Ember of Hope

As the spell finished weaving and sinking into the barrier; Katherine at last raised her head and found that there was a small gathering of councilmen and other officials apart from the guards that had accompanied her into the mountains. The scorn dripping from each and every face present was identical and she was the receiver. Even the thought of having a whole nation loathe her with such passion was enough to make her shiver. She imagined what they would like to do to her if given a chance. They’d tear her into ribbons in a matter of seconds and would probably want to do it again and again. Then her sight snagged on a figure. The red head, the porcelain skin, the green eyes bleeding venom… it was all the same. How could it be? What was she doing here? How did she get here? A Daughter she had handed over to humans to keep safe had ended up in her world somehow and she wanted to know.

When she stood there, transfixed, the guards came forward to escort her back. She panicked and frantically searched for her mate. As soon as her eyes landed on him; she called out. Alex probably would’ve ignored her but he must have seen something on her face because he held his hand up to stop the guards and took her aside. “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost”. Alex inquired.

She nodded her head, “I have Alex. I don’t know how this possible but…” she hesitated. Alex wasn’t ready to meet his daughter yet and here she was; about to tell him that she was in front of his eyes.

“What is it Katherine?” Alex sounded anxious. He sounded like he didn’t trust her. Probably because he doesn’t, sounded her own voice of reason. “I just saw… I…” she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“What? You saw what?” his voice was becoming impatient.

“I just saw Raegan”. She blurted out.

“Raegan?” he didn’t seem to have recognized the name.

“Our… Our daughter Alex. She is here”. He became unnaturally still. His eyes sharpened and his jaw hardened as he processed what she had uttered.

“What?” he hissed.

“Yes. She is here. I saw her. Just there” she pointed to where she had saw Raegan with a man. She scanned the crowd for her face again and found two retreating figures. “Look. There. She’s leaving. The one with red hair”.

Alex looked in the direction of her pointing finger and focused. “Raegan” he whispered. He looked back at her with a strange expression on his face. “I’ve met her Katie” he shook her shoulders. Suddenly he had a light in his eyes she hadn’t seen in a long while. He was happy. He didn’t realize but he was ready to meet his daughter as a father.

“You’ve met her?” she said with a smile.

“Yes, she is mated to Christian’s son. He introduced her to me and I thought that she looked familiar somehow. Now I know why”. He left her, only to pace back and forth in front of her. He was anxious, excited, and afraid and he wasn’t trying to hide his emotions from her. It might not have been intentional but it gave her peace. And even though she had so many questions for him; she kept quiet and let him figure out his emotions.

………………

“Alex! This needs to be done together. You may continue hating me after; but it’s our daughter we’re talking about. You have to come with me. Aren’t you excited to meet your little angel?” Katherine choked at the last words – the endearment Alex always used for his daughter. And by the looks, he was also frozen in the moment those two words left Katie’s lips. Immediately after returning to the fortress he accompanied her to her room and was currently burning holes in the carpet with his angry pacing.

“Don’t you dare Katie… don’t you fucking dare to pretend you know anything that’s going on inside me. You took her from me. You took my daughter, my little angel away from me. You took away her existence - the memory of her”, he snarled in her face, “You stole too much. You robbed me of everything. And I’m not sure I can ever forgive you for that”.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she looked into his eyes and found the rage bursting at the seams, trying to unleash all the fury on her… but she could also see the deep hurt and disbelief lying just beneath the surface. “I know Alex… I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But please, for the sake of our daughter… come with me. I think you both deserve to meet each other properly this time… as father and daughter. I think you both’ve suffered enough”.

He let out a long breath and closed his eyes. Turmoil played at his handsome face, “Okay. I will come with you.” he answered finally and left her alone in the room.

………………………………

There was a strange current in the room; from a mix of so many emotions from the four people present in the room. Confusion, anger, anxiousness and fear; they made for an odd mix. Alex kept sneaking glances at his daughter while Katherine was trying her best to vanish from sight and not have to bear what was coming next. Valiance sat confused by the silence and the purpose of this meeting. And Raegan… nothing was working for her to control the feral rage that pushed at the bounds to come free and be unleashed upon the vile creature sitting amongst them – Katherine.

“I don’t understand why you summoned us, my king”. Valiance broke the silence at last.

The king sighed deeply, rubbing his face harshly with both hands. He looked to Katherine and she looked back; helpless and afraid. He nodded his head at her to speak. It took a minute for her to even summon her voice.

“Raegan” she began; while white knuckling the fabric of her dress in both fists. As soon as the name left her lips she saw Valiance stiffen besides her daughter. “We… I mean Alex and I…” she hesitated.

“What?” Raegan hissed.

“We are your biological parents”. She blurted out. And a hush descended upon the room. Alex sat there holding his breath. Valiance had now turned into a pillar of stone. And Raegan just kept sitting in her chair. Until she wasn’t. She stood with such a force that the heavy chair toppled over behind her and she was in Katherine’s face in a heartbeat. She grabbed the armrests of Katherine’s chair on both sides and bent to face her.

“What did you just say?” her voice was deathly calm but her eyes dripped hatred and disgust.

“Please listen to me. I can explain” Katherine’s voice came out weak. “Please”. She begged.

Valiance stood up and lightly pulled on one of Raegan’s arms. She didn’t budge at first.

“Come on love” Valiance gave a little tug and she let him pull her back.

“Speak”. Raegan looked down upon at her like she was a vile thing stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

Taking a deep breath; Katherine decided to be done with the explanation so that they could move forward. So that her daughter could at least know her real father. So that her redemption may begin.

………………………