The Bewitched Soul - Chapter 16 The Stillborn

Julius bowed and left the two Lords for privacy. Lord Gerard stood right in front of the mirror. Seeing Julius leave, Lord Gerard turned around.

“Lord Alexander, I hope you enjoy your stay here,” he spoke as he saw Alexander looking at him with dull eyes.

“Thank you, Lord Gerard, for accepting my request.” Alexander’s eyes turned into crescents as he smiled.

“Shall I ask Robert to bring your food up here?” Lord Gerard spoke.

“Thank you,” Alexander agreed.

The long journey was indeed tiresome and exhaustive.

“Take rest, Lord Alexander. See you in the evening.” Lord Gerard smiled as he was about to leave.

“Thank you.”

After Lord Gerard left, Alexander went straight to the bathroom for a warm shower. He stripped his clothes and stepped slowly into the bathtub. Turning the water know swiftly, the water rushed down the tub. He closed his eyes as his skin soaked in the warmth, the heat of the warm water. Leaning against the bathtub, he let the water cover his body, submerging him right till his neck. After a while, he slowly stood up, releasing thin rivulets of lukewarm water, and trickled down his back. Water dripped from his darkened hair, racing past his neck and his back. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he stepped out of the bathroom. He slipped into a set of new clothes and slept.

Lord Gerard was in his study, flipping the pages of the file. There was an old man next to him, looking at the flipping pages.

“He’s here now, Gerard.” the old man spoke, one could see the fine line wrinkles on his face.

“I know, Rupert.” Gerard signed on a page, keeping that file aside.

“What about the vow? The promise?” Rupert asked, his voice shook while speaking.

“Centuries have passed, Randolph is no more.” Gerard looked at him, straight into his eyes.

“The boy needs to know. He needs to know who his mother was,”

“He resembles her, Gerard,” Rupert emphasized on each and every word.

“That doesn’t make anyone think that he is her son, Rupert.” Gerard continued.

“I’ll wait for him to ask. If he doesn’t, this stays a secret for eternity,” he spoke as he kept rolling the pen over the file.

“Be prepared. What about the little girl?” Rupert asked worriedly.

“She’s safe there…” Gerard smiled as he turned to look at Rupert.

“I see…” Rupert smiled.

Alexander woke up. It was six in the evening. After getting freshened up, he went straight to Lord Gerard’s study.

Before knocking the door, he heard

“Come in, Lord Alexander, ” Gerard spoke as he sensed Alexander standing behind the closed door.

A brief smile formed on Alexander’s face. He opened the door,

“Good evening, Lord Gerard.” Alexander wished as he smiled.

“You still come to know whenever I’m about to knock on the door,” he spoke as a gentle smile formed on his face.

“The Lord was once a small kid back then, who used to sneak into my study.” Gerard smiled as he spoke.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t visit you in years, Lord Gerard.” Alexander’s voice sounded apologetic.

“Centuries, my boy. I know you had been through a lot.” Gerard looked at Alexander.

“So, tell me… why after so many years?”

“Regarding the past, Lord Gerard,” Alexander spoke as he looked at the rolled paper in his coat pocket.

“Call me Uncle, you used to call me when you were a little boy,” Gerard continued.

“Your father and I were close friends. You resemble your father in many ways, Alexander”

“And my mother?” Alexander interrupted.

There was a minute of silence in the room.

“The day has come,” Gerard smirked as he spoke.

“She was one of the finest white witch warriors, a warlock,” Alexander spoke as his eyes scrutinized Gerard’s face.
for visiting.

“You know a lot about her, Alex” Gerard’s hand kept rolling the pen over the file.

“It must be Julius,” Gerard smiled as he spoke.

“I came to know about her after centuries. She’s dead now.” Alexander clenched his feet as he spoke those last two words.

“The forbidden love, my child. You must have known by now, what dangerous powers you possess.” Gerard spoke in a serious tone.

“Why am I still alive?” Alexander asked as an ocean of questions swirled inside his head.

“You really want to know, Alex?” Gerard asked.

“I want to,” Alexander couldn’t stop.

“Because your brother died.” Gerard finally revealed.

