyone there laughing together when watched Adam's stiff movement as he tried to stand up. Even the young man laughed too after he grumbled for a moment.
They released the relief that had been stuck in their chests with loud laughter, having made it through the previous tense moments. Secretly, they felt grateful that no one was injured in the unexpected incident.
After all calmed down, each returned to their previous seat. Frankly, Keannan looked at Kiera's face again and again. He was very happy to know that he had a sister like he had always wanted. Moreover, such an amazing sister like Kiera.
Before that, Keannan had felt the obligation to protect his sister from young men like Adam. The young man's chest was warmed by the strange feeling of happiness he was feeling for the first time. He was sure that his father would be very happy if he found out about Kiera's whereabouts.
Thinking about his father, Keannan frown. Why didn't Kellen ever talk about Kiera's whereabouts? event Keannan would never have realized that he had a sister if not for the unexpected events he experienced.
Keannan's eyes fell on Kiera who was looking at her face at the same time, they looked at each other with questions in each other's eyes.
Kiera frowned, for some reason the feeling of annoyance always came when she looked at Keannan's face. She wanted to punch that face, the happy and innocent face that had stolen the attention of the man who was supposed to be her father.
With a stiff motion Kiera slid Joye's sword towards Keannan. But, Keannan did not budge and refused to accept the sword belonging to Kiera. However, Keannan realized that Joye's sword had chosen the true owner. Somehow, he actually felt relieved after discovering this fact.
Finally, Kiera put Joye's sword back behind her back. Because without telling anyone, the girl actually felt comfortable with the weapon in her hand. There was a sense of recognition within Kiera that seemed to welcome Joye's sword as a part of her.
"Woi, remember, you guys are brother and sister! Just look at it! You'll fall in love then you know the taste!" Exasperatedly Adam patted, only to receive nudges from his right and left.
"Talkative!" At the same time Kiera and Keannan hissed towards Adam.
Wow, they can even be that compact. Adam looked at both of them with a frown on his face. This cannot be silenced. If he don't remember that Keannan is Kiera's brother, Adam's hand feels itchy to hit the ugly straw haired boy. Because he had been watching, the young man looked back and forth at Kiera with a look as if enchanted. Could it be that they are not brothers?
Adam immediately turned his gaze towards his teacher who had been silent for a long time.
"Teacher, if I'm really related to him, why doesn't his father ever try to find me?" Kiera's question stopped Adam and Keannan who were also about to ask the same question.
Adam quickly covered his mouth. Even though Kiera's voice sounded calm, he could feel the pain was trying to hide.
Adam could understand why Kiera referred Kellen as Keannan's father even though she now knew that Kellen was her father too.
However, Adam wondered too, how could a father be so indifferent to his daughter's existence to such an extent.
"Your father never knew where you were, Kiera." Aaegon answered Kiera's question while looking at the girl carefully. He nodded when he saw Kiera looking back at him with an incomprehensible look.
"When your mother and father separated, neither of them not know that your mother get pregnant."
Then, Aaegon retells the moment of seventeen years ago. When Kellen is brought back by Gillian, he forcibly injured after a fight.
For a second Kellen was forced to accept an arranged marriage with Keannan's mother. Kellen had refused. But, at that time Gillian and the alliance were in a critical condition until finally Kellen carried out the marriage to safe both of them.
Then, about a year or so, Kellen accompanied by his bodyguard came back to Red Land with the intention of meeting Anyeelie. Aaegon told how devastated Kellen was when he was told about Anyeelie's death which was only moments before his arrival.
Kellen even asked Aaegon to show him where Anyeelie's grave was so he could be sure that Aaegon wasn't lying to him. When finally Kellen actually saw Anyeelie's grave, at that moment the man immediately lost control. Until Aaegon asked his bodyguards to immediately bring Kellen home.
At that time, Kellen lost the reason to stay alive and didn't care about his surroundings. It was impossible for Aaegon to tell him that Anyeelie had given birth to their daughter. Aaegon afraid if Kellen finds out about Kiera's whereabouts at that time, he will insist on taking Kiera with him.
That's what prevented Aaegon from telling Kellen. Because he realized, Bianca would also not be able to endure the loss of Kiera after she loss Anyeelie, her only daughter.
"That's exactly what happened, Kiera. Your father can't even admit that your mother is dead. Maybe that's also why he never appears here again," said Aaegon at the end of the story.