Chapter twelve:

Chapter twelve:




Graceona looked at her older brother, "Lady Misery, fell in love with a mortal? If you gave her son to a widowed gypsy woman, could that mean Ryan is the rightful owner of our Realm?"



"He is the one in line for the throne, that is if our people knew he was still alive; however Lady Misery made it very clear to keep Ryan  from the life of royalty." Leonard leaned against the gray stones of the balcony walls.



Graceona looked at her older sibling who looked in the distance at the homes, he looked to be lost in his own thoughts. Completely forgotten about the ideal chitter-chatter going on around him. "So you mean to tell us that Ryan isn't human? Am I the only human here?" Annette stated looking at the siblings



Leonard looked at Annette nodding his head, "Yes, Ryan. Or Ashoka Alexander Misery, is an ancient child; however he is unaware of his titles, and unclear of his history. I wiped his memories and placed a barrier around his true powers, he is technically one of us; however with his powers under 'lock and keep' if you will call it that," Leonard looked from Annette to his sister, "he is as mortal as Annette."



The red haired woman looked at the blond in then at her brother, "So, where are Ryan's powers being held? Some fortress in our realm-"



Leonard smiled getting the dagger, "In this dagger is Ryan's powers, even if I were to just hand it to you. Ashoka would have to rediscover his birthplace and true self. I have told 'you' the hidden powers and where they are located; Although, there is still another piece missing to the puzzle. One of you however, have the final and missing puzzle piece. I will give that information Cryptika, if you are willing to come to a permanent truce and understanding to my terms of the exchange."



"What truce and terms?" The red-haired vixen looked at her brother who twirled the dagger around his index finger. Lavender eyes met Sapphire eyes.



"The truce of accepting my lover even with her information of us, I shall take full responsibilities if this is to end harshly. As my terms of this exchange is simple and a small trinket to pay, since this is a large life changing deal. This is a deal that could change our realm and human lives if the powers were to get uncontrollable for Ashoka to handle. My end of the bargain is you protect the human race, meaning if Ashoka gets out of control. You agree that you will exterminate the problem. Permanently, put an end to the remaining member of the Misery clan." Leonard stated his eyes hard, emotionless. Gently tossing the dagger in the air catching it in a swift movement, "I cannot carry out the deed of destroying Ashoka. He is your lover so you are now taking double responsibilities, for your future and his future. I have been siding with the human race for many years, since before your birth. Taking a blood oath to Queen Lunatic that if one of our kind destroys a human, I am to execute the violator." A dark smile crossed his lips.



Annette looked at Leonard, her heart ached, racing as sweat formed on her fine brow. "Leo. That's madness, you can't expect her to kill someone she loves."



Leonard closed his eyes the smile still on his lips he opened his eyes looking at the blond, "That is what we are, who we are. We find joy taking the lives of others of our kind, but the challenge of telling a protector to a doomed creature is the test of taking their lovers' lives if they were to misbehave," His eyes went to Graceona who had the same look as Annette, "I'm sure it won't come down to execution, if he has a suitable teacher."



Leonard reaches the dagger out to her, "What will it be, Cryptika?"



Graceona swallowed hard and sighed getting the dagger looking at her brother, "Forever and always."



Leonard smiled standing on his feet wrapping an arm around Annette as the couple went inside.

Annette looked at Leonard when they got to their room, "Leo, that was a mean thing you have done to Grace. Making her choose humans over her lover,  just because you are our ally doesn't mean that Gracie wants to follow your footsteps. You tell me you were done badly for your decision what about Grace's fate, if you were looked down on for the same deed she is doing. Aren't you suppose to be a role model to your youngest sister?"



"Role model, that's a new one. Leave it up to you Annette, human's have role models. People they admire, my kind we look up to our lovers, I already know the outcome of the decision. No harm will come to Cryptika or Ashoka, they both crave the same emotion. Love, Ashoka has no competition against humans. It is his own race he should have hatred for but I sense nothing from him, I personally picked out his human parent, he had a rough road in his gypsy years. He has become a stronger person, he is more human than being a monster such as myself and Cryptika." Leonard stood at Victoria's cradle gently placing his finger in her small palm. A smile crossed his lips as he closed his eyes, "Victoria will never have to be introduced to what she is, she is a half breed, half human. Our kind will have no quarrel with her, her fate is set in stone and those who try to change her road. I swear to watch them burn in their own games. That is my gift to you Victoria, another gift I have for you is the ability to heal those you love, with abnormal speed as the power will work for you." Leonard bent down placing a gentle kiss on Victoria's forehead.