It’s Funny How Love Starts (IFHLS Book 1)

Alexia’s POV

I think I choked on my own spit because I went on a coughing fit but no one seemed to notice since the whole room erupted into loud arguments.

Everyone spoke all at once and I found myself dumbstruck. Zane had also paled, trying to take everything in. It seemed like the world was spinning around a little too fast without me.

The bickering and the questioning went on for a while until Amos had enough.

“QUIET!” Amos shouted over all the commotion. “Stop acting like a bunch of immature kids and let’s think it through one at a time.”

“He’s right but Amos, why didn’t you say anything for sixteen years? Care to elaborate?” Lucas asked, very disturbed.

“It was a blood promise between Maxilum’s household and me. They found her on their doorstep sixteen years ago and called someone who they could trust and had authority. I happened to be in town that night so they contacted me as soon as they found her. They wanted to throw her to an adoption shelter but there was a piece of paper stuck in her basket. It was the prophecy. We decided it was best if we let her live with them and made the blood promise not to tell but since they’re…dead I’m free from that promise,” Amos recalled. He looked like he was digging through an old memory that didn’t want to be found. It pained him to even think of everything that took place sixteen years ago.

“I saw my mom pregnant with Alexia. She can’t be adopted. I saw everything with my own eyes,” Zane spoke confidently but he was only three years old when it happened so I wasn’t sure if I could exactly trust his statement.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Your mom faked the whole pregnancy. Alexia stayed with me until Marie was ‘due’ to have Alexia and then she hid herself from the society for a few years so there wouldn’t be any suspicion on how Alexia aged so quickly. Only your dad and I knew about the truth. She wanted to protect Alexia from people who might treat her differently including you, Zane,” Amos explained. He sighed, “She always had a kind soul and always cared for others.”

I felt a wave of guilt for taking all that time from mom when she wasn’t even my mom to start with. All those times when mom gave me more attention than Zane made me feeling like I needed to repay him for the lost time. Guilt consumed my thoughts but Zane took a hold of my hand.

Hey, don’t think like that. I still love you Alexia. Zane squeezed my hand once more and I felt a little more at ease but it didn’t completely take away the guilt. A sudden thought broke through everything.

What prophecy were they talking about? I looked at Lucas for help but he was pale. His eyes didn’t deceive the surprise and horror he had on his face. His face told me he knew well of the prophecy.

“Wait, what is this prophecy?” I asked. Everyone was surprise I had taken everything fine so far. They were all unease but Zane and I were utterly confused.

All along I thought I was part of his family because of our similar appearance but I guess it was all just a coincidence. Honestly, I didn’t know why I wasn’t freaking out. I guess it didn’t make much of a difference. They were still my mom and dad and Zane was still my brother.

“The prophecy is quite interesting since I am now looking at the Healer,” Wyatt said thoughtfully, examining me with interest but I felt his intimidation.

“Back off,” Lucas growled.

“Mind your manners little one,” Wyatt growled back with a warning tone.

“It sure is though,” Amos said calmly, breaking the hostile moment. “And to think you were in front of me all these years.”

“Uncle Amos, what are exactly the Healer and this prophecy?” I decided to ask directly since no one else bothered to answer my desperate question.

“Dear, it’s something you might want to hear for another time,” Amos said soothingly but I didn’t want to take any of his crap. I knew he meant good but I wasn’t a baby anymore. It sucked to grow up quickly but it had to happen sometime.

“Amos, she needs to know her own future,” Grayson intervened. Amos gave Grayson an unknowing glance and I decided it was my time to make my advancement

“Yes, enlighten me,” I challenged him, sitting there crossed arms while everyone in the room seemed to tense again. Lucas who sat next to me, held my hands.

“Well the prophecy states that a Healer will be born again after the last one,” Amos said, choosing his words carefully.

“The last one?” I asked.

“Tragic accident,” Grayson muttered impatiently, “Continue.”

“Ah, well, as you know by now, you are a Healer and it was prophesized that a Healer will come from the extinct original family and will avenge their parent’s death, delivering death instead of life,” Amos said cautiously.

“Tell me the exact words of this ‘prophesy,'” I asked, wanting to hear the full prophecy for myself. Travis seemed interested while Zane looked uncomfortable. He seemed detached from me now and I hated the sheer thought of him leaving me.

