Fifteenth round
The Oath
The crowd helped me into the seat at the long table. All the servants were looking at me inquiringly. Len objected the idea of my showing up at first but Sir. Grimmel insisted on taking me to a formal family dinner.
“We want a proof of her identity.” Sir. Grimmel said.
“She’s not well enough to talk!” Len lied.
“But she’s well enough to kiss you?” Len and I both blushed. Len objected strongly because he was angry at what Sir. Grimmel had done. He caught us kissing in the pavilion. I blushed for total embarrassment.
“Alice,” Len turned to me. “Just say ‘stop’ when you can’t take it.”
I nodded.
In front of me was a piece of white paper. Sir. Grimmel ordered the servants out and Oma soon appeared with two tiny bottles, each containing blood.
“This is my brother’s blood.” The man said as he held up the bottle tied with purple thread.
“And this is Mistress Winona’s.” Oma held up the other one.
“What do I have to do?” I asked.
“They want to test whether you are a Grimmel or not.” Jim said. “If your blood combines perfectly with theirs, it means you are Princess Armenia, the lost child from this family.”
“Seriously, I doubt if she is strong enough to stand it.” Len came forward.
“She is brave and strong.” Sir. Grimmel said. “A small cut will do no harm if she is really a full-blood.”
I held out my hand obediently. Oma cut my wrist with a knife. It hurt but soon the pain faded. Being a blood soul really made me stronger than before.
My blood dropped onto the white paper, making it wet.
“Now, we will see.” Sir. Grimmel opened the two tiny bottles and poured the blood onto the same paper.
“If you are a Grimmel, nothing will happen. The blood just goes together. If you aren’t a Grimmel, the mixture will turn blue.” He said.
We waited. The cut on my wrist mended. After a long moment, the mixture remained bloody red.
Sir. Grimmel let out a relief.
“You are a Grimmel.” Oma said excitedly. She even hugged me. “You are Winona’s child! Oh she will be happy to know you are alive. We all are happy to see you, Armenia.”
“Alice.” I confirmed.
“Okay, Alice, you are proved to be my niece.” Sir. Grimmel, my uncle said. “We’ll need a feast to celebrate the discovery of the long lost princess in this family.”
Not long after, a large-scale celebration took place. All the people in the mansion cheered for my return and arrival. The servants started calling me Princess Alice, as I insisted on the name Alice. veryone seemed delighted to see the only child in the family was back.
After dinner, Uncle Adam brought us to a room, my parent’s room.
“We tried our best to protect this place when the house was broken in last time.” He sighed. “Still, some precious properties are lost.”
All the furniture in the room was made of gold and silver. The place was even larger and grander than Demonia’s room. We were brought to a big portrait hanging on the wall.
For once, I saw my parents’ faces.
The portrait was like any other that could be found in a castle. It was a picture of the master and the mistress. An elegant woman, with long wavy dark hair and hazel eyes sat on a chair. She was wearing a white long dress, plain but attractive. Standing next to the chair was a man with crimson hair and blue eyes. One of his hands was placed on the lady’s shoulder and the other one was holding a golden cane. The two looked very young, not much older than Len and me. They were both smiling.
“There are more.” Oma went forward, opening some drawers. She came back with some photos. “Antone and Winona were both very naughty when they were young. Despite our warning, they always ran to the human world. They discovered a thing called camera and were very interested in it. Here are the photos they have taken.”
I got the photos from Oma and looked at them. My parents in these photos looked even younger than they did in the portrait. They looked as though they were playing with the camera. A bunch of them were taken by themselves. There was my mother dancing in a shopping mall while my father was playing tricks on some people. One of them even showed they were playing in the amusement park.
“Um...what’s that thing?” Jim pointed at the roller coaster.
Oma laughed.
“Alice, your parents went over the whole human world before sixteen. They never stayed in this world for long. Ever since they turned ten and were allowed to cross the boundary, they always wandered everywhere. We never found them. Most of the times, Tristen and Demonia went into lots of trouble searching for their lost friends.”
“My parents and Alice’s parents are that close?” Len scowled.
“Oh yes, Tristen and Winona met Antone in a ball held by the Grimmels. Later, Tristen met Demonia when he was out exploring. The four became close friends. And I was saved by Winona when I was small. I was an orphan and was almost captured by a Morlette to become his slave. I followed Winona to become her maid. When she married Antone, I worked for the Grimmels.”
“I don’t know there are so many romantic stories behind these two families.” Jim said.
“Lucard,” Oma said. “Your father never meant any harm to you. He loves his children dearly but he doesn’t know how to show his love properly. Even when we were small, he tried to protect his friends and the ones he loved. Yet, he always ended up being misunderstood and hated for his recklessness and ignorance to the feelings of people whom he did not love.”
“He cares for us very much.” Uncle Adam said. “I was very young at that time but I remembered him trying desperately to keep the Morlettes away from us. Our parents died young, killed by the Morlettes. At that time, my brother had not reached fifteen yet. He had not sufficient experiences to handle the issue of becoming the next leader in the family. Tristen was older than all of us, around twenty I guess. He, too, had suffered the loss of his parents and had to take over the throne urgently. When he was the master of the Morganthes, he often came to us and provided us with help. In the end, he even helped us fight away the Morlettes, leaving us in temporary peace.”