This was something Alexander couldn’t take it. Every part of his went on pause, while he tried harder to catch his thoughts. He shuddered listening to those words. Now everything he thought was true, everything that defined him is now a lie. When he was younger, he thought the Queen was his biological mother, till the day he found out that she wasn’t his mother but a white witch.

‘Did she abandon me?’

‘How did she die?’

‘I had a brother?’

All these thoughts piled up in his mind to form a huge wave to hit his head hard.

“My brother?” blood drained from Alexander’s face, mouth opening and shutting like a goldfish with no sound coming out.

“Yes, he was stillborn. You both were born on the same day,” Gerard continued, his face showed no emotions at all. His eyebrows furrowed as he continued,

“Queen Leora’s son died as soon as he took birth. Lady Rowena gave birth to a healthy baby, you. The mix-blood powers in you made your body weak, as a baby couldn’t withstand the powers of a highly ranked mixed-blood. You were in a critical condition. Rowena tried her best to save you, my boy.”

“She saved me…” Alexander’s face stuck in an incredulous expression

“She gave all her powers to you before she died. Yes, she did.” Gerard’s voice was calm.

“As you know, your identity was kept a secret for some reason. Forbidden love it was, Alexander.” he continued.

“That night, you were taken away from mother. Randolph replaced the stillborn baby with you while Leora was still unconscious. The reason why she loved you as if you were her real son. She never knew that even when she died.” Gerard stopped, waiting for Alexander’s response.

There was no response from him. There was complete silence except for the muffling sound of the large leaf trees from outside, allowing the breeze dishevel their hair as they stood in front of the large window.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Lord Gerard?” Alexander didn’t look at him but at the fluttering leaves going along with the direction of the soft breeze.

“I made a vow to your father,” Gerard smiled as he knew that the had to answer this question someday.

“A vow is meant to be kept a vow,” Alexander lifted his left brow.

“He’s dead. Centuries have passed, the secret was safe. Your father had asked me to reveal it only when you would come and ask me all by yourself. And you did, Alexander.” Gerard kept smiling as he adored Alexander. Today was the day he had been waiting for centuries.

Alexander stood there all quiet. The quietness grew deeper as he heard his own steady loud rhythm from within. The secret was now spilled. The silence now caressed his soul, smoothing away his thoughts.

“Now you know, Alexander.” Gerard moved towards him, patting his shoulders.

“What about Emilia’s daughter?” Alexander nonchalantly asked.

“She’s safe in Brookville, ” Gerard spoke as he smiled.

“Brookville?” Alexander’s eyes narrowed.

“Yes, find her.” Gerard giggled.

He then noticed the ring on Alexander’s finger. The crystal was turned downwards, keeping the ring band upwards.

“She’s alive, Alexander,” Gerard spoke as he couldn’t help keeping another secret from him.

“I know. But she had died in front of me. The ring still glows,” Alexander stopped as he remembered something suddenly.

“Wait, how do you know?” he asked.

“Witch King, Lord Gerard Rudolph.” Gerard laughed.

“Listen to me, Alexander. You need to be prepared for what is in your future. It’s dark. One more chance, if you fail, you lose her forever. There are going to be many serious events if you both become one.” Gerard’s voice sounded like a warning to him.

“David is still searching for Emilia’s daughter, this is another problem. He was one of the finest warlocks. Love destroys everything.” Gerard sighed.

“David was the mastermind behind the massacre which took place ten years ago. The rogue vampires, who had no control over themselves, were possessed by David’s powers. Lastly, he killed all to leave no trace.” Gerard’s face showed an impression of disappointment.

“Where is he?” Alexander asked calmly.

“In his quarters,” Gerard answered.

“Let me handle him, Lord Gerard,” Alexander asked for his permission, but it was more of an order.

“Okay. Remember, there’s a right time for everything.” Gerard spoke, giving a hint.

“How was my mother?” Alexander yearned to know more about her.

“One of a kind,” Gerard spoke nonchalantly.

“Rowena was a warlock, highest on ranks,” he continued.

“Now you know how capable your mother was, Alexander” he stopped, as he walked towards the wine shelf.