“From an extinct family the Healer is born. Avenging the blood of both parents is sworn. Delivering death and destruction, the Healer’s revenge. No life will be spared in this tragic revenge. The darkness which was once concealed. Will find its way to the Healer’s shield. Intertwining with the Healer’s decisions. The darkness will once again rule its visions. Hope of mankind and every creature defeated. The Healer’s own power is always succeeded,” Amos recited as if he had always had it in the back of his mind which he probably did. Honestly, it was the silliest thing I’ve heard in my life.

“Wait, you can’t actually be serious that I can kill anyone,” I laughed but no one joined in. The Elders all sat in their seat, except Amos who stood, and stared at me grimly, their youthful face looking much older. They were dead serious.

“Of course she can’t. She doesn’t have the capability,” Amos said to the Elders. “This prophecy doesn’t mean anything,” Amos said confidently but even I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

The Elders looked distraught. All of them looked with disbelief and doubt.

If this so called ‘prophecy’ was true, did they mean my real parents?

“Do they mean my real parents?” I asked suddenly, speaking my own thoughts. The prophesy must’ve been made before I was born so it should mean my birth parents but the thing was, I had no idea if they were even alive or dead nor did I had any interest in getting to know them.

“Yes, dear,” Amos answered, doing all the talking. Everyone sat there, staring elsewhere but every once in a while they stole glances at me. They all seemed to be preoccupied and lost in their own thoughts.

“Are my parent’s alive?” I asked, this time more hesitantly.

“No, dear. For that, I am truly sorry,” Amos said. I think he thought I would react in some violent way but I honestly didn’t feel sad and angry or in need to kill anyone.

“How did they die?” It was worth asking. I had the right to know and it wasn’t like I was going to go on a killing rampage because of the knowledge.

I noticed how even Amos hesitated. The atmosphere was dark and dangerous, no one was sure if it was wise to tell me. It was all so ridiculous.

“I have the right to know,” I said, trying to summon enough confidence.

“They were executed by order,” Grayson answered when Amos didn’t say anymore. “They were convicted with the highest crime of all history.”

Well, that wasn’t what I had expected but at least I knew now. I didn’t have some mind blowing reaction or anything. I simply took it in and stored it in my memory. It didn’t matter anyways. They were the ones who chose to abandon me and for that, no one could really blame me for not categorizing them as ‘family’. That was when I realized something.

If my birth parents were executed by order, the only group with that much power to do so was the Elders. They were the ones who sentenced my parents to death which means, according to the damn prophecy, I would kill them all. No wonder they gave me narrowed, uneasy looks. They didn’t mean any hatred but they were cautious and alert.

“Which is what?” I asked, not really sounding like I cared which was what I was aiming for.

“They turned. Turned to vampires,” Amos said sadly as if he knew them personally.

“Now that’s the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard,” I laughed but made a fool out of myself instead. They all looked at me as if I was crazy.

“I don’t see anything ‘hilarious’ to it,” Grayson said, keeping an eye on me as if I would jump at him any second.

“Vampires. Seriously?” I scoffed.

“If we’re real why can’t vampires be?” Amos questioned, finally able to speak for himself.

“But come on. Werewolves are…well…us but vampires is some stupid legend people make for petty excuses,” I reasoned.

“We’re also from legends yet look where we exist. We’re actual real living creatures and that goes for vampires as well and no matter how much you deny it, they’re still going to exist.”

“We haven’t seen any vampires so how can you expect me to believe any of this?” I know I was probably being stubborn but really, come on! We’re talking about folklore vampires. It was already pretty hard to acknowledge me being a Healer no less a vampire’s existence.

“Well, maybe you haven’t but I’ve commingled with them business-wise and they are intelligent creatures like us. We are similar just like humans except the blood and sun part but who are we to judge when we’re slaves under the full moon?” Amos shrugged. Damn, he made a good point but still, I wasn’t sure about my parents turning into a vampire. How did that even work? I was about to ask when Lucas spoke.

“Amos,” Lucas said uneasily. He didn’t seem entirely surprised about the vampire part but something else seemed to loom over his head, bothering him. “Doesn’t that make Alexia half werewolf, half vampire?”