SWNOVELS Chapter 37
Chapter 37
ANDREAS
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Lord Theon’s steps were as quiet as the night as he marched down the hall and into a room that I guessed was
his study.
He gave a kind smile before he closed the door. “Would you like some tea, Sir Andreas?”
I stuffed my hands inside my pockets and remained silent, staring at him. He sighed and took a seat in front of
his table.
I could easily compel him to tell me the truth but then Aiden was right. He’s working with the vampires. He would have something against them.
“Many who don’t know you would not think you’re the Alpha King’s son. You do not look like him at all.” He smiled. “You did not inherit any of his traits. Philip had them all. Meanwhile you…” he trailed off. “You resemble the Lady Cressida.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You met my mother?”
He chuckled. “Herbert was telling the truth earlier. Me and your father have a close relationship. I know him well, like how a brother would. I know Cressida as well.”
I froze. The mention of my mother’s name seemed to blur my goal tonight. But for some reason, Lord Theon seems to know something I need to know. Especially about how she perished.
Sadness filled Lord Theon’s eyes. “She was a beauty. It was no wonder that your father, a prince at that time, was captivated by her.” He smiled. “Your mother loved him too. Believe it or not, the Alpha King in his younger years was… well, different. Perhaps it was the reason why your mother easily loved him, despite the differences.”
My eyes widened. “You…”
He smiled. “Yes, Sir Andreas. I know where your mother came from. I know why she came here. I know who she really was. That means I also know who you are.”
The study’s dim light cast shadows across Lord Theon’s face, emphasizing the gravity of his words. The scent of old books mingled with the faint aroma of tea, creating an atmosphere that hid thousands of secrets.
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Chapter 37
“How close were you? Even my father doesn’t know who she was.”
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“Because your father was blinded by his goal. He wanted to annihilate the vampires. He successfully did it using your mother.”
I closed my eyes firmly, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “My father did not know who she was. How could have have possibly used her?”
“See, your mother told your father of her knowledge about the vampire race without revealing she is a vampire herself. She represented herself as human, and used a witch to hide her vampire scent. It was mainly to fulfill her mission as the vampire princess but she fell in love with your father and the line between her mission and her personal interest got blurry. Your father used the knowledge she shared and annihilated the vampire race a long time ago, leaving the Kingdom of Eldoria in ruins. It killed your mother knowing that the man she loved killed her kind and told her about the news with a wide smile.
“She was heartbroken but she hid the truth still. She was already conceiving you at that time and she was scared what your father would do once he realized he had a half-vampire son. So she asked the same witch to hide your vampire scent as well. Your mother started to lose interest in everything, blaming herself for losing the Kingdom of Eldoria. She sought comfort in me and I openly accepted her in my home.
“Your father thought she had left but was too caught up with the victory that he did not care about her
whereabouts. He married Beatrice, Philip’s mother, and Cressida decided to return and give birth to you. That’s
when she took her last breath.”
The revelation tore something in me that my knees almost buckled. I knew it was my father all along. But then
the more I think about what Lord Theon said, I could not help but think that it was my mother’s choices that
caused her demise. That it was her trusting the wrong person that led the fall of the Kingdom. My Kingdom.
A lump formed in my throat as I tried to push down the overwhelming mix of anger, sadness, and confusion that threatened to show and face Lord Theon. “I appreciate you telling me all this but I need you to tell me why you’re working with the vampires. Who are you working with?”
He closed his eyes firmly as though it pained him to tell me the truth. Then he said, “As much as I want to tell you, I was compelled to kill myself and everyone in my family if I so much as whisper a clue. I know you know
how that works.”
I clenched my fist. “Then tell me what you can.”
“I am not working with them. Some vampires wanted the Kingdom of Eldoria to rise again but not for the same
Emergency calls onlyM
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reason as you have. One thing I can tell you is that, they are doing something dangerous. Something that would cause another war if we don’t put a stop to it.”
“What are you doing with them?”
“I am trapped, Sir Andreas, if you still have not realized. My son and daughter will take the punishment if I mess this up. I have no choice but to follow.”
“Were you compelled to tell them everything that has happened here?”
He shook his head. “No.”
I nodded. “I have the vampire called Gale. I don’t know what you have been doing to him but he does not look like a bloodthirsty vampire anymore unlike the first time I saw him when he attacked my fiance.”