“What happened then?” I asked.
“My brother ruled this territory for five years. I was then twelve and he was nineteen. He and Winona had been together for more than ten years and since the Morlettes did not bother us often at that time, they decided to get married. Tristen objected at first. Although he cared for Antone and Winona very much, he felt that my brother was not strong enough to take Winona as his bride yet. Winona disagreed with it. She persisted in marrying my brother so Tristen gave in. The couple soon performed a wedding. We did not know that they had made the unbreakable oath long ago. Happiness followed then but not for long.
“In the early time after marriage, everything was fine. The Morganthes and the Grimmels remained close to each other. Winona loved children so she constantly played with her nephews and nieces. I believed Carmine and Carmina did meet her before. She even gave them gifts. She took great care of the young servants as well. In the house, with her kindness and love, she was adored and respected by everyone.”
“Even when hassle came, we all stayed beside the master and the mistress till the end.” Oma said.
“It was later that she said she wanted a child of her own.” Uncle Adam continued. “At that time, Antone was always busy working. Winona did not want to bother him too much so whenever she had a hard time, she came to Oma and me. One day, a Grimmel was found murdered in the woods. The Morlettes became the main suspects. Conflicts began between the two families. Two Morlettes were killed for their murder and more fights started. When hearing the Morlette wanted to start a war to invade part of our land, Antone did not hesitate to protect the Grimmels. The battle followed and lasted for months. Lots of blood souls were killed and we were losing. At first, neither Antone nor Winona wanted to seek help fr
om the Morganthes because they dreaded it might bring more trouble. But things got worse. The house was not safe anymore. Antone had to leave to the other end of this world to find Tristen and Demonia.” Uncle Adam picked up a music box from the dressing table, which I supposed belonged to my mother.
“Meantime, Winona stayed to protect the remaining servants. One of Antone’s friends stayed with us but he turned out to be a traitor. He sold us to the Morlettes. What came next was even more unbelievable. The master of the Morlette, Hunter Morlette, demanded to see Winona. We were all puzzled and bemused. We thought he wanted to kill Winona but to our surprise, he wanted Winona to his own while Antone was away. Hunter happened to encounter Winona when they were teens. At that time, Winona did not know he was a Morlette and actually befriended with him for some time, before Hunter showed up no more. Hunter fell in love with Winona and had always wanted to find her. After knowing she had married Antone, he was rather jealous and enraged. That was how most quarrels between Morlettes and Grimmels were stirred up. Winona did not know this until she was captured by the Morlettes after Antone left. When she met her old friend again, she begged him to spare the Grimmels. Hunter, indeed, would not abide by this easily. He demanded Winona to live with him. Winona refused. She told him she would never betray Antone and would not fall for anyone else. Hunter realized they had made the oath so there was no turning back except to imprison Winona by force.
“Winona was imprisoned for some days before she escaped and went back to tell us what happened. The Morlettes eventually broke into the house. Oma and I got separated from Winona. When we heard of her again, she was dead. My brother returned too late. I was told when he learnt of Winona’s death, he was so furious that he went up to the Morlette’s castle and slaughtered a hundred of blood souls. The Morganthes did hurt lots of the Morlettes and the Morlettes surrendered, giving up one third of the land to the Grimmels. Tristen was too depressed to face his sister’s death. Soon, he directed his frustrations on my brother, claiming that he could not protect Winona. My brother, too, blamed himself for her death. He took the very knife that stabbed his wife’s heart and stabbed his, dying next to her corpse. When I was finally rescued, everything had happened. I could do nothing to stop. Up until now, I can tell Tristen still accuses himself badly for the deaths of his sister and brother-in-law.”
“You didn’t mention how Alice was born.” Jim pointed out.
“Oh, you miss that part, Adam!” Oma exclaimed. “Now let me tell you. Alice was born before Winona was first captured by the Morlette. One night, Winona was crying in pain. She went into my room and said she might be pregnant. I thought she was joking because she did not look at all pregnant. Her abdomen looked as normal as ever but then I realized pregnancy in this world can be hidden. In human world, the pregnant woman may have their abdomen stand out clearly but in this world, the foetus can grow without making physical changes to the mother’s body if the mother does not want the symptoms to show. I was shocked and did not know what to do. Even Winona was ignorant to her pregnancy all the time. She only figured it out when she felt sudden pain in her abdomen.
“In the middle of the night, she did give birth to a child. I was right there during the labor. It was terrible because at that exact moment, the Morlettes and the Grimmels were fighting. Everyone in the house was in panic and every once in a while, screams could be heard. In such hazardous environment, Alice, you were born. I can still remember the happiness and hope Winona had when she first held the child. It was a pity the master was not home. Antone never got the chance to see his child. Winona said to me in a rather weak voice. ‘Antone says if it’s a girl, I should decide her name. If it’s a boy, he should do so. I will name her Armenia then.’ After this, she asked me to help her escape at the backdoor. She said if the Morlettes found out the Grimmels had a new-born baby, the child would definitely be killed first. I demanded to know where she would be going but she refused to tell. She ordered me to stay and soon, with the baby in her hands, she left the house fast.
