Down End Road

Pain.

Numbing icy pain crushed my chest as I thought over the possibilities of what my father was going through. Ben had called an assembly and told the student body that a series of kidnappings had occurred across the Society and had lectured us on how to stay safe and what not.

However, through out the entire meeting all I could think about was one question: How could a fourteen year old possibly be able to defend themselves if a shifter came to capture them?

Ben had put up a strong demeanour in front of the school, but as soon as he stepped outside of the hall, I saw the defeated, helpless look cloud over his face. He had withheld vital information that the people attacking us weren't humans, but indeed nightmarish monsters that came straight from a fairytale.

I had questioned him about why he didn't tell them we were being attacked by shifters, but all I got out of him was a sigh as he had said, "Myra, sometimes ignorance is bliss, if these kids knew the truth they would cause anarchy, we can't all be as strong as you and your friends, no matter how much we wish we were." He had whispered the last part to himself as I had left him alone to stand there, defeat had rolled off of me in waves until we had rolled into my parents driveway.

Alex silently took my hand for support as I led him up the familiar steps and opened the door. So similar to the first time he had come here, but at the same time, the aching hole in my chest burning with wild fury had made it entirely different.

As we sat down at the small table in the sitting room my mother stood out the window, a distant gleam in her eyes, as she took in the roiling clouds. "They have search parties looking for him and the kids." She said.

It sounded like she was trying to reassure me but I could tell by the hopelessness that cloaked her slumped shoulders, that it was more of a line she repeated to herself, to keep the feeling of complete defeat away.

I felt bile churn its way up my throat and tears sting the back of my eyes. We had never gone through something like this, always the picture perfect image of family. Or at least thats what Kaylee would always say, telling me how I'm so lucky that my parents are together.

It felt like a piece of me was missing, every time I thought about the possibility of him not coming...

Bile continued its agonisingly slow ascent to my mouth. My mother looked at me the moment I could taste my breakfast, and I swallowed down harshly. Funny how my earlier meal had seemed as tasteless as dirt to me earlier, but was now a rainbow of flavours that nauseated me.

Unshed tears gleamed brightly in my mother's eyes as she focused her crystalline blues on my ocean deep ones. A shaky inhale on her part, a choked out gasp on mine.

Lowering herself into her seat, she placed her clasped her hands on the smooth wooden surface. I could see the trembling force of which she held her hands. Placing my dainty hand on her smooth ones, I brushed over them comfortingly.

Another deep inhale before a slow exhale. "We need to know who the queen is Mom, we need to know so she can open the portal and save Dad." I asked with a soft voice.

Delicate, was an understatement when it came to describing my mother's state. I felt as if one stroke too harsh could crumble her being, only leaving a trace of her behind.

Tremors stilled, as she looked up with glassy, fearful eyes. Her dismal expression dropped further still as she lowered her gaze back to the wooden table. "Mom, please..." My begs ceased as the reality crashed down on me.

I looked down at my ring, seeking solace from my suspicions. A choked gape closed my throat as I stared at the worn gold band and sharp gem. I slipped it off, bringing it hesitantly closer to my face, as I inspected it with trembling hands.

Alex stilled in his seat along with my mother, as me and him looked down at it, and under scrutinising gazes, did the truth finally reveal itself.

I looked at my mother, who's faced had paled to a deathly white, features twisted in shame.

Two Wings.

Dragon wings, to be precise. Engraved finely on the inside of the ring, worn down with age, barely visible if one doesn't look properly. It explained everything.

The dreams.

The eyes.

Monster Queen.

Fearful words murmured behind closed doors and turned backs. Words, hurtful words that were only meant to be a whispered thought. They held no meaning, like most expressions, until the truth came barreling into me and gave them meaning.

It was true, I was the Monster Queen. Declared by the land itself. And my parents had not told me.

"You could have told me." I spoke lowly. I felt tears blur my vision as I worked hard to swallow the growing lump in my throat.