His eyes widened. “He attacked Lady Henrietta?”
“Whether it was intentional or not, I’m not certain. One theory I have is that they’re trying to get rid of me because they know I would stop them.”
Lord Theon nodded subtly, confirming my thoughts.
“Do they know who I am?”
“No. To us, you’re the warrior that would kill us if we mess up.”
I nodded in understanding. He can’t tell me everything because he’s under a vampire’s compulsion. Compulsion is a vampire’s ability to hypnotize someone– a wolf, a witch, or a human– to do what they wanted them to do.
I straightened my coat and looked at Lord Theon in the eye. “I need you to keep working with them, Lord Theon.
I give you my word that Lady Grace and Lord Herbert will be in safe hands if worse comes to worst. One day, I will release you of that compulsion.”
A relieved smile curved his lips. “I appreciate it, Sir Andreas.”
I dipped my head and started to walk out of his study.
Lady Grace and Lord Harhart ware in the f
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I did not wait for them to ask me questions. I left without saying a word. Around me, the surroundings blur once again as I started running until I reached the familiar backyard and the tall tree.
I smiled to myself. I do not know how I ended up in here but I continued and found myself standing at one of the branches that provided good access to her bedroom.
Henrietta Silvana sat by the window, writing in her journal. Her hair freely cascading down her shoulders moved with the gentle breeze from her open windows. I sat and observed her for a while until she decided to go to her bed to sleep.
I crossed my arms as I looked up and saw the stars, thinking about what Lord Theon revealed. Thinking about it, my mother was the one who made the wrong choice of loving the wrong person.
I sighed, resting my head against the trunk. I did not notice an hour had passed until I saw Henrietta already peacefully sleeping. I smiled as I watched her.
“You’re making a habit of not closing your window at night,” I mumbled as though she could hear me. The next thing I knew, I was already in her veranda, my steps were light and quiet as the night. Her chamber was dark and
solely illuminated by the moonlight.
I stood next to her bed and watched her closely, strangely feeling comforted as I watched her sleep. However, dread reached me soon enough as I realized there would come a time when she would know who I truly am.
Will she despise me? I shook the thought. She would not despise me for being a half-vampire. She will despise me for hiding the truth.
Gingerly, I reached to push her stray hair aside. “I’ll close your windows now. Have a good night,” I whispered. I was tempted to lean in and kiss is forehead but I stopped myself and forced myself to walk out of her room.
However, just when I was about to leave, I felt a hand grabbing the hem of my coat, much to my surprise. I turned only to see Henrietta, looking at me with her roun d eyes.
“You’re making a habit of getting inside a woman’s chamber while she sleeps,” she said. My heart thundered inside my chest but then she let out a smile that seemed to melt every heavy thing I was feeling.
“I apologize. I’m leaving–”
Her hand tightened around the hem of my coat. “Don’t leave.” She got off from her bed and my eyes darted towards what she was wearing. My body reacted almost immediately so I averted my gaze and cleared my
Chapter 37
throat. Realizing her mistake, she immediately took a robe and wrapped it around herself.
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“I am sorry, Henrietta, I should just leave.” I don’t think I’d be able to think straight being in the same room with her now that my body has reacted to what I saw earlier. It was dam ning. To think that I only saw a glimpse of her figure beneath that thin night dress —
I shook the thought away.
“There must be a reason why you came here, Andreas,” she said and I looked at him, now sitting on her bed. “You can stay here if you don’t want to talk about it. I’m good with silence too.”
I stared at her. I was expecting her to be mad but she was rather accommodating. I cleared my throat and she must have read the hesitation on my face that she sighed. “You can sit on the chair near the window for the sake of your sanity.”
I chuckled. “You regard yourself too highly.”
“It isn’t true, then?” she asked, angling her head. I cleared my throat and did not answer as I settled on the chair.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“I agree. But I need some company. You need it as well. Let’s be each other’s company tonight.”
I stared at her for a beat longer. She was just looking at me, anticipating my response. I felt ashamed of my thoughts earlier. I sighed, trying to calm myself down.
“Alright. I’ll stay with you tonight.”
Her answering smile was enough to outshine the moon outside. “So what made you come to my chamber this
time?”