“I could not see where she went. When she finally returned, she told me. ‘The child is very safe now. No one is going to get her. I just wish she could forgive me one day. I have seen her fate. She should be rescued in that place. She will not be harmed or reached by any one of the Morlettes.’ I asked repeatedly where she had placed the child but she only replied. ‘I can’t tell, Oma. One day, she will return. She will return to us. Someone will love her and care for her. Someone will save her and bring her back. Now, I must face my fate.’”
At that part, I almost cried. Len had my hand in his. The words that had just come out of Oma’s mouth still remained in my head, the words about someone loving and caring for me. I knew who my mother was referring to. It had to be Len. He had brought me back to this world where I had been born and should have grown up but did not.
“Winona was one of those who could foresee the future. Not many blood souls were gifted with this power, like my sixth sense. I knew the fate she was talking about was death. She had predicted both Antone and she would perish. She refused to tell the location of Alice and said if the secret was sealed, Alice should have future. ‘My child has to survive. She has to change the fate of the Grimmels.’ Those were the last words I heard from Winona. Once the battle was over, Adam and I looked all over the land to find the Grimmel’s descendent. Without luck, we could not find you, Alice.”
“My mother left me in the human world, where she thought was the safest place for me.” I whined, suddenly comprehending everything.
“Winona always said she wanted to live in the human world, so did Antone, but the family restricted them to do so. They said there were good humans and bad humans but neither kind of them could be eviler than a blood soul. I could see why they said so. The humans brought you up. Orphans in Bloodland often become slaves of Morlettes or servants in royal families but in human world, there are always people who care and love the abandoned and unwanted ones. The sympathy and kindness are something we blood souls can never have enough of.”
Immediately I thought of Winnie, who had adopted me and loved me unconditionally. Even though I was not her child, she treated me like her real daughter. She had protected me, raised me and supported me for the past eleven years or so. All the love she had shown me was never less than that my real parents had for me.
“We’ll go back once everything is over.” Len said as I cried leaning on his shoulder.
I slightly nodded. I knew what he was talking about. He must have felt that I was missing Winnie and I wanted to return to my real home.
“Where?” Oma said.
“I hope I can bring Alice back to the human world after saving my family.” Len said and I looked at him. He sensed my question, so he said. “And I will go with her.”
“But, you are supposed to be the next master of the Morganthe.” Uncle Adam said.
“My father will understand that.” Len said. “We can’t stay in this world. Alice can’t. When my parents learn of Alice’s true identity, I am sure they will agree to it. My father can find a better man to replace me. I am not suitable to be a leader after all. I would prefer a more simple life.”
“I agree.” Jim said. “We should be allowed back to the other world.”
“We cannot decide that right now.” Uncle Adam said. “But I would support your choices. At this moment, we must first plan on how to save the Morganthes and to invent the antidote for Alice.”
“Alright, we will continue our last talk then.” Len said.
“Yes, do come to my room later, Lucard.” Uncle Adam said and walked out of the room. “Alice, you should rest early. You have had enough today and remember to take the medicine. Oma will bring it to you.”
After Uncle Adam left, I turned to Len.
“Can’t I come as well?” I asked. “I am also a blood soul now.”
“Um…I suppose not.” Len said. “You won’t understand what we say.”
“Fine, can we have the unbreak
able oath?”
“What?” Len looked as though he had heard the wrong words.
“I said can we have the unbreakable oath?”
“Why would you say that, Alice?” Oma asked.
“Because you said I will be going back to the human world soon.” I said, looking down at the ground.
“You want to stay in this world?” Len asked, staggered.
“No, but how can I be sure you will go with me?” I said.
“Of course I will. I promise you.”
“Demonia will never let you do so. She said so last time in the banquet.”
“We just need more talks and compromise. That is.”
“It’s so unfair.” I complained. “You know how to keep me beside you forever but I never have a thing to keep you with me forever.”
“So you think once we make the unbreakable oath, I can never leave you?”
“Isn’t that right?”
“True, but don’t you trust me, Alice?”
“I do.” I looked away. Len was right. If I did trust him, I should not make such an unreasonable request. He would stay beside me even without being bound by the oath. He was never the kind to break a promise. How could I have feared something so childish?
“Oma, prepare for the ceremony, will you?” Len said.
We all looked at him in surprise.
“Ceremony?” Oma seemed confused.
“The ceremony to perform the unbreakable oath.”
“Really? You are doing it?” Jim exclaimed.
“Yes.” Len turned to face me and smiled. “If that’s Alice’s wish, I will by all means grant it for her.”
“Len, I…”
“I know you trust me.” Len said. “You are just impatient. You can’t wait to have me.”
“You are being too vain.” I said, my hands on my hip.
Honestly, Len never changed.