With no verbal escape, my mother relented to telling us the story. "Your father had his suspicions about which bloodline he came from. Always curious, always searching for answers, always trying to find the Order of Adams' portal. It was his dream, really. But he eventually found out where he came from, and what happened all those years ago.

"Thats when things really took a turn for the worst. He was so set on finding it, but he needed help, so he went to our dear friends. Maverick father and... Your dad, Alex."

Something flashed in those brown orbs of his, something I felt was too personal for me to decipher. His had gripped mine for stability under the table and I gladly held his back.

"We- I- They- Huh, they went to find it, they figured out it was on Hope Island, but too late, they realised only the female descendant of Abigail and John Adams had the power to open it.

"He doesn't know what exactly happened, but shifters some how, transported to the island, and they surrounded them. Your dad, did everything he could to protect himself, and Roger, and Noah, but they-" Her voice cracked as a sob wracked through her body, sadness seeped into my being, to the marrow of myself.

"They fell off the cliff, and then the shifters, they went after them. When he came back, he had a broken leg, and his face was purple and blue, but he was alone. And we all knew what had happened. But, someone, caught wind of it early and had already launched an investigation for murder. The letter of exile of was sent out later that day, and we had to leave.

"Myra you couldn't have been more than 1, Alex and Maverick were 2, kind of in their toddler stage." She exhaled slowly and looked over to Alex, nothing but sympathy shining in her eyes. "He loved you so much-"

"I don't want to hear it, not now." Alex cut off curtly, I gave his hand a firm squeeze as he gripped my hand tightly, almost to the point of pain.

Another deep exhale sounded and she continued. "Sorry, as I was saying, um, we left and had our names changed to Remington, your dad's surname. Before that, our surname was Hamilton." My mother said, hurriedly.

Another stone of understanding, dropped onto the scales, tipping it closer and closer to my insanity. "You are the rightful heir to the Order of Adams and Hamilton estates and leadership role. Harris, never wanted you to know, he loves you, always sent birthday cards. He didn't want you to know about our world to keep you safe, funnily enough it was the only thing your father and him ever agreed on."

I looked to Alex, seeking his solidarity, but he was as shaken as I was and he needed the support more than I did. So I did, what I always do, I put my feelings about this in a box, locked it up and shoved it to the recess' of my mind. I let the story and its effect roll of me each time it was thrown at me. Tucking away the knowledge and formulating a plan.

"Harris, had known what you were the moment you were born. He saw it, felt it. But he knew the shifters would come looking for you, their rightful queen. They need you to bring back the portal, because without it, they know their worlds die. It's why everything has been so volatile to you, there all trying to tell you something but you didn't understand what." She finally finished.

I looked up at her, my face a blank slate. Her eyes looked over my features with a panicked frantic look. "Myra, please I'm begging you. Don't go looking for him, they will either kill you or hurt you so bad you won't be able to get back up again." My mother tried to persuade me as I stood from my chair and walked away, thanking her for the information.

"I'm gonna bring Dad home... I love you." I said at the door, she stood behind me her sobs echoed around the large high ceilinged foyer. A halo of setting sunlight surrounded her head. She resembled a broken angel. I set my foot outside the bounds of the house, but stopped myself from touching the ground. Rushing back to her, I engulfed her in my arms as she sobbed into my shoulder, wetting my shirt and jumper.

"I'm gonna bring him back mom, I promise." I promised quietly. She nodded her head profusely, her hair scattering everywhere as she did so.

"Be careful, please." She sobbed, accepting my choice to go find my father.

"I'll make sure she's safe." Alex affirmed from the door. I whipped my gaze to him as he stood stoically.

"Who's gonna watch out for your clumsy behind then," I joked. He smiled lightly and nodded his head jerked his head towards the door. I nodded and gave my mom one last squeeze before departing from my house.

A new sense of purpose and duty had my shoulders pulling back, my chin raising high, and my spine lengthening to its full height with dignity. If I thought about it too much, I could almost feel a crown on my head. Funny how the truth changes your view of things.