Southern Reign

Chapter 8: Sinister Sister

Cree

I watched Bree and King John all night. He was already in love with her. When would I get to have that? The party was a success. Bree couldn’t stop thanking me. I even had a couple of mutuals ask me to plan parties for them. As I tried to focus on the positive, I laid wide awake in bed. A walk around the castle might help. I threw on a pair of leggings and a hoodie and crept downstairs, out of the back of the castle. I only walked for a few minutes when I felt a weird feeling, like I was drawn to the forest. I walked for Goddess knows how long and was jolted by a familiar face.

“Aunt Iyelda?” I squinted, trying to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

“Yes, my child. Long time, no see.”

I frowned. She looked exactly the same as when I last saw her. We were very small and Yvonne told us she was going away. I never asked about it and wasn’t sure what happened to her. But here she was; alive and seemingly well. She had very light brown skin, ginger curly hair, and freckles across her face. Her piercing blue eyes commanded attention. She and my mother were fraternal twins. While my mother took after their mother, Iyelda was the spitting image of their father. I had never met my grandparents, so I wouldn’t know.

“What are you doing here?” I managed to ask after the initial shock wore off.

She raised her eyebrows with a half smile on her face.

“Why, my child, I’m just stopping in for a visit. I haven’t seen you since you was a small girl.” Her thick drawl made me feel at home. It bought back memories from long ago that I hadn’t thought about in years.

“Well … Hi.”

She chuckled and threw her head back.

“My child, why the long face?”

I sighed. The only person I ever talked to about what happened is Dulce. No one else brings it up and I’m ok with that. Iyelda may not have been around for years, but I figured I’d tell her before my mom did. She wouldn’t tell it correctly anyway. She still blames our former guard.

“It’s a long story, but I guess I have time.”

She reached her hands out and grabbed mine, gently pulling us to sitting positions on the cold ground. We were facing one another, criss cross applesauce style. She waited patiently for me to begin.

“So a couple of years ago, I was kidnapped by a vampire.”

***

Iyelda stared at me a moment after I finished speaking. I couldn’t read her face. After a few minutes of silence, she sighed.

“My child, I’m so sorry. If there is any consolation, the blood-sucking bastard is dead.”

My jaw dropped. “What?!”

“A long time ago, my sweet son reached out to me asking for my help in tracking a vampire. He never told me why; but he wanted him dead for harming his dear friend over at Vieux Carré. It didn’t take me long to locate Horace.”

I cringed at the mention of his name. Iyelda reached for my hand and pat the back of it.

“He is no longer, my child. I lured him with a little majik. Not only did I drain the life from the bastard, but I severed his head and buried it. Burned his body. The only way to make sure a vampire stays gone.” She had an evil smirk on her face.

I can’t explain why, but that gave me some comfort. When I was told the vampire got away, I was scared he would return to finish what he started. He’s dead. He can’t come back. I sighed in relief at the thought.

I looked up at Iyelda who was staring at me with a look of contentment.

“You are relieved, no?” She raised her brow. I nodded.

“Good, then. I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Meet me here in 3 days, my child. Same time.”

I glanced around and stood. “Where am I anyway?”

“You will know how to get here.”

"Your son? You said your son reached out to you--"

"Silly me." She lightly tapped her forehead.

"A young boy I used to mentor. But that's not important." She gave me a dismissive wave.

“Ok, I’ll tell my mom you stopped by.” I turned to leave.

“Not yet, my child.” She gave me an evil grin. “I want it to be a surprise.”

She snapped her fingers. I was suddenly back in my room.

“What the f**k?” I glanced around frantically, trying to understand what just happened.

Iyelda

For years, I tried to find a way to get to my b***h sister. If there was anyone I despised more than my mother, it was her. She was said to be one of the most powerful light witches in existence. But I knew two more powerful than she. My nieces, Bree and Cree, could help me. I just had to get ahold of them.

I had been plotting since Yvonne banished me. There was a force field surrounding Vieux Carré and dark magic was prohibited. Since I was a dark witch, I could not get in; no matter how hard I tried. I was pacing after another failed attempt when I felt the familiarity of power at the back of the castle. It had to be one of my nieces.

The first time I knew Cree was special was when I held her shortly after she was born. Her power felt like ours, but greater; much stronger. She was only a baby. It was then I knew she could help me take my rightful place as the headmistress of Vieux Carré. A place my sister did not deserve. I didn’t find out about Bree until after I was banished. On her 10th birthday, she was roaming through the trees looking for something on the ground. I heard her giggling from afar. I couldn’t get past the force field, but could feel her from where I was standing; in the same spot I lured Cree to. Before I could do anything, her mother, my twin sister Ingrid, came and scolded her for running so far from the castle. Now I had a chance. I just had to play my cards right.